HOUSTON, TX--(MARKET WIRE)--Aug 25, 2008 -- On July 10, 2008, VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. brought a patent infringement lawsuit against the individual owners of Total Vein Systems, a small privately owned company with 12 employees based in Houston, Texas. Through the lawsuit, VNUS seeks to prevent Total Vein Systems from selling unpatented disposable medical supplies to vein centers, without prior authorization from (and substantial royalty payments to) VNUS. We believe the lawsuit is baseless.

Total Vein Systems believes that VNUS's overly-aggressive patent litigation strategy threatens the profitability of the nation's vein centers. We also believe the VNUS strategy will improperly restrict patient access to affordable healthcare. Already, these ill-effects are becoming apparent. In June of 2008, AngioDynamics and Vascular Solutions, Inc. settled VNUS's patent infringement lawsuit against them.

Although that lawsuit involved different facts, the result was that AngioDynamics and Vascular Solutions agreed to make a lump-sum cash payment to VNUS, as well as to pay substantial but undisclosed royalties for each laser fiber, procedure pack and laser that AngioDynamics and Vascular Solutions may sell in the future. These payments to VNUS have already resulted in dramatic price increases in the vein surgery products sold by AngioDynamics and Vascular Solutions.

Total Vein Systems has no intention of settling this or any other lawsuit in a manner that would dramatically increase prices to its customers. We are confident that we have not infringed on any of the VNUS patents, and we continue to believe that the VNUS patents are invalid and also unenforceable.

Total Vein Systems remains dedicated to providing the highest quality medical products to physicians and vein centers.

     For more information on Total Vein Systems:
     Phone: 888-868-8346
     Fax: 713-863-1601
     http://www.totalvein.com