As you’re probably aware, psoriasis affects approximately 2% to 3 % of the population, and it accounts for more than 1 million visits to dermatologists each year. But even if you didn’t have these statistics on the tip of your tongue, it’s a sure bet that you’ve seen your share of psoriasis sufferers. Traditionally, you may have turned to topical steroid sprays, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams or systemic therapies to treat the condition, but now you have another alternative with the BClear Targeted PhotoClearing System from Lumenis Inc. BClear Basics Ultraviolet-B (UVB) phototherapy devices have been used since the 1920s. The fiber-optic delivery of light has also been used in numerous devices over many years. Lumenis says that the BClear System combines the two technologies of UVB phototherapy and fiber-optic light delivery into a system that delivers the therapy in a targeted, safe manner. The BClear System received FDA marketing clearance based on the previously mentioned predicate devices for the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo. Because of its extensive and proven pedigree, Lumenis attests that no clinical trials using the BClear System were required to receive marketing clearance.The BClear System does have the CE Mark, and it was launched in the United States at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting this past February. It’s currently available in most countries around the world. FDA marketing clearance is pending for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and additional clinical applications are under consideration. BClear in Action Here’s a quick breakdown of how to use the BClear system for cases of psoriasis and vitiligo. • Psoriasis. The BClear System directly and exclusively targets therapeutic UVB light on the diseased skin. Thus, you can safely deliver several multiples (for example, 3 to 7) of a patient’s minimal erythema dose (MED) to psoriatic plaques. The BClear System’s touch-screen controls and adjustable parameters make customizing treatments for each patient simple and quick.If you treat patients two to three times per week, in most cases you can clear plaques in a series of approximately 6 to 10 treatments over 3 to 5 weeks. Depending on the amount of body surface area you’re treating, sessions can take as little as 1 minute or as long as 15 to 20 minutes. • Vitiligo. Because the areas of vitiligo have no pigmentation and will burn if exposed to more than one MED, this condition is treated with a series of approximately 15 to 30 treatments administered two to three times per week over 6 to 15 weeks. The initial fluence is low and increases as the diseased area begins to repigment. The length of treatment sessions falls in the same range as those for psoriasis and also depends on the amount of body surface area being treated. BClear Benefits When compared to the otherpossible treatment options available for psoriasis and vitiligo, the BClear System boasts many benefits. Relative to conventional UVB light boxes, it’s safer because it doesn’t expose normal skin to UVB light, avoiding the potential for skin cancer and photoaging. It’s also more appealing to patients when compared to excimer and pulsed dye lasers because it’s reimbursable, and as you’re aware, laser treatments are rarely reimbursable. Emil Tanghetti, M.D., of Sacramento, CA, likes the BClear because it’s a small machine and it uses flashlamp technology, not a laser. “It’s lightweight, easy to use and relatively inexpensive when compared to lasers. It’s also easier to maintain,” he adds. Another advantage of the BClear System is that there are minimal side effects with its use. Topical preparations can cause a thinning or irritation of the skin and systemic drugs can be toxic to internal organs. The side effects that do come with the BClear, such as erythema or edema, are transient. With other class–4 medical devices, you need a doctor or an R.N. to operate them, but with the BClear, a technician can do it. Dr. Tanghetti has a technician operate the system for regular psoriasis patients. He says, “The technician is trained in phototherapy, is competent and has good hand-eye coordination.” Bringing It Home If you think you might be interested in giving the BClear a home in your office, here are some more facts to consider. According to Lumenis, dermatologists typically purchase the BClear system as a single, stand-alone unit, and in most cases, they also purchase an optional cart, which makes it easy to move it between multiple locations. The system weighs 35 pounds and takes up about as much room as a medium-sized microwave oven. The only consumable is a light source kit that you must replace approximately every 4 to 12 months, depending on the intensity of your system use. The basic list price of the BClear Targeted PhotoClearing System is $44,900 and the list price of the cart is $995. The price of each BClear System sold in the United States includes a full, 1-year warranty that comes with Lumenis’s next business morning guarantee of a loaner system. All parts, labor and shipping are included in the warranty, and you may purchase additional years of warranty at any time. Essential Information Hopefully, you’ve learned more about this new treatment for psoriasis and vitiligo. For more information on the BClear System, call Lumenis at (925) 249-8000 or visit the company’s Web site at www.lumenis.com.
Treating Psoriasis and Vitiligo Just Got Easier
As you’re probably aware, psoriasis affects approximately 2% to 3 % of the population, and it accounts for more than 1 million visits to dermatologists each year. But even if you didn’t have these statistics on the tip of your tongue, it’s a sure bet that you’ve seen your share of psoriasis sufferers. Traditionally, you may have turned to topical steroid sprays, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams or systemic therapies to treat the condition, but now you have another alternative with the BClear Targeted PhotoClearing System from Lumenis Inc. BClear Basics Ultraviolet-B (UVB) phototherapy devices have been used since the 1920s. The fiber-optic delivery of light has also been used in numerous devices over many years. Lumenis says that the BClear System combines the two technologies of UVB phototherapy and fiber-optic light delivery into a system that delivers the therapy in a targeted, safe manner. The BClear System received FDA marketing clearance based on the previously mentioned predicate devices for the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo. Because of its extensive and proven pedigree, Lumenis attests that no clinical trials using the BClear System were required to receive marketing clearance.The BClear System does have the CE Mark, and it was launched in the United States at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting this past February. It’s currently available in most countries around the world. FDA marketing clearance is pending for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and additional clinical applications are under consideration. BClear in Action Here’s a quick breakdown of how to use the BClear system for cases of psoriasis and vitiligo. • Psoriasis. The BClear System directly and exclusively targets therapeutic UVB light on the diseased skin. Thus, you can safely deliver several multiples (for example, 3 to 7) of a patient’s minimal erythema dose (MED) to psoriatic plaques. The BClear System’s touch-screen controls and adjustable parameters make customizing treatments for each patient simple and quick.If you treat patients two to three times per week, in most cases you can clear plaques in a series of approximately 6 to 10 treatments over 3 to 5 weeks. Depending on the amount of body surface area you’re treating, sessions can take as little as 1 minute or as long as 15 to 20 minutes. • Vitiligo. Because the areas of vitiligo have no pigmentation and will burn if exposed to more than one MED, this condition is treated with a series of approximately 15 to 30 treatments administered two to three times per week over 6 to 15 weeks. The initial fluence is low and increases as the diseased area begins to repigment. The length of treatment sessions falls in the same range as those for psoriasis and also depends on the amount of body surface area being treated. BClear Benefits When compared to the otherpossible treatment options available for psoriasis and vitiligo, the BClear System boasts many benefits. Relative to conventional UVB light boxes, it’s safer because it doesn’t expose normal skin to UVB light, avoiding the potential for skin cancer and photoaging. It’s also more appealing to patients when compared to excimer and pulsed dye lasers because it’s reimbursable, and as you’re aware, laser treatments are rarely reimbursable. Emil Tanghetti, M.D., of Sacramento, CA, likes the BClear because it’s a small machine and it uses flashlamp technology, not a laser. “It’s lightweight, easy to use and relatively inexpensive when compared to lasers. It’s also easier to maintain,” he adds. Another advantage of the BClear System is that there are minimal side effects with its use. Topical preparations can cause a thinning or irritation of the skin and systemic drugs can be toxic to internal organs. The side effects that do come with the BClear, such as erythema or edema, are transient. With other class–4 medical devices, you need a doctor or an R.N. to operate them, but with the BClear, a technician can do it. Dr. Tanghetti has a technician operate the system for regular psoriasis patients. He says, “The technician is trained in phototherapy, is competent and has good hand-eye coordination.” Bringing It Home If you think you might be interested in giving the BClear a home in your office, here are some more facts to consider. According to Lumenis, dermatologists typically purchase the BClear system as a single, stand-alone unit, and in most cases, they also purchase an optional cart, which makes it easy to move it between multiple locations. The system weighs 35 pounds and takes up about as much room as a medium-sized microwave oven. The only consumable is a light source kit that you must replace approximately every 4 to 12 months, depending on the intensity of your system use. The basic list price of the BClear Targeted PhotoClearing System is $44,900 and the list price of the cart is $995. The price of each BClear System sold in the United States includes a full, 1-year warranty that comes with Lumenis’s next business morning guarantee of a loaner system. All parts, labor and shipping are included in the warranty, and you may purchase additional years of warranty at any time. Essential Information Hopefully, you’ve learned more about this new treatment for psoriasis and vitiligo. For more information on the BClear System, call Lumenis at (925) 249-8000 or visit the company’s Web site at www.lumenis.com.
As you’re probably aware, psoriasis affects approximately 2% to 3 % of the population, and it accounts for more than 1 million visits to dermatologists each year. But even if you didn’t have these statistics on the tip of your tongue, it’s a sure bet that you’ve seen your share of psoriasis sufferers. Traditionally, you may have turned to topical steroid sprays, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory creams or systemic therapies to treat the condition, but now you have another alternative with the BClear Targeted PhotoClearing System from Lumenis Inc. BClear Basics Ultraviolet-B (UVB) phototherapy devices have been used since the 1920s. The fiber-optic delivery of light has also been used in numerous devices over many years. Lumenis says that the BClear System combines the two technologies of UVB phototherapy and fiber-optic light delivery into a system that delivers the therapy in a targeted, safe manner. The BClear System received FDA marketing clearance based on the previously mentioned predicate devices for the treatment of psoriasis and vitiligo. Because of its extensive and proven pedigree, Lumenis attests that no clinical trials using the BClear System were required to receive marketing clearance.The BClear System does have the CE Mark, and it was launched in the United States at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting this past February. It’s currently available in most countries around the world. FDA marketing clearance is pending for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and additional clinical applications are under consideration. BClear in Action Here’s a quick breakdown of how to use the BClear system for cases of psoriasis and vitiligo. • Psoriasis. The BClear System directly and exclusively targets therapeutic UVB light on the diseased skin. Thus, you can safely deliver several multiples (for example, 3 to 7) of a patient’s minimal erythema dose (MED) to psoriatic plaques. The BClear System’s touch-screen controls and adjustable parameters make customizing treatments for each patient simple and quick.If you treat patients two to three times per week, in most cases you can clear plaques in a series of approximately 6 to 10 treatments over 3 to 5 weeks. Depending on the amount of body surface area you’re treating, sessions can take as little as 1 minute or as long as 15 to 20 minutes. • Vitiligo. Because the areas of vitiligo have no pigmentation and will burn if exposed to more than one MED, this condition is treated with a series of approximately 15 to 30 treatments administered two to three times per week over 6 to 15 weeks. The initial fluence is low and increases as the diseased area begins to repigment. The length of treatment sessions falls in the same range as those for psoriasis and also depends on the amount of body surface area being treated. BClear Benefits When compared to the otherpossible treatment options available for psoriasis and vitiligo, the BClear System boasts many benefits. Relative to conventional UVB light boxes, it’s safer because it doesn’t expose normal skin to UVB light, avoiding the potential for skin cancer and photoaging. It’s also more appealing to patients when compared to excimer and pulsed dye lasers because it’s reimbursable, and as you’re aware, laser treatments are rarely reimbursable. Emil Tanghetti, M.D., of Sacramento, CA, likes the BClear because it’s a small machine and it uses flashlamp technology, not a laser. “It’s lightweight, easy to use and relatively inexpensive when compared to lasers. It’s also easier to maintain,” he adds. Another advantage of the BClear System is that there are minimal side effects with its use. Topical preparations can cause a thinning or irritation of the skin and systemic drugs can be toxic to internal organs. The side effects that do come with the BClear, such as erythema or edema, are transient. With other class–4 medical devices, you need a doctor or an R.N. to operate them, but with the BClear, a technician can do it. Dr. Tanghetti has a technician operate the system for regular psoriasis patients. He says, “The technician is trained in phototherapy, is competent and has good hand-eye coordination.” Bringing It Home If you think you might be interested in giving the BClear a home in your office, here are some more facts to consider. According to Lumenis, dermatologists typically purchase the BClear system as a single, stand-alone unit, and in most cases, they also purchase an optional cart, which makes it easy to move it between multiple locations. The system weighs 35 pounds and takes up about as much room as a medium-sized microwave oven. The only consumable is a light source kit that you must replace approximately every 4 to 12 months, depending on the intensity of your system use. The basic list price of the BClear Targeted PhotoClearing System is $44,900 and the list price of the cart is $995. The price of each BClear System sold in the United States includes a full, 1-year warranty that comes with Lumenis’s next business morning guarantee of a loaner system. All parts, labor and shipping are included in the warranty, and you may purchase additional years of warranty at any time. Essential Information Hopefully, you’ve learned more about this new treatment for psoriasis and vitiligo. For more information on the BClear System, call Lumenis at (925) 249-8000 or visit the company’s Web site at www.lumenis.com.
