Candela Corp. will introduce its new C-beam pulsed dye laser at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology on February 22 in New Orleans. The parameters of the new C-beam pulsed dye laser (585 nm wavelength and 0.45 ms pulse duration) are ideally suited for two procedures of high current interest: psoriasis treatment and scar treatment.
Commented Candela President and CEO, Gerard E. Puorro, "This new C-beam laser extends Candela's contributions to, and franchise in, medical applications C-beam fills a treatment void in psoriasis, where current therapeutic options can have debilitating side effects. Surgical scar treatment is another unfilled need. In the U.S. alone, the ongoing surgical caseload produces more than 50 million incision sites annually that can benefit from early intervention with the C-beam pulsed dye laser."
In psoriasis treatment, the C-beam penetrates below the epidermal surface, through the psoriatic plaque, directly to the overdeveloped capillary bed below that supplies blood, oxygen and nutrients to the plaque from within. This is in contrast to excimer laser treatment for psoriasis, whose shorter wavelength of 308 nm does not penetrate the psoriatic plaque, but attempts to clear the plaque from the outside in. Targeting laser energy with the C-beam creates heat within these capillary microvessels and ablates the vessel. A complete program of treatment can destroy the structure of the plaque, leaving new, clear epidermis. This approach creates a new healthy skin structure from the dermis outward.
Brian Zelickson, M.D. of the University of Minnesota recently followed up with patients who were subjects of his 1996 investigation published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1996:35:64-68). Commented Dr. Zelickson on the results of his follow-up, "In our studies, we selected patients with chronic plaque-type disease that tends to be unresponsive. It usually takes between two to six treatments at three-week intervals. Often the remission is quite long. We have some people who are actually five or six years out and still clear of the disease. One patient is seven years out from his two PDL treatments, and shows no recurrence of plaque."
The C-beam can also be used for treatment of new surgical incision scars. This is a larger patient population than any other group in the aesthetic laser field. It includes all plastic surgery (particularly facelifts), abdominal, breast, Cesarean sections, sternotomies, small telltale scars from liposuction and other less invasive procedures, and others.
The simple C-beam procedure requires only a minute or two, and is typically delivered in three treatments at two-week intervals. C-beam keeps the area soft and pliable, optimizing the skin color match across the incision and treating the symptoms of itching and pain.
Tina Alster, M.D., Director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C., stated, "Based on several published studies on the use of pulsed dye laser technology on hypertrophic scars (including burn and surgical scars), the parameters incorporated in the new C-beam system correspond directly to those shown to be most successful for laser scar revision."
The C-beam system offers as an option Candela's proprietary Dynamic Cooling Device(tm) (DCD), which sprays the upper layer of skin with a fine mist of cryogen, measured precisely in volume and timing, immediately prior to the laser pulse, cooling and protecting the skin surface. During laser use, the optional DCD offers physicians unequaled visibility, reliability and reproducibility, as well as maximized patient comfort.
With the C-beam, physicians now have the exact parameters they need for treating psoriasis and scar sufferers - two high-interest, underserved patient groups. The C-beam is compact, high-energy for added versatility, offers the unique DCD cooling option, and delivers a very high value at a bundled price of $49,900 including the optional DCD.
Candela develops, manufactures, and distributes innovative clinical solutions that enable physicians, surgeons, and personal care practitioners to treat selected cosmetic and medical conditions using lasers, aesthetic laser systems, and other advanced technologies. Founded near Boston in 1970, the company markets and services its products in over 55 countries from offices in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. Candela established the aesthetic laser market 12 years ago, and currently has an installed base of over 5,000 lasers worldwide.
Visit Candela on the Web at www.clzr.com.