New Laser for Minimally Invasive Surgery

A new laser beam delivery system based on photonic bandgap technology delivers CO2 laser light through flexible or rigid endoscopes. The system has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for multiple indications.

The CO2 laser wavelength, at 10.6 microns, offers unique tissue interaction characteristics that include highly localized thermal effects, ultra-low and controllable depth of penetration, as well as the ability to coagulate small-to-medium blood vessels. Until now, there has been no adequate flexible delivery mechanism for CO2 laser beams. The OmniGuide Beam Path CO2 Mark I laser beam delivery system has overcome this challenge by utilizing a hollow-core fiber based on photonic bandgap technology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, Boston, USA) by Prof. Yoel Fink.

The FDA has cleared the system for the incision, excision, ablation, vaporization, and coagulation of body soft tissues, including intraoral tissues, in the medical specialties of general and plastic surgery, oral/maxillofacial surgery, dermatology, endoscope and open surgical procedures related to gynecology, otorhinolaryngology, gastroenterology, neurosurgery, and pulmonary surgery for surgical and aesthetic applications.

The laser beam delivery system was developed by OmniGuide, Inc. (Cambridge, MA, USA), a company founded by Prof. Fink and colleagues. The company has an exclusive license from MIT on omnidirectional reflectors.

"The FDA clearance of our flexible fiber delivery system for CO2 lasers is a huge step forward for our core medical business,” observed Dr. Steve Sheng, president and CEO of OmniGuide. "The clearance will allow OmniGuide to fully engage the human surgical market and drive new minimally invasive treatment modalities in multiple specialties.”




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