Phoenix Select with ProFlex LDDspectra 

How does the device work?

Multiple small diode lasers of different wavelengths make up the Phoenix Select. Ranging from 180 nm to 300 nm, they are spectrally combined for power-scaling that retains beam quality and to address absorption maxima for dozens of endogenous and induced chromophores within target tissue, with wavelengths tuned by real-time spectral feedback from the working fiber tip, providing sustained tissue-selective vaporization of tissue while sparing healthy tissues such as nerve bundles. ProFlex LDDspectra is an adjustable output ring output to axial to side-firing fiber device capable of contact vaporization and in vivo spectroscopy with resposable terminal optics. 

What healthcare problem does it solve?

Treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms by removal of hyperplastic prostate tissue, removal of athroschorotic plaque from arteries, laryngeal cancer treatment, vulnerable arterial plaque, postmenopausal menorrhagia, etc. Anywhere that diseased tissue may be spectrally differentiated from healthy tissue and is accessible by flexible endoscopy is a potential target for the Phoenix Select laser (one U.S. patent issued, one pending, and one in draft). The marriage of the laser to ProFlex LDDspectra (one U.S. patent issued, one allowed, and four pending) permits concomitant spectral monitoring of chromophore destruction and production (degradation and recombination products such as Amadori adducts) while providing tunable output to tissue. 

Why should the device be commercialized?

The Phoenix Select laser and the ProFlex LDDspectra fiber optic system (as well as simpler fiber devices) will greatly reduce healthcare costs in terms of treasure and morbidity/mortality in realization of the initial promise of the Laserscope Niagara laser. The low (80 W) power of the early GreenLight lasers almost eliminated complications--even post-surgical catheterization--in prostate resection but was too slow and costly for broad adoption. As the laser power was raised (120 W, then 180 W), complications returned to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) levels due to photobleaching of the single target chromophore rendering the additional power indiscriminate. Phoenix Select corrects that. 

What inspired you to design this device?

I first looked at methods of power-scaling purple/blue wavelengths for their ten-fold greater absorption by hemoglobin (than green), low cost, and high beam quality, but recognizing the fact that higher power green lasers were defeating the advantages of tissue selectivity drove me to discover why such a precise surgical technique had devolved to produce collateral tissue damage similar to indiscriminate electrocautery devices. In recognizing that photobleaching was the major culprit, I was pleased to find multiple degradation products that also absorb in the blue/purple region and was further pleased to find many of these were precursors to undesirable char. 

Submitted by: Stephen Griffin  

Learn how to design disruptive connected health devices at BIOMEDevice San Jose December 7 & 8, 2016.