Study Compares Plume in Energy Devices

InMode, global provider of innovative medical technologies, recently conducted a study comparing the plume effect of fractional radiofrequency (RF) versus laser resurfacing with the Erbium (Er):YAG Laser due to concerns of possible COVID-19 airborne virus transfer.

Published in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS), study researchers investigated the potential risk of plume exposure by measuring the quantity, size, and rate of plume particle emissions produced beyond ambient environment baseline. The study used two technologies, the Er:YAG Laser (JOULE, Sciton) and fractional RF (Morpheous8, InMode).

"Ensuring optimal safety during these unprecedented times demands heightened vigilance and a thorough assessment of all technologies used in elective procedures,” says Spero Theodorou, M.D., InMode chief medical officer and plastic surgeon, in the press release announcing the study results. “The aerosolization of pathogenetic particulate material is a medical consideration that is critical to any product evaluation, and the findings of this clinical paper substantiate the safety profile of Morpheus8's unique multi-level subdermal energy deployment.”

Researchers found that the measurements obtained through a commercial-grade particle analyzer indicated that the Er:YAG laser emitted more than four times the particles compared to the fractional RF device, consistently recording majority of particles in the range of 510 µm, while RF did not emit plume significantly above the ambient baseline.

These study results indicate that devices that generate little to no plume, such as fractional RF, are safer to use during the COVID-19 pandemic, while devices that generate visible plume like Er:YAG should be used cautiously with appropriate PPE in addition to a smoke evacuator. Researchers conclude that further study is needed to characterize COVID-19 viability and transmissibility in plume specimens.

"Morpheus8's disruptive RF technology continues to redefine fractional remodeling by delivering unprecedented functionality and efficacy to physicians and their patients,” says Shakil Lakhani, president of InMode North America, in the release. “This new study categorically affirms InMode as the premier fractional RF solution.”