But the technology did not develop ergonomic medical applications so far

It is by taking the scientific work done in the 1960s on the biochemical response to heat stress that the surgeon Alain Cornil has developed a new instrument to help healing. His company, Ekkyo, created in 2006, is poised to launch the marketing of the device. "Known since then that a shock is able to modify the expression profile of proteins involved in cellular tissue repair, he explains." But the technology did not develop ergonomic medical applications so far. "As far as to be effective, the shock must be issued as soon as possible after the injury.

Improve the performance of laser diodes to imagine operating space-saving and easy to use instrument. Using the increased power of diodes from a few watts to several tens in three years the laser could be miniaturized to fit in a device of only 600 grams. "There is little, the same device would have weighed 5 pounds, which would have prohibited its use in routine," said Alain Cornil. The surgeon can now take the hand tool to use as a large pen at the time to close the wound. It is sufficient to apply a patch for security along the incision and follow the marks. The guide contains interconnecting chips (RFID) which authorize shooting only if the laser is perfectly positioned over the injury. It includes also instructions and parameters of shot chosen in a catalog with melamine density in the skin (lighter or darker), and recognizes a place already or sufficiently processed through an algorithmic ratio between captured temperature and exposure time. The laser is then automatically cut.

By issuing in the near infrared, the tool stimulates the skin regeneration process. Tested for several months in surgical services to Marseille, Montpellier, Lille and Lausanne, the device shows the spectacular aesthetic results. "The first return of experience confirm that, in more than 80 of cases, the visible trace of wound disappears almost entirely, or even completely", explains Alain Cornil. "Comfort is also better for the patient, who feel less tension and less irritation during the healing process", said Professor Guy Magalon, head of the Department of surgery plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic of the Hospital of the design in Marseille, who notably treated Mama Galledou, student burned in arson of a bus in October 2006.

CE marking

After the clinical phase, tool received the CE marking in September. "This label confirms the safety and benefits of the technology of laser assisted healing," said Alain Cornil. The Ekkyo technology is protected by 4 international patents, and several others are being filed. Alain Cornil spends an annual budget of 80,000 euros to the industrial protection of its healing light improvement techniques (Lash, for "Laser assisted skin healing" in English). It therefore intends to market its device called "Ekkylite" by the end of the year in France, then in Europe and the United States as early as 2009 successively.

The potential is serious. "The market is not relevant only plastic surgeons, but also all specialists facing problems of healing, including dermatologists, obstetricians and other members", said Alain Cornil. Eventually, hope the boss, the tool could find its place in all operating blocks, even beyond if the current tests prove their effectiveness on older scars. Charged to the patient, the delivery will then allow to amortize the cost of the device, expected between 15,000 and 20,000 euros.