AMS issued U.S. patent covering surgical methodology for implanting AdVance Male Sling

American Medical Systems® (AMS) (Nasdaq: AMMD), a leading provider of world-class devices and therapies for both male and female pelvic health, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent Number 7,686,760 covering the surgical methodology for implanting the AMS AdVance® Male Sling. This patent provides AMS with broad patent coverage on transobturator surgical procedures to treat male incontinence.

"This patent is a clear indicator of AMS' long-term commitment to innovation in the development of male pelvic health solutions," said Whitney Erickson, General Manager of Male Pelvic Health at AMS. "Our research and development efforts have resulted in this broad method patent and helps us build our strategy to be a pioneer in product innovation and surgical method development."

AMS' AdVance sling is clinically proven to deliver a greater than 80% success rate at one year for male patients suffering from stress urinary incontinence. The AdVance system is part of AMS' broad portfolio of solutions for the effective treatment of both male and female urinary incontinence.

With more than 22,000 slings implanted worldwide, the AdVance Male Sling System has proven to be the treatment of choice for many patients and physicians. This patent gives AMS exclusive use of the methodology for the implantation of virtually any male incontinence sling device through the transobturator area via a pelvic incision.