Competitive Update: Surgical IR Fibers And Delivery Systems

Abstract

Infrared (IR) fibers and delivery systems for use with surgical lasers have been or are being developed by at least three dozen competitors worldwide. Clad and unclad chalcogenide, fluoride, metal halide and single crystal fibers, and rigid and flexible metal, polymer, glass, and ceramic waveguides have been investigated. While there are now half a dozen flexible waveguides and an equal number of rigid waveguides marketed for surgical laser applications, there are still no commercially available IR fiber delivery systems. At least two 10µm IR fiber developers, in the author's opinion, have produced surgical-grade fibers, and one of these has completed development of and received FDA marketing approval for a surgical laser delivery system incorporating a novel, disposable, flexible IR fiber. However, neither of these developers is currently pursuing commercialization of the fibers or delivery systems; nor has there been significant interest from medical laser competitors or large healthcare companies. Development of fluoride fibers for use with mid-IR lasers, such as Erbium-YAG, continues, but no commercial medical products using this technology have yet been announced. It is ironic that there seems to be little business interest currently in surgical IR fibers, despite the identification of numerous potential surgical applications where the use of a flexible delivery system could make a procedure less invasive, or allow new procedures to be performed.