Devices Urology

 News Release - August 7, 2006

American Medical Systems Announces Launch of AdVance(TM) Male Sling

Novel Technology for Minimally Invasive Surgery for Male Incontinence to Expand Market

MINNEAPOLIS--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Aug. 7, 2006--American Medical Systems Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMMD ) today announced the newest addition to their male continence product portfolio, the AdVance(TM) Male Sling, an innovative new treatment solution for men suffering from mild stress urinary incontinence.

More than two million men worldwide suffer from stress urinary incontinence, a condition defined as the uncontrolled leakage of urine due to coughing, straining or some other sudden movement. A majority of these men are prostate cancer survivors, having undergone surgery for the treatment of their cancer with the often unavoidable outcome of a damaged urinary sphincter. These men often restrict their activities, limit their fluid intake or change their lifestyles in an attempt to cope with this humiliating condition. While moderate to severe cases of incontinence in men have been treated through surgical intervention for years, the majority of incontinent men, those only mildly incontinent, have had few attractive medical alternatives until now.

"It is exciting to see our concept become a reality which will benefit those men around the world who are needlessly suffering from mild incontinence," stated Drs. Christian Gozzi and Peter Rehder, both urologists at the University of Innsbruck in Innsbruck, Austria. "AdVance represents a paradigm shift in the treatment of male incontinence, giving physicians the opportunity to provide real incontinence solutions to even more prostate cancer survivors."

Dr. Dean Knoll, Medical Director, Center for Urological Treatment and Research of Nashville, Tennessee, was the first American physician to implant the AdVance Male Sling. "The surgical procedure is intuitive and minimally invasive, making this technology possible for the out-patient setting. Because of this, AdVance shows the promise of changing the landscape as we know it today for the treatment of mild male incontinence. Urologists around the world will soon have a meaningful solution to offer that largest segment of the population of incontinent men."

A prospective clinical trial commenced late last year led by Dr. Edward McGuire, Professor of Urology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Dr. George Webster, Professor of Urology at Duke University, to build the long term efficacy data for AdVance. Including the feasibility study, 47 men have been treated using this approach, with as much as 24 months of follow up data on a small cohort of patients.

Martin J. Emerson, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Medical Systems, stated, "The AdVance Male Sling expands our offering of products for stress incontinence in men. Urologists around the world will soon have access to the first product designed specifically for those men suffering from mild urinary incontinence." Mr. Emerson continued, "AMS was founded nearly 35 years ago on the mission to address the significant lifestyle issues brought on by stress incontinence in men. It is truly a great day at AMS as we, so many years later, reinforce our commitment to this medical need with the launch of AdVance. For the first time, virtually all men whose lives have been impacted by incontinence have the opportunity to consider surgical solutions with their physicians. We look forward to the global availability of AdVance in the fourth quarter of 2006."

About American Medical Systems

American Medical Systems, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota and including its recently concluded acquisition of Laserscope, is a diversified supplier of medical devices and procedures to cure erectile dysfunction, benign prostatic hyperplasia, incontinence, menorrhagia, prolapse and other pelvic disorders in men and women. These disorders can significantly diminish one's quality of life and profoundly affect social relationships. In recent years, the number of people seeking treatment has increased markedly as a result of longer lives, higher quality-of-life expectations and greater awareness of new treatment alternatives. American Medical Systems' products reduce or eliminate the incapacitating effects of these diseases, often through minimally invasive therapies. The Company's products were used to provide approximately 170,000 patient cures in 56 countries during 2005.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements about the Company's market opportunities, future products, sales and financial results are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties such as the timing and success of new product introductions; physician acceptance, endorsement, and use of the Company's products; regulatory matters; competitor activities; changes in and adoption of reimbursement rates; potential product recalls and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its other SEC filings. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

More information about the Company and its products can be found at its website www.AmericanMedicalSystems.com and in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2005 and its other SEC filings.

Source: American Medical Systems Holdings

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