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Biotech / Medical : SNRS- Sunrise Technologies -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TBM700 who wrote (815)	4/26/1998 7:15:00 PM
From: majormember	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4140

Trango, Welcome to our humble thread. I am happy you come with questions regarding regression. The best way to do your DD would be by following the post below, which was so ably put together by E. Message 4148838 If you have further questions, after your research, feel free to post them; someone will be able to answer your question. Regards, Skane

To: TBM700 who wrote (815)	4/26/1998 7:31:00 PM
From: majormember	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 4140

Trango, Below is a point by point response our CAKE make to an aol poster "CHEESBREATH" who had regression questions...I think you will find his answer of "NON-CONTACT" being the answer to the regression question. Regards, Skane ***************************************************************** Cheesebreath->> LTK had prolific regression when I last followed Sunrise----and I mean prolific.>> Cake-->The only time LTK had prolific regression was when it was CONTCT MODE and that is AGES OLD information. That is when SUMMIT was using CONTACT MODE LTK. When you use more energy in CONTACT MODE, that results in scarring, necrosis of the corneal tissue and regression. Cheesebreath-->>Summit was in Hyperopia clinical trials for LTK themselves with a holmium laser just like Sunrise-----AND THEY ABANDONED THE TRIALS. DOES THAT MEAN ANYTHING TO ANYONE?>> Cake-->Summit abandoned the studies because their LTK was CONTACT MODE, AND CONTACT MODE DOES NOT WORK, as stated above. Cheesebreath-->>Sure it is possible that Sunrise figured out a way to get around the tremendous regression that LTK suffers from......I'd like to know how they did it.>> Cake--->Simple. SUNRISE LTK IS NON CONTACT MODE - BIG DIFFERENCE. It is also highly successful due to the rigid drying protocol that is being used. Sunrise is also very particular about their patient population. You must be 40+ years and .75 to 2.5 hyperopic. The procedure is not done indiscriminately. For your information, the regression curve for the approved excimer laser is IDENTICAL to the regression curve for the LTK units. All result in an initial over correction followed by a period of regression which is predictable but minimal after six months and negligible after one year. Cheesebreath--->>Additionally, if the LTK procedure is so gee golly great, why does Sunrise restrict its use to 3.00 diopters of hyperopia (I tend to believe Sunrise does the bulk of their procedure on 1.00 and 2.00 diopters).>> Cake--->Actually the studies are up to 2.5 dIopters, however, in that small range, there are 36 million hyperopes. Beyond 2.5, there are not that many additional patients. You should also know, however, that current studies outside the U.S. indicate that Sunrise can extend the range up to 4 diopters of correction. These results were recently presented at major ophthalmic meetings and shall be presented agbain at ASCRS in San Diego next month. Maybe that's why sunrise LTK is "so gee golly great". Or maybe its the fact that the cost of the procedure is less than half of the VISX excimer procedure, or maybe it's the fact that the Sunrise LTK lasers only cost $200,000 compared to $500,000 for the VISX laser. Maybe this is why the sun is shining on Sunrise! O maybe it's because the industry recognizes that there are TWICE AS MANY HYPEROPES AS MYOPES. The companies treating myopes with excimer lasers have tremendous competition - witness the recent FDA approval of the Autonomous laser. Sunrise's NON CONTACT MODE LTK, once approved should have NO COMPETITION in terms of cost, simplicity, safety and patient acceptance of the procedure. And, again, the Sunrise LTK patient population is DOUBLE that of myopes!

To: TBM700 who wrote (815)	4/26/1998 7:32:00 PM
From: Double E	Respond to of 4140

If you also navigated around the Sunrise home page (while going through Skane's references), then you also read through (hopefully) the following page on FAQ regarding LTK: sunrise-tech.com There is one question that specifically addresses the issue of regression. I have not seen any definitive research published by the company on the issue of regression. I am, however, confident that the results of the Sunrise procedure and the LACK of appreciable regression as it is being measured in their trials is a big part of the reason the FDA is moving along so quickly in their review and approval process for the SNRS procedure. Being a 40+ baby-boomer myself, one question I have always had is: how is regression even defined in a patient whose age bears a direct correlation to the fact that their eyesight is becoming progressively worse every year anyway . . . with or without the Sunrise procedure to correct! I'm ready to sign up for the treatment as soon as it is approved and accessible. The sooner the better.

To: TBM700 who wrote (815)	4/27/1998 3:08:00 AM
From: Joe	Respond to of 4140

The other posts in response to yours have hit the regression topic well. In conclusion, from a patient's perspective, I had both of my eyes treated at London Place Eye Centre up in B.C., Canada, nearly 4 years ago (then a late 40's hyperope). I can tell you that the procedure was simple, a quick one sitting in front of a slit lamp taking several seconds per eye. For me it was not totally painless post treatment - there was mild irritation which was controlled with Tylenol and antibotic eye drops. There has been some regression, mostly in the first year, but it has been minor. I still do not need to wear glasses - I have tried my old glasses on and I can't even see through them. To complete your DD you should be aware of the extensive patent protection of the "Sand" process for using thermal laser energy for shrinking collagen. If you will log onto the IBM patent server, you can take a look at the patents for yourself. patents.ibm.com Search for "sand bruce j" (leave out the quotes and do not use a comma between the last and first name) and select 1971 to present. The Sand patents were acquired when Sunrise purchased a company called Laser Biotech. These patents have been refined over the years, as you can see. In one of the reference posts you will note that Summit Technology (BEAM) had an unsuccessful LTK effort. On the patent issue, it is reassuring to note that back in the year they started their clinicals, they acknowledged the Sand process patents in the notes to their SEC Form 10-K indicating their process might infringe the Sunrise patents.