Cynosure Introduces Long Pulse CO3 Laser for Skin Resurfacing.

BOSTON--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 2, 1998--

CO3(tm) provides most flexible, cost-effective treatment for

wrinkles and scar removal

Cynosure, Inc., a leading developer of medical lasers, introduced today the CO3, a new type of laser for skin resurfacing applications. The CO3 provides patients with the most flexible, effective system for all types of skin resurfacing. The CO3 has been cleared for market distribution by the U.S. Federal Government.

Cynosure's CO3 laser combines the best features of existing resurfacing lasers. Because the CO3 is a pulse tunable laser, it is capable of treatment for fine lines and mild sun damage. It can also be used for the treatment of more extensive sun damage with shorter healing times than carbon dioxide laser resurfacing.

"Some lasers, Erbium YAG for example, remove tissue without enough heating to cause collagen shrinkage, which is considered important for effective treatment. Other lasers, carbon dioxide for example, heat tissue enough to cause this collagen shrinkage, but this treatment results in long healing times," said Bob Hubert, Chief Marketing Officer of Cynosure. "With our new laser based on Cynosure's proprietary technology, we are offering doctors a more effective skin resurfacing protocol with reduced healing time."

CO3 Effect the Key to Optimum Treatment

The scientists and engineers at Cynosure reviewed the limitations of existing resurfacing methods. Overcoming the shortcomings of existing units, they developed the CO3. The key to the CO3's effectiveness is the "CO3 Effect(tm)", laser pulses tailored for resurfacing. The CO3 laser heats skin just enough to cause beneficial collagen shrinkage, but with reduced healing time. This results in the optimum balance between effectiveness and healing time.

"Our initial clinical results using the CO3 are promising. Research shows that this laser is capable of producing significantly greater dermal thermal effect when compared to standard short pulsed Erbium YAG lasers," said Dr. Robert M. Adrian MD FACP. "Bilateral comparison studies have shown that this increased thermal effect provides greater improvement in facial rhytids when compared to other currently available Erbium systems. The ability to provide both standard Erbium pulse durations along with longer pulse durations may provide an innovative system for facial rejuvenation."

Standard Erbium lasers are largely ineffective for deeper resurfacing. More importantly, they cannot deposit heat deep enough to shrink collagen. Thus, while most Erbium lasers can provide safe and effective treatment of fine lines, they are ineffective for the treatment of deeper wrinkles. Conversely, carbon dioxide lasers produce excessive thermal damage, resulting in extended healing times. The CO3 is the only laser providing the benefits of both without compromise.

About Cynosure, Inc.

Cynosure develops, manufactures and markets laser technology for aesthetic treatment applications, including hair removal, leg veins, skin resurfacing, scar revision, port-wine birthmarks, facial spider veins, stretch marks, tattoos and pigmented lesions. These products have given Cynosure worldwide recognition in the practices of dermatologists, plastic surgeons and vascular surgeons.

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