News Release

CARPINTERIA, California, October 18, 2006 - InHealth Technologies, a Division of Helix Medical, Inc., announced today the acquisition of the assets of Helix Medical, Inc. by a newly – formed subsidiary of Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Helix Medical, LLC. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Freudenberg-NOK is based in Plymouth, Michigan and specializes in the design and manufacturing of elastomeric seals and custom molded products for a variety of markets.

InHealth Technologies will continue to operate as a division under Helix Medical, LLC. This acquisition will allow InHealth Technologies to focus on expanding the scope and quality of their product lines, while leveraging the financial resources, extensive manufacturing and R&D expertise of Freudenberg-NOK.

Jobeth Seder Erickson, Vice President and General Manager of InHealth Technologies, believes the acquisition of Helix Medical will be a great asset to InHealth Technologies customers’. “InHealth will now have greater access to the resources and technologies needed to continue the development of innovative products, which will allow InHealth Technologies to improve the lives of laryngectomees throughout the world.”

Mrs. Seder Erickson, the daughter of Helix Medical, Inc. and InHealth Technologies co-founder, Edmund V. Seder, indicates she will continue in her current leadership role for InHealth Technologies. Mrs. Seder Erickson states, “Along with Freudenberg-NOK, I’m deeply committed to continuing the same dedication to patient care and customer loyalty that has meant so much to my family since my father co-founded the company with Edward Jesle in 1984.”

Dr. Jorg Schneewind, General Manager of the Special Sealing Products Division of Freudenberg-NOK, is very pleased with this acquisition. “Freudenberg-NOK has a goal to grow in the medical device market and this acquisition reinforces our commitment to that vision.” Dr. Schneewind goes on to say, “With the addition of Helix Medical’s product expertise and sales team, as well as our technical and material capabilities, we will employ the most advanced technology available, meeting our customers needs.”

Founded in 1989, Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg & Co. in Germany (through its subsidiary Freudenberg North America Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership) and NOK Corporation in Japan (through its subsidiary NOK Incorporated, a Nevada corporation).  Together, these companies make up the world’s largest producer of elastomeric seals and custom molded products.  Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership has annual revenues of approximately $1 billion.

Since 1989, InHealth Technologies has been the exclusive worldwide developer and manufacturer of Blom-Singer® voice restoration products. Eric D. Blom and Mark I. Singer pioneered the tracheoesophageal puncture technique and prosthesis for voice restoration in 1978. For the past 28 years, Blom-Singer® has stood as the international standard for voice restoration.

For more information about InHealth Technologies and Blom-Singer® voice restoration products, contact Jobeth Seder Erickson, Vice President & General Manager, at (805) 684-9337.