Coherent's (US) urology laser approved in Japan:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare has granted approval to Coherent (US) for use of the VersaPulse holmium laser to destroy urinary stones. The company says it is the first approval for this procedure in Japan using a solid-state laser. The product application was filed in May 1993 using data from clinical trials conducted at Kurume University Medical School and Nara Medical University. Japan is Coherent's largest potential market for holmium laser lithotripsy, according to Peter Falzon, manager of Coherent Japan. It is the world leader in high technology urinary stone management with over 500 extracorporeal shockwave lithotripter installations.