CLIENT PROJECTS: INTRALASE

IntraLase

IntraLase began as a technology transfer licensed startup company from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in the mid-1990's. IntraLase was led by University of Michigan ophthalmologist Ronald Kurtz and physicist Tibor Juhasz of the University of California, Irvine. The IntraLase and UM teams developed a novel diode-pumped 1um wavelength laser engine that was sufficiently compact and robust to enable practical femtosecond laser medical applications.

First commercial prototype of IntraLase femtosecond corneal refractive laser in the laboratory at the Kellogg Eye Center (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor), circa 1999.  Gain Consulting managed performance testing of the IntraLase prototype t… — First commercial prototype of IntraLase femtosecond corneal refractive laser in the laboratory at the Kellogg Eye Center (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor). Gain Consulting managed performance testing of the IntraLase prototype to support the successful regulatory submission for the company's first several 510[k]'s.

The laser engine was co-developed at UM's CUOS and at IntraLase. Combined with a modified scanning laser delivery system that itself was descended from the Intelligent Surgical Lasers picosecond system for corneal vision correction surgery. The result was the world's first femtosecond laser for performing corneal refractive surgery.

While those first-in-human clinical evaluations were underway, the company's first commercial prototype was shipped to the University of Michigan, Kellogg to perform pre-clinical animal studies in preparation for commercialization. Gain Consulting assisted the IntraLase team conduct pre-clinical animal studies in preparation for commercialization and conducted performance testing in support of IntraLase’s successful initial US FDA regulatory submission. Gain Consulting also assisted in the successful application of SBIR Phase I and SBIR Phase II grants that fueled the initial development of the IntraLase prototypes.

IntraLase eventually launched a successful IPO, and was later acquired by Advanced Medical Optics (a division of Abbott Labs), creating a new category of laser vision correction surgery.