by Joan Trombetti

This article is from in the March 2008 issue of DOTmed Business News. A list of registered users that provide sales & service can be found at the end.

For years, mentioning the word laser evoked an image of James Bond, Auric Goldfinger and the latter's intent on using one to carve 007 in half.
But times have changed. Today lasers are used for healing not mayhem.

The word laser, incidentally, is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Applications include: the removal of tumors and cysts, sealing small blood vessels to prevent blood loss, sealing lymph vessels in order to alleviate swelling and stop the spread of cancer cells, vision correction, vein ablation, oral surgery and treating skin conditions. In addition, lasers are used to treat chest pain, ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis, fibroid tumors, gallstones, nosebleeds, ovarian cysts, ulcers and many other disorders, diseases and conditions. And given the inexorability of technological advances, experimentation and research, the sky's the limit on how many additional uses loom. The American Society for Laser Medicine, for example, says that more than 50 medical specialties already employ the technology.

Doing Homework Important Before Buying

There are, as you would expect of a technology driven discipline, a wide range of lasers available for medical treatments: the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, the Neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser, Dioxide and Pulsed Dye lasers. Others include the Erbium, Alexandrite, Plasma, Ruby and Holmium lasers, all used either in medicine or cosmetics.

Scott Jacobs, Director of Business Development, Nova Star Medical Equipment, Livonia, MI says, "Like any medium in the medical field, especially pertaining to surgery, laser technical advances seem to be occurring on a daily basis." He added, "Laser technology is truly amazing. Surgeons and trained technicians are now able to do procedures never thought possible with greater speed, allowing for a much quicker recovery time for patients."

Nova Star's right in the thick of the competition, offering IPL (intense pulse light), ND:YAG, Alexandrite, Pulse dye, Diode, CO2, cellulite reduction systems and microdermabraders.

As for doing the homework necessary to just sort through Nova Star's catalog, Jacobs says laser buyers tend to overbuy. "Doctors and spa owners need to do more market research before they go out and buy a top of the line laser or IPL system. Many times they will be paying for features they'll never use or need."

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