Medical technologies group Norwood Abbey Ltd [ASX:NAL] advises that Patent No. 98803827.7 has been granted by the Chinese Patent Office.

The Patent is entitled "Laser assisted topical anesthetic composition". It contains 12 claims relating to a medical device consisting of a laser and an associated delivery module, where the laser induces a small area of skin alteration or ablation and the delivery module makes drug available to that site.

This patent derives from PCT Application No.PCT/US98/00706 with a filing date of January 14th 1998. The Patent has been granted to Transmedica International, an entity owned by Norwood Abbey Ltd. Patents have previously granted for this family in USA, Australia, China and Russia.

Applications for grant of a patent also have been filed in Europe, Japan, Israel and Mexico to protect this technology.

The granting of the patent further strengthens Norwood's intellectual property position in the laser area.