- Thermal destruction of the lesion “in situ”
- Preservation of the organ and the healthy tissue
- Micro-invasive approach (thanks to the extremely fine needles)
- No need for a general anaesthetic
- Brief duration of treatment (few minutes)
- No signs or scars on the body
- No or reduced post-op pain
- No or reduced hospitalization
- Fast recovery times
What is it?
ECHOLASER Thermotherapy is a micro-invasive procedure that uses the laser light transmitted by the applicators (optical fibres) for a few minutes, which causes heating of the targeted tissue and its irreversible “in situ” damage, therefore without the need to excise it.
This is all thanks to the combined action of the rise in local temperature and the exposure time. The interaction of the laser radiation with a 1064nm wavelength (within the range of the therapeutic window) provided by ECHOLASER is excellent, offering low radiation absorption and excellent penetration of the light. The laser light is conveyed by the source to the tissues through extremely flexible quartz optical fibres with a small diameter (300-micron) and a flat tip, which are inserted percutaneously by fine needles (21 Gauge).
ECHOLASER therefore introduces the concept of micro-invasiveness thanks to the use of very small gauge applicators (<0.8mm), which makes this the best approach in a-traumatic terms, as well as the concept of the multi-applicator approach which offers the possibility of treating lesions with a much broader size range.
Optical fibre inserted by fine needle introducer (21G)
The Laser Thermotherapy through the flat-tipped fibres of ECHOLASER produces a coagulation area (area in which the tissue has an irreversible damage) of ellipsoidal shape.
Coagulation area produced by Laser Thermotherapy
Laser Thermotherapy can also be carried out with ultrasound guidance for real-time monitoring of the correct positioning of the laser light applicators and the effective extension of the damage caused to the tumour. Laser Thermotherapy can be applied to both benign and malignant lesions in various organs (soft tissues).
The main applications of Laser Thermotherapy currently involve:
- Benign Thyroid Nodules (BTN) (ModìLite) and enlarged prostate volume due to BPH (SoracteLite), with the aim of tissue shrinkage with a consequent relief from symptoms based on Laser Induced CytoReduction (LICR) process;
- Primary and secondary malignant liver lesions (PBLite), with the aim of tumour complete ablation with a sufficient safety margin
Why Thermotherapy?
The concept of Thermotherapy is broader than more frequently used Thermoablation. In case of malignant lesions (e.g. metastatic lymph nodes) ECHOLASER is a highly precise approach, very useful on lesions of small size or with non homogenous borders. On benign lesions (e.g. thyroid nodules or BPH), ECHOLASER induces a controlled cytoreduction whith a consequent relief from symptoms.
Why Laser?
The intrinsic features of Laser (coherence, collimation and monochromaticity) and the penetration method of the laser into the tissues (depending on the wavelength) make Laser Thermotherapy a successful choice.
In fact:
- Laser is able to deliver energy in a precise and confined manner;
- Laser produces predictable, precise and controlled thermal damage;
- There is minimum dispersion of the laser energy in the tissues differing from the ablation target (which allows for treating selected volumes in critical zones);
- The laser energy is well tolerated by the body (with a very low risk of complications).
Multi-fibre approach that highlights the synergistic action of coalescence allowing large coagulation area
Compared to other ablative techniques, ECHOLASER offers greater safety and effectiveness thanks to:
the use of finer needles,
a faster treatment speed,
a lower dose of energy,
a localized effect on the treated area with clearly defined borders.
a faster treatment speed,
a lower dose of energy,
a localized effect on the treated area with clearly defined borders.