Billerica, MA -- August 18, 2003 - Encrustation is a significant problem for indwelling urinary devices. A complex process that is only poorly understood, encrustation occurs when crystalline salts precipitate out of urine onto the surface of the device. It happens whether or not the urine is sterile or infected with microorganisms and involves a number of steps that include adsorption of proteins, formation of a biofilm, bacterial attachment and the subsequent release of bacterial urease, elevation of local urine pH and the promotion of seed crystal deposition, and finally crystal growth and compromising of the device surface. Various strategies including the use of hydrophilic and/or anti-microbial coatings have met with limited success. Encrustation may also occur in blood contact applications.

AST Products, Inc., proudly announces the launch of its newest member of the BioLASTT, family of water-based coatings: pHreeCOATT, has been proven to inhibit the development of encrustation of urinary implants through modulation of surface pH. By buffering the pH of body fluid in contact with the coated device surface, seed crystal deposition is prevented. This extends the useful life of the device and also potentially minimizes patient injury during retrieval.

About AST
AST is a world-leader in medical device coatings. Its platform technology, BioLAST, offers technically superior, environmentally friendly coatings that are easily incorporated in manufacturing processes. Coatings developed using BioLAST include lubricious, anti-microbial, non-thrombogenic, hydrophilic and anti-encrustive treatments. An ISO 9001:2000 registered company, AST offers BioLAST on a licensing/tech-transfer or contract-manufacturing basis.

BioLASTT and pHreeCOATT are trademarks of AST Products, Inc

Billerica, MA -- July 18, 2003 - AST Products, Inc. (AST), a world leader in water- based coatings for medical devices, announced today the completion of a licensing agreement with Micrus Corporation (Sunnyvale, CA) for its LubriLAST coating. Micrus uses the LubriLAST™ coating for its microcatheter family known as Concourse™ -14". The Concourse 14 is used in a new, minimally invasive treatment of intracranial aneurysms that can result in hemorrhagic stroke.

According to the American Stroke Foundation, stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the U.S. With over 700,000 strokes occurring annually, 4 of 5 families in the United States alone will endure the heartbreak associated with this disease. Roughly 20% of all strokes are the result of an aneurysm hemorrhaging and until recently this condition could be corrected only through dangerous and expensive surgery. In their breakthrough, Micrus has developed a product that delivers specially designed coils that are implanted in an aneurysm so as to sequester it from normal blood flow. This can help prevent the aneurysm from rupturing and causing a stroke. By using LubriLAST lubricious coating on its microcatheters, Micrus is able to deliver a microcatheter for neurointerventionalists to access the tortuous vasculature of the brain that will deliver these coils.

"We have enjoyed a particularly good relationship with the engineers at Micrus as they moved through the design process," said AST's Medical Coatings Manager Suzanne Conroy. "We communicated well and, from the coatings end, were able to help the project stay on time and within budget. We are thrilled to be able to contribute our coating technology to the development of such a cutting edge product."

About AST
AST Products, Inc. (AST), headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts offers water-based, solvent free coatings for medical devices. Since 1989, AST has partnered with numerous companies through licensing agreements for its BioLASTT medical coating technology. AST has a strong history in advanced research and development with an emphasis on providing customized, innovative coating solutions. The company also manufactures state-of-the-art plasma processing equipment for surface modification, as well as surface analysis instrumentation. AST licenses its coating technologies on both an exclusive and non-exclusive basis. For more information about AST Products please visit their website at www.astpadvance.com.

About Micrus
Micrus Corporation, headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA and Yverdon, Switzerland, is dedicated to the design and development of interventional neuroradiology products. Micrus is one of the leading worldwide manufacturers of embolic coiling, marketing the Micrus MicroCoil System, proven in over 6,000 patients worldwide, and providing a "frame, fill and finish" system with a "fast" 5-second detachment. Micrus is currently in development with advanced technology products that include intracranial stents and modified coils. For more information, please visit Micrus Corporation's website at www.micruscorp.com.

LubriLAST™ is a trademark of AST Products, Inc
Concourse™ is a trademark of Micrus Corporation.

Billerica, MA -- March 20, 2003 - AST Products, Inc. (AST), a world leader in water- based coatings for medical devices, announced today the completion of a licensing agreement with MicroPort Medical, Inc. in Shanghai, China for its LubriLASTT coating. AST also opened a new coating facility in Shanghai, China.

MicroPort Medical, Inc. will use the LubriLAST coating for its PTCA balloon catheters. AST's LubriLAST coating, a lubricious coating that is part of AST's BioLAST™ medical coating technology platform, will give the catheter more lubricity for easier insertion and thus will help ensure the success of the procedure.

AST's explosive growth in Asia prompted the company to open the new coating operation in Shanghai, China. In addition to the MicroPort agreement, AST recently signed licensing agreements with Bioteq (Taiwan) and Neich Medical (Hong Kong and China) in January of 2002.

"This is our third agreement within a year with an Asian medical device company and we are thrilled to partner with MicroPort Medical, Inc.," said AST's Medical Coatings Manager Suzanne Conroy. "It is our primary goal to provide the best quality coating available on the market and with our new operation in Asia we will be able to better serve all Asian medical device companies."

MicroPort Medical (Shanghai) Corp. Ltd was the first, and is by so far still the domestic industry leader, in developing, manufacturing, and marketing interventional medical devices. The business focus of the corporate is in the area of interventional and minimally invasive medical devices, providing leading - edge technology and products for physicians and life - saving solutions and comforts for patients.

About AST
AST Products, Inc. (AST), headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts offers water-based, solvent free coatings for medical devices. Since 1989, AST has partnered with numerous companies through licensing agreements for its BioLAST medical coating technology. AST has a strong history in advanced research and development with an emphasis on providing customized, innovative coating solutions. The company also manufactures state-of-the-art plasma processing equipment for surface modification, as well as surface analysis instrumentation. AST licenses its coating technologies on both an exclusive and non-exclusive basis. For more information about AST Products please visit their website at www.astpadvance.com.

LubriLAST™ is a trademark of AST Products, Inc.