A Medical Device Daily

MedicalCV (Minneapolis) reported that its Solar Surgical Ablation System, cleared for use in the ablation or coagulation of soft tissue, has been used in its first clinical procedures.

The first procedure was performed in conjunction with an open-heart mitral valve repair by Patrick McCarthy, MD, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago). The second ablation was performed in conjunction with a minimally invasive mitral valve repair by Michael Caskey, MD, in Phoenix. McCarthy and Caskey both serve on MedicalCV's Scientific Advisory Board.

Marc Flores, president/CEO of MedicalCV, said, "These procedures represent another significant milestone for MedicalCV and illustrate the value of developing our laser-based technology platform through ongoing collaboration between leadings physicians from both the academic and community settings and our engineering team."

The company said that the Solar Surgical Ablation System was highlighted in presentations at both the Advanced Cardiac Techniques in Surgery and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery meetings, before nearly 1,000 physicians, held earlier this month.

Solar and the company's Atrilaze system are based on MedicalCV's laser technology that delivers focused, coherent light energy for the purpose of creating deep, continuous lesions in surgical ablation. Solar recently received FDA 510(K) clearance with an indication for the delivery of laser light to soft tissue during surgical procedures.