Biolase Inc.’s EPIC 10 soft tissue diode laser platform was awarded the gold medal for the Dental Instruments, Equipment and Supplies category at the 15th annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) ceremony held June 19 in Philadelphia. The award, sponsored by the Medical Device and Diagnostics Industry and organized by UBM Canon, recognizes the achievements of medical device manufacturers, suppliers and people behind the scenes — engineers, scientists, designers and clinicians — who are responsible for the groundbreaking innovations that are changing the face of health care. The entries were judged by a multidisciplinary panel of jurors with experience in biomedical engineering, clinical practice, diagnostics, human factors, industrial design, manufacturing and medicine. “We are honored to receive this recognition for our EPIC 10 diode laser system from the best and brightest medical device designers in the world,” said Chairman and CEO Federico Pignatelli. “This award is the direct result of the dedication and passion of our experienced engineers, designers and product managers and the desire they have to deliver groundbreaking surgical tools that provide better treatment solutions for dentists and their patients.” The EPIC 10 platform is used for a variety of surgical soft-tissue procedures in dentistry as an alternative to invasive, traumatic conventional devices such as the high-speed drill, scalpel and electrosurge. Its 940-nm wavelength is better absorbed by hemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin, enabling it to cut more efficiently at low power with less heat and discomfort. It also can be used for tooth whitening and temporary pain relief. The instrument was cleared by the FDA in September 2012 for a variety of dental applications; the EPIC 10S medical version of the diode laser platform received FDA clearance in April for use as a surgical instrument in more than 19 medical markets (See: Biolase Soft Tissue Diode Laser Cleared by FDA). A veterinary version of the platform, the V-Series, was launched in February. For more information, visit: www.biolase.com