PRESS RELEASES

Contacts: Marc R. Viscogliosi, President
(212) 583-0250 ext. 103 mviscogliosi@mcrallc.com

MUSCULOSKELETAL CLINICAL REGULATORY ADVISERS, LLC (MCRA)
HIRES PATENT AGENT, URMI CHATTOPADHYAY

Former Patent Examiner joins orthopedics Intellectual Property team.

NEW YORK NY, December 5, 2006 - Musculoskeletal Clinical Regulatory Advisers, LLC (MCRA) announced that Urmi Chattopadhyay has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property team as a Patent Agent. Ms. Chattopadhyay joins the firm from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) where she served as a Patent Examiner in the medical art for more than five years.

MCRA is an independently-operated professional services firm focused exclusively on the orthopedics industry.

Ms. Chattopadhyay brings to the firm an extensive knowledge of patent law, practice and procedure. As a Patent Examiner at the USPTO, she reviewed patent applications for surgical methods and prosthetic devices, including orthopedic, vascular and intraocular implants. Her responsibilities ranged from formatting and procedural compliance assessment to claim interpretation and patentability determination. Ms. Chattopadhyay is a registered Patent Agent authorized to practice before the USPTO.

Ms. Chattopadhyay said, “I am delighted to be a member of such a dynamic company where I can effectively utilize both my technical background and relevant professional experience to help the innovators of the medical device industry obtain protection for the inventions capable of impacting so many lives.”

Ms. Chattopadhyay received her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a Materials concentration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. As a student, she worked as a Co-op Research Technician for Howmedica, Inc. (now Stryker Orthopaedics) performing hip simulated wear testing and wear debris analysis of load bearing materials.

Marc R. Viscogliosi, President of MCRA, said, “The medical device industry is highly litigious and the number of patent applications in the medical field continues to grow. Urmi’s years of patent experience in prosthetics will help smaller companies grasp the key fundamentals IP development and protection and its ability to build company value and sustain growth in such a competitive arena.”

Tram Nguyen, Director, Intellectual Property of MCRA, said, “Understanding both the technical and legal aspects of intellectual property law is far from routine, especially when it applies to the dynamic, competitive field of orthopedics.

“Urmi’s specialized knowledge will enable our clients to navigate the patent landscape and better protect their inventions,” Ms. Nguyen added.

About MCRA, LLC
Musculoskeletal Clinical Regulatory Advisers, LLC (MCRA) is a highly specialized, independently operated consulting firm serving the worldwide orthopedic industry. MCRA is a group of leading strategists committed to executing regulatory, clinical, intellectual property, and reimbursement strategies to move your company to successful value creation. Founded in 2003 by Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC, the firm provides "first-in-class" service to its clients through its superior knowledge base, global surgeon relationships and deeply experienced management team. MCRA places particular emphasis on working with companies at all stages of development, whether they are single-product companies or companies with multiple technologies. The true value of MCRA is the ability to cover the entire lifecycle of a product or technology by taking a product from the conceptual pre-clinical stage to market approval.

For more information visit www.mcrallc.com

About Viscogliosi Brothers, LLC
Established by Marc R. Viscogliosi, John J. Viscogliosi and Anthony G. Viscogliosi in New York City in 1999, VB was the first venture capital/private equity and merchant banking firm dedicated to the musculoskeletal/orthopedics sector of the health care industry. Today, VB is a leading independent firm with a mission to create, build and finance companies founded on innovations developed by surgeons and uniquely focused on "life-changing" musculoskeletal/orthopedic technologies. VB has worldwide surgeon, industry and trade relationships and significant financial expertise in the musculoskeletal/-orthopedic sector.

As principals of VB, the Viscogliosi brothers have a combined total of more than 35 years experience analyzing and investing in the musculoskeletal/orthopedics sector. They have pioneered innovative financial, strategic and management initiatives for companies in the sector, from start-up, seed and development stage all the way to exit, while helping thousands of people lead better lives through the orthopedic and spinal products marketed and sold by the companies they have assisted in developing and financing.


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