ASCRS $1 million better off

Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) has pledged $1 million to support the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery's (ASCRS) foundation sponsored research in the field of refractive lenticular science.

The ASCRS Foundation funds ophthalmic research, public education and charitable activities in the developing world and in 2006 it is due to begin work on a multi-year programme supporting new research and educational programmes exploring the science of refractive lenticular surgery.

Re-brand for Ellex Medical Lasers

Ellex is to replace the brand "Laserex" and the company's US and Japanese subsidiaries will also adopt the name. The company is also due to relocate its global headquarters responsible for sales, marketing and customer services to San Francisco, US, in a move, that it says, will bring it closer to its three main markets of North America, North Asia and Europe. Ellex's manufacturing, engineering and finance operations will remain in Adelaide, Australia.

Ellex designs and manufactures various laser systems for the ophthalmic industry including photodisrupters, photocoagulators and selective laser trabeculoplasty systems.

Carl Zeiss Meditec to grow: not yet

At the company's fourth Annual General Meeting, more than 99% of the shareholders supported the initiative. Despite this broad approval, a small number lodged objections against the acquisition and all other items on the agenda. As a result, eight shareholders have now filed legal actions against the planned acquisition, which appears to have delayed the approval procedure. Nonetheless, Carl Zeiss Meditec's intention to acquire Carl Zeiss Surgical remains unchanged.

The acquisition is likely to make Carl Zeiss Meditec the third largest listed medical technology company in Germany.