In a surprising move, Boston Scientific, the owner of Lumenis Surgical products, decided earlier this year to walk away from the CO₂ surgical laser market by the end of 2024:

 “Following a recommendation from the Israel-based laser franchise management team and additional careful considerations, Boston Scientific has made the strategic business decision to discontinue sales of its CO₂ laser system portfolio in all global markets by the end of 2024. This is not a recall, and the decision is not due to concerns with safety or effectiveness. This decision is also not related to the Israel-Hamas war. We intend to continue to provide select CO₂ service parts and single-use fibers and accessories, as well as service solutions, to support the provision of service to existing distributors and customers for up to seven years or per applicable contract terms, pending supply and other business constraints. Exact details of the portfolio discontinuation vary by country. Where appropriate, your local Boston Scientific representative will follow up with you separately to provide more information. We recommend not engaging in new tender applications for these products as we are unable to commit to the supply of inventory after 2024.”

Ref: Boston Scientific Announcement Jan 2024

A well-maintained CO₂ laser system with access to service parts and accessories has a lifespan of approximately 10-15 years. This blog visits some key support considerations required with a laser system and the potential effects of this announcement

Technician Support

On-going manufacturer training and support to ensure service technicians are properly certified and are providing safe and reliable service to existing laser systems.

Replacement Parts

The availability of replacement parts is essential for maintaining the functionality of CO₂ lasers. However, sourcing parts always becomes increasingly difficult when a company exits from the market particularly when the system does not drive consumable revenue and turning to third-party vendors or aftermarket solutions cannot guarantee the same levels of reliability and safety. Many manufacturing components already are provided by 3^rd party companies that have no ownership or obligation in keeping your laser operating. There is no Health Canada or FDA rule that makes medical device companies provide service components after discontinuation.

Clinical Support

With new surgeon and nursing staff onboarding there is always a requirement to provide clinical training and support.

Laser Safety Support

Laser providers should have an on-going laser safety program to ensure laser users and operators are all properly certified and providing a safe environment for staff and patients.

Unexpected Patient Cancellations and Capital Budget Impact

If hospitals are put in a position of not being able to repair their laser system, a large unexpected financial impact will occur. CO₂ lasers are not typically in stock and significant delays will inherently be experienced.

Recommendations for Navigating the Change 

Despite the challenges posed by the decision to discontinue the Ultrapulse and Acupulse CO₂ lasers, hospitals can take a variety of proactive steps to mitigate potential disruptions and reduce the risk of disruption to their CO₂ laser programs.

1. Stock Up on Essential Parts
   By forecasting usage and maintaining an inventory of components, hospitals can minimize downtime caused by potential breakdowns.
2. Look at Alternative Service Providers
   Seeking out reputable third-party service companies with highly skilled technicians can provide more reliable repair services for CO₂ lasers, at least in the short term.
   However, third party service providers can be subject to unnecessary delays due to the lack of parts supply in the market.
3. Consider Collaborative Solutions
   Collaborating with other hospitals for shared servicing and resource pooling may offer a temporary solution to extend the life of existing equipment in the short term.
4. Budgeting for a new CO₂ Laser
   Ensure your hospital administration understands the potential risk and has a replacement CO₂ laser system on its capital budget. Clarion Medical Technologies is the exclusive Canadian distributor of the DEKA SmartXide Trio CO₂ laser system. This system offers all of the same treatments and performance as your existing Lumenis system but with next generation technology.
   
   

The Reliability of DEKA CO₂ Surgical Lasers and the Experience of Clarion Medical Technologies Support

Investing in reliable alternatives like the DEKA SmartXide TRIO CO₂ surgical laser provides hospitals with access to cutting-edge technology (such as state-of-the-art scanning equipment and robotic integration) and robust support services. With Clarion Medical Technologies providing the largest service and support team of its kind in Canada, reliable and expert clinical support and system support will be with your program for years to come. Clarion's team of experts has installed over 90% of all Surgical CO₂ Laser Systems in Canada.

As DEKA’s surgical CO₂ laser representative in Canada, Clarion also benefits from a direct relationship with the laser manufacturer. As an authorized distributor, they have direct access to factory parts, sourced from the manufacturer.

Conclusion

Whenever a company dissolves an entire laser system category, there is a potential for significant challenges to its existing users. However, by adopting a strategic approach that includes proactive planning and investment in alternative technologies, hospitals can ensure operational continuity and continue to deliver high-quality patient care using CO₂ technology in surgery.