In Brief: Laserscope

Laserscope Aura: Firm is gearing up to begin shipments of the surgical and dermatological laser system in October following April 510(k) clearance by FDA. The device, which fills out the firm's exisiting line of lasers with dermatologic applications including the Orion and 800 Series systems, will be targeted at the physician's office and outpatient surgery markets. In the dermatology area, Laserscope says the Aura can be used to treat "vascular lesions such as leg veins, hemangiomas, birth marks and facial spider veins, as well as benign occurrences such as brown sun spots, liver spots, skin tags, warts and moles." The device also can be used for ear, nose and throat applications, Laserscope says. The company plans to sell the system through its 30-person direct sales force in the U.S., U.K, and France, and through distributors in other countries. Aura can be used in combination with Laserscope's SmartScan microprocessor-controlled dermatologic scanning device, introduced last year, and will be priced between $49,000 and $70,000...