Lumenis(R) Presents the SlimLine(TM) GI Laser Fiber: The Latest Advancement in Laser Lithotripsy for Gastro...( CHICAGO May 31 /- Lumenis Ltd. announ...),Health

CHICAGO, May 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Lumenis Ltd. announces that the first clinical series using the SlimLine GI will be presented at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW), Chicago May 30-June 4th entitled:

Holmium-YAG Laser Lithotripsy in the Treatment of Difficult Biliary Stones Utilizing Peroral Single Operator Cholangioscopy (SPYGLASS): a Multi-Center Experience.

The presentation reports on 31 patients with an average stone size of 19.3mm and impacted stones in 18 of the 31 patients. Ductal clearance was achieved in all 31 patients. (i)

The presence of stones in the gallbladder affects approximately 10% of the adult population in the United States and stones that have formed or migrated to the common bile duct affect 10%-20% of patients with gallstone disease. (ii)

Stones in the common bile duct and pancreatic duct can cause severe health complications. The procedure to diagnose and treat conditions of the biliary system including management of stones, ERCP (Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), is performed approximately 600,000 times per year in the U.S. (iii)

Lumenis has produced the first laser fiber designed specifically for ERCP. The SlimLine GI fiber is compatible with modern cholangioscopes and when used in combination with the VersaPulse(R) PowerSuite(TM) holmium laser, the gastroenterologist can now apply the most efficient stone breaking technology available to these difficult stones in the bile and pancreatic ducts.

"The SlimLine GI has significantly changed the management of large and difficult stones in our endoscopy suite," said Dr. Sandeep Patel, Assistant Professor Digestive Disease Center, University of Texas San Antonio, and coauthor of the presentation for the DDW, " the use of laser energy to break stones has advantages that not only increase our efficiency but allow us to offer patients a less invasive solution to tr
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