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Study Supports Use of IntraLase(R) FS Laser in Preparation of Cornea Tissue for Novel Corneal Transplants
15 October 2005
IntraLase Corp. (Nasdaq: ILSE - News), The Northwest Lions Eye Bank and The Cornea Research Foundation of America announced today at the American Academy of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, preliminary study results that indicate uniform thickness posterior corneal allografts can be successfully prepared and stored for use in novel corneal transplant procedures. Dr. Frank Price will present the initial laboratory results during course LEC246 "Anterior and Posterior Lamellar Keratoplasty Techniques" on Sunday, October 16th. The study to be presented is part of a growing effort to make superior laser-cut cornea tissue available for posterior endothelial keratoplasty, known in layman's terms as partial-thickness cornea transplants. These procedures have gained significant interest among corneal surgeons due to their potential to speed visual recovery and reduce complications compared to the current standard surgery, in which a full thickness corneal transplant is performed. "Our team has been impressed with the Northwest Lions Eye Bank's ability to make this innovation a reality," said Dr. Ron Kurtz, Medical Director at IntraLase. "Their sophisticated approach to sight care has created bridges between the corporate and non-profit world that will continue to make a real impact on corneal surgery."
To accomplish the testing and validation necessary before distribution, Northwest Lions Eye Bank senior staff and technicians are using an IntraLase FS Laser located in the eye bank's Seattle laboratories. Following the completion of the studies, laser prepared tissue should be available as a replacement for manually prepared tissue for use in patients with diseases that affect the back portion of the cornea, the largest group requiring corneal transplantation in the U.S. NLEB is the first eye bank to use the IntraLase FS Laser to create posterior corneal grafts.
"Preliminary results on 28 corneas indicate that the IntraLase laser can be used to create partial thickness grafts that are uniformly about 200 microns, an ideal shape and size for these new surgical procedures. Importantly, early results also indicate that the tissue can be stored and sent to the surgeon in a convenient form without developing excessive tissue swelling. This would allow the surgeon to reduce operating times now spent preparing the tissue themselves, while also providing better quality grafts," said Dr. Frank W. Price, President of the Cornea Research Foundation of America.
As one of the leading eye banks in the world, the Northwest Lions Eye Bank has placed more than 30,000 corneas with surgeons for sight-restoring transplants. "We are excited to pioneer this innovative step for corneal transplantation and eye banking," said Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing President and CEO Monty M. Montoya. "Corneal surgeons and eye banks alike should be impressed by IntraLase's commitment to this project. Without their passion for serving surgeons and their patients' this breakthrough technology would not be possible."
About IntraLase:
IntraLase designs, develops and manufactures an ultra-fast laser, related software and disposable devices used to create a corneal flap, the first step in LASIK surgery for the correction of vision. The company's products improve the safety, precision and visual results of LASIK procedures by providing a computer-controlled laser solution in place of the hand-held mechanical, metal-bladed microkeratome traditionally used to create corneal flaps. IntraLase lasers are also used in surgical approaches to the treatment of diseased corneas. The company's lasers and disposable per procedure patient interfaces are presently marketed throughout the United States and 21 other countries. IntraLase is headquartered and manufactures its products in Irvine, Calif. For additional information, visit the company's web site: http://www.intralase.com .
About The Northwest Lions Eye Bank:
The Northwest Lions Eye Bank was founded by Lions volunteers in 1969. It has since grown into a world leader in eye banking, with more than 30,000 corneas placed nationally and internationally for sight-restoring transplants.
The Northwest Lions Foundation for Sight & Hearing is a 501(c)(3) non- profit charitable organization that operates the Eye Bank. Ninety-one cents of every dollar that individuals, companies, or organizations contribute directly support the foundation's humanitarian services. In addition to operating the Northwest Lions Eye Bank, the foundation administers these sight and hearing programs: Northwest Lions Hearing Aid Bank, the Lions Patient Care Program, AUDIENT/Northwest Hearing Care, the Lions Health Screening Unit and Lions Project Support Grants.
Founded in 1997, IntraLase Corp. (Nasdaq: ILSE - News) is located in Irvine, California. The company's INTRALASE® FS laser uses proprietary, computer- guided femtosecond laser technology for greater precision, improved safety and better results as compared to the use of traditional microkeratomes to create a corneal flap in Step One of LASIK eye surgery.
About The Cornea Research Foundation of America:
The Cornea Research Foundation of America (CRFA) was founded by Dr. Francis Price, Jr., M.D. in 1988 with a mission to establish a world center for clinical research and education specializing in corneal disease, corneal transplantation and intraocular lens surgery.
Forward Looking Statements:
Statements contained in this press release that are not historical information are forward-looking statements as defined within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "project," or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," or "may." Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied. Those risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the degree of continued acceptance of LASIK surgery; potential complications revealed by long-term follow up; the extent of adoption of our product offering by LASIK surgeons; general economic conditions; changes in federal tax laws governing the ability of potential LASIK patients to use pre-tax dollars to pay for LASIK surgery; the scope of government regulation applicable to our products; patients' willingness to pay for LASIK surgery; our ability to compete against our competitors; the effectiveness of our measures to ensure full payment of procedure fees; the occurrence and outcome of product liability suits against us; our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property; whether we become subject to claims of infringement or misappropriation of the intellectual property rights of others; the continued availability of supplies from single-source suppliers and manufacturers of our key laser components; the ability of our managers, operations, and facilities to manage our growth; the success of our expansion into markets outside the United States; whether we lose any of our key executives or fail to attract qualified personnel; or if our new products or applications fail to become commercially viable.
Certain of these risks and uncertainties, in addition to other risks, are more fully described in the company's quarterly report on form 10-Q for the period ending June 30, 2005, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 10, 2005.
These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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Source: IntraLase Corp.
Source: PR Newswire
All trademarks and copyrighted information contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
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