Ziemer Group Announces The FEMTO LDV™ Crystal Line

Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems

(Paris, France; September 4, 2010) At the opening of the ESCRS 2010 Convention in Paris, France, Ziemer Group is unveiling its new generation of its successful Femtosecond Surgical Laser. Based on the experience from over half a million Z-LASIK procedures, Ziemer engineers have continuously further improved and optimized all key components of the Ziemer FEMTO LDV. The result of their effort is now available as an all-new package, named the "Crystal Line".

Since the first femtosecond Laser named after Leonardo da Vinci was put in clinical service by Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems in 2006, the FEMTO LDV™ has been the technology leader among all the femtolaser systems introduced before and after it, up to the present day. Now, Ziemer confirms its technological leadership by unveiling its next evolutionary step in femtolaser performance.

At a pulse rate of over 5 MHz (more than five million pulses per second), the FEMTO LDV Crystal Line outruns its nearest runner-up by more than ten-fold. Its Crystal-tuned all solid-state laser source is extremely stable (much more stable than the competitors' amplified lasers). Its Crystal-tuned, wavefront-optimized, high numerical aperture optics focuses the laser beam on an extremely small tissue volume of less than 2 microns across, achieving smooth tissue dissection at just a few nano-Joules of Laser pulse energy. Ziemer's Crystal-tuned laser technology achieves crystal-perfect tissue dissection with minimal thermal effects, minimum trauma, and minimum edema in the corneal tissue. This permits dissecting stromal tissue close to Bowman's membrane or the Descemet, without inflicting damage on epithelium or endothelium.

Surgeons who have been using the Ziemer FEMTO LDV have been marketing their LASIK procedures successfully under the name "Z-LASIK". In the Ziemer FEMTO LDV Crystal Line, dozens of improvements work together to make the best femto-Lasik procedure even better. Procedures performed with the new Crystal Line platform will therefore be marketed under the trade name "Z-LASIK Crystal Plus", to communicate to the public that a new, even higher level of performance is now available.

Even more precise, more uniform flap thickness minimizes risk in thin-flap (SBK) procedures; and shortest procedure times help avoid edema and enhance predictability of refractive ablation. A new proprietary, smooth in-plane circular rim cut creates a self-sealing flap border that avoids in-growth and facilitates flap lifting. ZLASIK Crystal Plus achieves superior short-term visual recovery. Patients who reach 20/20 or better uncorrected visual acuity within hours after surgery experience an almost unbelievable "Wow" experience – the most powerful practice marketing for refractive surgeons aiming to offer their refractive customers the best available treatment..

The Ziemer FEMTO LDV™ Crystal Line Femtosecond Surgical Laser is available for immediate delivery.

For more information, please visit www.ziemergroup.com.

Contact:
Dr. Anton C. Wirthlin, Vice President, Marketing, Ziemer Group AG, CH-2562 Port, Switzerland
Phone: +41 32 332 7052; mail: [email protected]

About Ziemer:
Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG, a Ziemer Group Company, is a privately held company incorporated in Port, Switzerland. Founded in 1999, Ziemer Group is focused on developing, manufacturing, and marketing leading edge diagnostic and surgical ophthalmic products. Successful products developed by the group include the FEMTO LDV™ Femtosecond Surgical Laser, the AMADEUS® Microkeratome, the PASCAL® Dynamic Contour Tonometer and the GALILEI™ Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer.

Ziemer USA, Inc. is a fully owned subsidiary of Ziemer Group. It markets all Ziemer Group products in the USA.

The FEMTO LDV™ Crystal Line will be marketed and distributed by Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG and its worldwide network of authorized distributors.

GALILEI™, FEMTO LDV™, and Z-LASIK™ are trademarks, and PASCAL® and AMADEUS® are registered trademarks of Ziemer Group Companies.