Press releases and news items on biomedical "optics" and medical "lasers".

by Steven Jacques, OMLC NewsEtc., Feb. 1, 1998.

Links to 21 recent press releases and news items of interest to biomedical optics and medical lasers found while searching for "laser" or "optics" or "photodynamic therapy".

Premier Laser Systems Submits All Cash Proposal to Acquire Ophthalmic Imaging Systems Inc.
Premier Laser Systems Friday announced that it submitted a proposal to the board of directors of Sacramento-based Ophthalmic Imaging Systems Inc. to acquire for $1.75 per share in cash in a friendly transaction the approximately 2.7 million shares of OISI common stock not currently owned by Premier Laser. ... Premier Laser Systems develops, manufactures and markets several lines of proprietary medical lasers, fiber optic delivery systems, corneal topography systems and associated products and services for a variety of dental, ophthalmic and surgical applications. - Jan 16 3:57 PM EST

Light On Knees Affects Body's Clock
Bright light shining on the back of the knees can help set the body's 24-hour internal clock, a new study suggests. - Jan 16 12:49 PM EST

Premier offers to buy Ophthalmic
Premier Laser Systems on Friday said it has proposed acquiring the remaining 2.7 million shares of Ophthalmic Imaging Systems Inc it does not already own for $1.75 per share in a friendly transaction. - Jan 16 4:13 PM EST

Are You at Risk for Glaucoma? Get the Facts
Patients are now starting to be tested on the GDx(TM) Nerve Fiber Analyzer developed by San Diego-based Laser Diagnostic Technologies (LDT). ... LDT is a scanning laser company dedicated to the research, development and marketing of innovative technologies for ophthalmic applications. - Jan 15 6:01 AM EST

World Renowned Neurological Spine Surgeon John C. Chiu, M.D. Makes Significant Advancements in Microdecompressive Endoscopic Spine Surgery
New Laser Thermodiskoplasty For Shrinking and Tightening Herniated Spinal Disks. - Jan 15 2:00 PM EST

Candela Reports $4.4 Million Net Loss For Fiscal 2nd Quarter
Lower-than-expected sales of medical laser devices and a decision to close its Scottsdale, AZ, skin care location resulted in Candela Corporation posting a fiscal 1998 second-quarter net loss of $4,441,000, or 78 cents per share. During the same period of fiscal 1997, the company had net income of $736,000, or 13 cents per share. - Jan 15 4:28 PM EST

Biological clock study turns to knees
Sleep researchers are shining a bright spotlight on the knee (Thursday) as a potential new star in the study of the human biological clock. - Jan 15 7:08 PM EST

Diametrics Receives FDA Clearance On New Continuous Blood Gas Monitoring System For Neonatal Patients
Diametrics Medical, Inc. today announced that it has received FDA clearance to market its Neotrend(TM) product, the first and only multiparameter system for direct continuous monitoring of blood gases and temperature in critically ill premature babies. ... The innovative Neotrend System uses a tiny fiber optic sensor (.5mm in diameter) and a monitor to continuously measure blood gases and temperature. The sensor is inserted through an Umbilical Artery Catheter into the infant's descendingAorta - Jan 15 8:26 AM EST

Rare Earth Medical, Inc. Diffuser Patent Claims Allowed
Rare Earth Medical, Inc., W. Yarmouth, MA has received notice from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of allowed patent claims for its platform technology, Lightstic fiber optic laser diffusing devices. The patent is titled "Phototherapy Methods and Apparatus" and protects the FDA cleared Lightstic 360 and Lightstic 180 configurations.. The company's intellectual property portfolio is now approaching 30 U.S. and foreign patents. - Jan 15 3:30 AM EST.

FDA OKs Laser For Enlarged Prostate
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a laser system for the treatment of symptoms of enlarged prostate this week, according to Indigo Medical Inc., a Cincinnati, Ohio-based Johnson & Johnson company that manufactures the Indigo LaserOptic Treatment System. - Jan 15 6:43 PM EST.

Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc. Expands Clinical Trials
Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc. announced today that the FDA has granted approval to include specific studies on augmented breasts as part of an extensive in-house study of the CT Laser Mammography (CTLM(R)) device for breast imaging. - Jan 14 9:29 AM EST

TLC Offers To Purchase All the Common Shares of BeaconEye
On January 13, 1998, TLC The Laser Center Inc., the largest provider of laser vision correction in North America, mailed an all cash offer to the shareholders of BeaconEye Inc. to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of BeaconEye at a price of $0.40 per share. - Jan 14 9:14 AM EST

Pacific Pharmaceuticals Announces Patent Allowance For Cancer Immunotherapy Adjuvant
Pacific Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the United States Patent Office has awarded a patent allowance for the composition of matter and use of galactochitosan, the immune system stimulant used in its proprietary Cancer Immunotherapy program. ... The proprietary Cancer Immunotherapy involves the co-injection of galactochitosan, a unique glycated polysaccharide, and a photosensitive infrared dye directly into a tumor, followed by illumination with a non- invasive laser. The therapy is intended to produce local tumor destruction in the primary area of treatment, and in the presence of galactochitosan, trigger an immune response which may also destroy metastases. - Jan 14 7:31 AM EST

Palomar Announces $6 Million in EpiLaser Orders During First Two Months Of Partnership With Coherent, Inc.
Palomar Medical Technologies, Inc., one of the world's leading cosmetic laser companies, today announced that it has received approximately $6 million in orders for 50 EpiLaser(TM) hair removal systems since the partnership with Coherent, Inc. began November 18, 1997. - Jan 14 11:46 AM EST

`Last Resort' New Heart Procedure Successful; 2 Cases Performed at Galichia Medical Group in Kansas:
Dr. Joseph P. Galichia, cardiologist and founder-director of the Galichia Medical Group and Research Institute, Dr. Mark Bowles and Atlanta's Dr. Bill Knoff, have successfully performed two "experimental" cases of what's called "PTMR" which stands for Percutaneous Transluminal Myocardial Revascularization. - Jan 14 4:00 PM EST

JMAR Industries Awarded $1.3 Million in New DARPA Funding to Initiate Construction of X-ray Lithography Point Source Demonstration System
JMAR Industries Inc. Tuesday announced that it has been awarded $1.3 million in new funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to procure long lead-time items necessary to construct an X-ray lithography point source demonstration system this year. ...The PXS architecture includes both pulse generating and amplifier lasers based on JMAR's high-performance proprietary solid state Britelight laser technology to produce 30 to 90 watts of the type of X-rays required for optimum lithographic exposures. - Jan 13 10:01 AM EST.

Laser Photonics Inc. To Enter The Dermatology Market To Treat Psoriasis
Laser Photonics Inc., a laser technology company, Tuesday announced that it has initiated a series of agreements with Massachusetts General Hospital relating to the use of the company's proprietary excimer laser developed by its subsidiary Acculase Inc. - Jan 13 9:44 AM EST

Medical City Dallas Hospital to Host Breakthrough Heart Procedure:
Medical City Dallas Hospital will host the United States' first minimally invasive transmyocardial revascularization heart surgery. - Jan 13 12:16 PM EST

Autonomous Technologies Scheduled for FDA Panel Review in February
AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION today announced that the Ophthalmic Devices Panel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will review the Company's premarket approval application for the Autonomous LADARVision(R) System on February 13, 1998. The PMA submission encompasses myopia with astigmatism of up to -10 diopters of myopic refractive error.... Autonomous Technologies is engaged in the design and development of next-generation excimer laser instruments for laser refractive surgery. The Company's LADARVision System combines high speed, laser radar eye tracking with precisely controlled narrow beam shaping technology. - Jan 13 8:24 AM EST

Sunrise Technologies International Inc. Successfully Completes Initial Closing of $5.9 Million
Sunrise Technologies International Inc.(OTC:SNRS) today announced the initial closing of a private placement convertible note and warrant offering in the amount of $5.9 million. ... Its CorneaSparing LTK(TM) System(1) is a non-contact simultaneous application for correction of hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (loss of focus due to natural aging), and overcorrection resulting from PRK and LASIK treatments for myopia. The system is currently in use in Europe and the Americas, and is in FDA clinical trials in the United States. - Jan 13 6:59 AM EST

QLT PhotoTherapeutics Announces FDA Approves PHOTOFRIN(R) As A Treatment For Certain Early-Stage Lung Cancers
QLT PhotoTherapeutics Inc., a Canadian biotechnology company, announced today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given marketing clearance for its light-activated drug, PHOTOFRIN(R) (porfimer sodium) for Injection, as a potentially curative treatment for certain types of early-stage, microinvasive lung cancer. - VANCOUVER, Jan. 9 /CNW-PRN.


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