The OmniGuide Fiber For Use In Head And Neck Surgical Oncology Is Featured In The Laryngoscope

Main Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology;  Ear, Nose and Throat
Article Date: 19 Aug 2006 - 0:00 PDT

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The OmniGuide fiber, a revolutionary hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber used for minimally invasive CO2 laser surgery and developed by OmniGuide, Inc. (http://www.Omni-Guide.com), was featured in the July 2006 issue of the Laryngoscope, a leading medical journal.

The Laryngoscope is the official publication of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society Inc., also known as the Triological Society. The peer-reviewed publication focuses on the use of OmniGuide's FDA cleared fiber technology for the management of head and neck cancer. The paper discusses three cases illustrating various applications of the OmniGuide fiber in CO2 Laser Head and Neck Surgical Oncology. The cases were led by Dr. Chris Holsinger of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and will be presented this Saturday, August 19, in a satellite symposium at the annual meeting of the American Head and Neck Society (http://www.ahns.info/meetings/index.php), of which OmniGuide is a Platinum Sponsor.

The OmniGuide fiber offers, for the very first time, a flexible delivery system for CO2 lasers. Currently, the CO2 laser, enabling high precision cutting of soft tissue with tight control over penetration depth, is delivered via cumbersome articulated arms which greatly restrict their surgical utility. OmniGuide's fibers have been used in over 120 surgeries to date in over 10 leading teaching institutions across the US. The technology offers new surgical capabilities in head and neck surgery, reduces overall surgical time and cost, and enables easier access to the treated site.

Dr. Chris Holsinger, Assistant Professor in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, added: "The OmniGuide fiber enables the otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeon to perform complex resections in a much more intuitive fashion, enabling angulation and tangential cutting. The ability to deliver CO2 laser energy through a flexible fiber improves current technique and opens up new possibilities for the management of head and neck malignancies."

Prof. Yoel Fink, OmniGuide's Co-Founder and Member of the Board commented: "We believe that the fiber will improve current best practice in treatment of Head and Neck malignancies, and offer a less invasive approach to a growing base of patients. The cases presented by Dr. Holsinger at M.D. Anderson are a first demonstration of these key benefits. OmniGuide plans to focus on head and neck surgery as a key portion of our initial business. We feel privileged to be working with the faculty at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and look forward to a successful breakfast symposium in this week's American Head and Neck Society meeting."

About OmniGuide

Yoel Fink, John Joannopoulos and Edwin Thomas, all faculty members at MIT, and Uri Kolodny, founded OmniGuide in May 2000, in order to commercialize patented research conducted at MIT on omnidirectional reflectors. Based in Cambridge MA, where its corporate offices and labs are located, OmniGuide has an exclusive license from MIT on omni-directional reflectors and OmniGuide Fibers. The company has raised $29.5M from Ray Stata, Mukesh Chatter, Alliance Technology Ventures, 3i US, Westbury Partners, and Gainesborough Investments. OmniGuide's progress to date has captured broad attention in both scientific and popular venues, and was most recently featured in the Forbes Magazine Investment Guide.

OmniGuide, Inc.
http://www.omni-guide.com
http://www.ahns.info/meetings/index.php

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