Diamonds add precision to laser surgery
Clinicon Corp. (Carlsbad, CA), a developer of laser and scanning technologies, has developed a diamond scalpel and a diamond-tipped probe that can be coupled to a CO2 laser through a flexible fiber optic delivery system to achieve smooth and precise incisions and controllable hemostatis for vascular, aesthetic, endoscopic, and percutaneous applications. The company is actively seeking strategic partners to commercialize the technology. According to Clinicon president and CEO Frit¥Brauer, the patented Diamond LaserKnife is both a scar-free scalpel for cosmetic surgery and a precise cutting tool for vascular tissue that maintains the tactile feedback surgeons desire. The other key elements of Clinicon`s proprietary technology platform are the SureLase, a 9.3-µm CO2 laser that Brauer says is preferentially absorbed by collagen and more strongly absorbed by hard tissue; the SureScan programmable scanner; and the SureFlex waveguide delivery system. Clinicon plans to file a 510(k) application with the US Food and Drug Administration for the LaserKnife.