Trimedyne ‘Cold’ Laser OKd by FDA for Orthopedic Use

IRVINE —  Trimedyne Inc., a manufacturer of medical lasers, announced Monday that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market its Holmium “cold” laser for use in orthopedic surgery.

The so-called cold laser creates extremely high, short pulses of laser energy that vaporize flaps and tears in cartilage and meniscus tissue in the body’s joints without damaging surrounding tissue, as do hot, or “thermal,” lasers.

Trimedyne hopes to gain FDA approval for the use of its Holmium laser in opening blocked coronary arteries. The company won approval to test its product for that use on humans last fall. It already sells the Holmium laser to treat blocked arteries of the legs, but it may take another year or two to gain approval for the more lucrative coronary artery market.

Trimedyne focused its research efforts on cold-laser technology about two years ago after its thermal lasers failed to win government approval for coronary care, which resulted in sharp drops in both company revenues and stock prices.

Trimedyne stock closed Monday at $3.50, up $.25, on the over-the-counter market.