Abstract
The ELVeS Laser is intended to treat patients with varicose veins as an Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) less-invasively compared to open surgery such as high ligation and stripping. The system consists of a Laser generator (gallium arsenide laser diode, 980 nm wave length, 15 Watts), Laser fiber and introducer sheath. A Laser fiber is inserted through the skin via an introducer sheath under ultrasound guidance directly into an incompetent segment of the greater saphenous vein or short saphenous vein. The Laser energy heats the vein wall, damaging it and causes it to collapse, shrink, and eventually becomes visually imperceptible on the ultrasound scanner a half year or so later. This technique is typically used to treat the relatively large diameters of varicose veins (saphenous type) and takes about 30 minutes per leg to perform.
