Medical lasers: Schwind introduces nanosecond microchip laser for corneal surgery
Kleinostheim, Germany--At the Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (Paris, France; September, 2010), Schwind unveiled a concept nanosecond-laser-based system for refractive and therapeutic corneal surgery.
The system is built around a nanosecond laser and, just as femtosecond laser systems do, creates a plasma for separation of the corneal tissue. However, the microchip nanosecond laser is much less complex than a femtosecond laser. Its short 355 nm wavelength and aberration-free optical system ensure extreme precision, according to Schwind. (Picosecond lasers can also be used for corneal surgery.) The SmartTech Laser has a pulse duration of 0.5 to 1 ns and a 150 kHz repetition rate; the focal-spot size of the laser is one third of the spot size of standard femtosecond lasers. The low-density plasma combined with the short wavelength leads to more precise cuts and smoother cutting surfaces in LASIK flap procedures, as well as an increased safety in flap preparation, says the company. The flap can be lifted just as easily as with a mechanical microkeratome.
Besides its use in refractive surgery, the SmartTech Laser can be used in therapeutic applications such as lamellar keratoplasty, corneal rings and inlays, and treatment of astigmatic keratotomy.
Reduced life-cycle costs
The concept laser system is aimed at keeping costs during the entire product life cycle as low as possible. At present, refractive surgeons refer in comparative presentations to the very high life-cycle costs of a femtosecond laser compared with a mechanical microkeratome. With the SmartTech Laser, users will benefit from low maintenance costs and high operating safety, says Schwind. The SmartTech Laser can be used with the Schwind Amaris product family as well as in combination with all standard excimer-laser systems on the market.
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John Wallace | Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)
John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.