CryoProbe X: Improved Outpatient Cryosurgical Technique With New Cryosurgery Product
Anthony Mishik
February 10, 2010
www.DocSavings.com
Physician office products pop up on the market all the time. Physicians are constantly bombarded with "new" "improved" and "technologically advanced" medical devices to help their offices be more efficient, improve patient outcomes and increase office revenue. One area this has occurred in is the outpatient cryosurgical care products.
An exciting recent addition to physician office cryotherapy is the CryoProbe X device. This new physician tool brings "new and improved" to the innovative technological advances seen with its less expensive predecessor, the CryoProbe C. These two products combine portability and compact design in a modern pen-like instrument that still delivers the desired cryotherapy attributes of superior accuracy, ultra cold temperatures, and a stable freezing agent with no transport issues.
A comparison of these attributes of CryoProbe versus rival cryotherapies (Verruca Freeze™, Histofreezer™ and liquid nitrogen) are as follows:
Temperature: CryoProbe C and CryoProbe X use nitrous oxide at -89 degrees C (-127 degrees F). This is colder than Verruca Freeze (-70 degrees C/-94 degrees F) and Histofreezer (-55 degrees C/-67 degrees F). Liquid nitrogen freezes lesions at -196 degrees C/-321 degrees F.
Accuracy: The more accurately a cryosurgical instrument freezes a lesion, the less destruction of normal tissue. Pain is associated with destruction of healthy tissue.
CryoProbe comes with up to 3 micro-applicators that deliver pinpoint accuracy of nitrous oxide at 1-3 mm., 2-4 mm., and 3-8 mm. These micro-applicators do not need to be replaced. The fingertip control trigger in the CryoProbe X makes this accuracy even better. Verruca Freeze uses either reusable cones (2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 mm) or disposable Cryo-Buds of 3, 5 and 9 mm. Histofreezer uses disposable buds of 2 and 5 mm. Liquid nitrogen only uses cotton swabs unless you have a spray device with a metal tip.
Cryogen: CryoProbe uses nitrous oxide in 8 and 16 g cartridges. Unlimited shelf life if unopened, once punctured it will last a few weeks. 8 g cartridges (for both the CryoProbe C and CryoProbe X) give 2-3 applications, while the 16 g cartridges (used by CryoProbe X only) give 4-6 applications. Verruca Freeze is a combination of trifluoroethane, pentafluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane. Shelf life is 5 years, with deterioration when opened. Histofreezer is 95% dimethyl ether, 2% propane and 3% isobutene. Shelf life is 2-3 years closed and it deteriorates when opened. Larger size containers can have transportation issues. Liquid nitrogen (LN) can last 3-6 weeks in standard dewars. LN evaporates very easily, needs ventilation and has toxicity and transport issues.
Freezing Power: Effective treatment requires rapid freezing and sufficient penetration to get to the distal edge of a lesion. CryoProbe, with its pressure jet technology (to 725 psi) penetrates a lesion at a 1 mm depth per 5 seconds. Neither Verruca Freeze nor Histofreezer has similar technology. All cryosurgical treatments get better results with 2 applications per freezing session. Time required for each therapy is:
CryoProbe 5 seconds per 1 mm depth; Verruca Freezer 25-30 seconds; Histofreeze 40 seconds and liquid nitrogen 2-6 seconds.
We trialed CryoProbe to see how well these attributes held up in comparison to the alternative cryosurgical therapies available with Verruca Freeze™, Histofreezer™ and liquid nitrogen.
Patients in a private practice were treated with the CryoProbe X device. Lesions ranged in size from small flat 1 mm. circular warts to larger raised irregular shaped 3-4 mm. wide verruca on various parts of the body. Time of treatment ranged from 5-15 seconds and 2 applications were used for each lesion. No prior anesthesia was required for any patient. Average visit took less than 5 minutes of physician face time for wart/lesion treatment and could be incorporated into longer acute visits or health maintenance evaluations.
All our patients tolerated the procedure well. Only a few required repeat therapy, while repeat treatments seem to be the norm with alternative therapies. We did note that user dexterity improved with increased use (how close to position tip of CryoProbe to lesion, time to freeze various size lesions, continued nitrous oxide flow for several seconds after release of trigger), but we noted that both the physician user and patients were very satisfied with application as well as outcome.
The lesions that can be treated also vary per device. CryoProbe is cleared to treat all benign lesions. It can be used to treat irregular shaped lesions as well as small lesions on the eyes and lips from close range on the face. Verruca Freeze can be used on 21 specific lesions and Histofreezer can be used on 9 specific lesions. Liquid nitrogen is indicated for both benign and malignant lesions.
Finally, any medical facility needs to look at the cost of a product and its return on investment (ROI). After the initial cost of the device, CryoProbe requires no maintenance. Cost per treatment can be as low as $2-4 per treatment. Verruca Freeze ranges between $6-10 per treatment and Histofreezer is $9-13 per treatment. Liquid nitrogen cost $150 per 60 gallons and while per treatment cost are much lower per treatment (less than $1) it does require equipment and outlay of money and maintenance of this equipment which requires high volume use to justify cost. Reimbursement levels vary by insurance carrier, but are usually very profitable and offer patients an overall savings from visiting multiple specialists and the associated extra expense this involves.
In conclusion, both CryoProbe C and CryoProbe X are excellent new and improved devices for outpatient cryosurgical therapy. Features that include ultra cold temperatures, precise accuracy and a stable cryogen make CryoProbe a first rate choice for quality cryotherapy. Add low cost per application and no maintenance design, these devices are a must have instrument for any primary care physician who is interested improving patient care while improving office economies. We strongly recommend a thorough evaluation of the CryoProbe line of cryosurgical instruments.
You can contact Dr. Mishik thru our website www.DocSavings.com
Or Email at "DrTony" (at) DocSavings.com
Phone: 888 DOC-SAV2 (888-362-7282)
And see other practice management articles at www.DocSavings.com
Physician office products pop up on the market all the time. Physicians are constantly bombarded with "new" "improved" and "technologically advanced" medical devices to help their offices be more efficient, improve patient outcomes and increase office revenue. One area this has occurred in is the outpatient cryosurgical care products.
An exciting recent addition to physician office cryotherapy is the CryoProbe X device. This new physician tool brings "new and improved" to the innovative technological advances seen with its less expensive predecessor, the CryoProbe C. These two products combine portability and compact design in a modern pen-like instrument that still delivers the desired cryotherapy attributes of superior accuracy, ultra cold temperatures, and a stable freezing agent with no transport issues.
A comparison of these attributes of CryoProbe versus rival cryotherapies (Verruca Freeze™, Histofreezer™ and liquid nitrogen) are as follows:
Temperature: CryoProbe C and CryoProbe X use nitrous oxide at -89 degrees C (-127 degrees F). This is colder than Verruca Freeze (-70 degrees C/-94 degrees F) and Histofreezer (-55 degrees C/-67 degrees F). Liquid nitrogen freezes lesions at -196 degrees C/-321 degrees F.
Accuracy: The more accurately a cryosurgical instrument freezes a lesion, the less destruction of normal tissue. Pain is associated with destruction of healthy tissue.
CryoProbe comes with up to 3 micro-applicators that deliver pinpoint accuracy of nitrous oxide at 1-3 mm., 2-4 mm., and 3-8 mm. These micro-applicators do not need to be replaced. The fingertip control trigger in the CryoProbe X makes this accuracy even better. Verruca Freeze uses either reusable cones (2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12 mm) or disposable Cryo-Buds of 3, 5 and 9 mm. Histofreezer uses disposable buds of 2 and 5 mm. Liquid nitrogen only uses cotton swabs unless you have a spray device with a metal tip.
Cryogen: CryoProbe uses nitrous oxide in 8 and 16 g cartridges. Unlimited shelf life if unopened, once punctured it will last a few weeks. 8 g cartridges (for both the CryoProbe C and CryoProbe X) give 2-3 applications, while the 16 g cartridges (used by CryoProbe X only) give 4-6 applications. Verruca Freeze is a combination of trifluoroethane, pentafluoroethane and tetrafluoroethane. Shelf life is 5 years, with deterioration when opened. Histofreezer is 95% dimethyl ether, 2% propane and 3% isobutene. Shelf life is 2-3 years closed and it deteriorates when opened. Larger size containers can have transportation issues. Liquid nitrogen (LN) can last 3-6 weeks in standard dewars. LN evaporates very easily, needs ventilation and has toxicity and transport issues.
Freezing Power: Effective treatment requires rapid freezing and sufficient penetration to get to the distal edge of a lesion. CryoProbe, with its pressure jet technology (to 725 psi) penetrates a lesion at a 1 mm depth per 5 seconds. Neither Verruca Freeze nor Histofreezer has similar technology. All cryosurgical treatments get better results with 2 applications per freezing session. Time required for each therapy is:
CryoProbe 5 seconds per 1 mm depth; Verruca Freezer 25-30 seconds; Histofreeze 40 seconds and liquid nitrogen 2-6 seconds.
We trialed CryoProbe to see how well these attributes held up in comparison to the alternative cryosurgical therapies available with Verruca Freeze™, Histofreezer™ and liquid nitrogen.
Patients in a private practice were treated with the CryoProbe X device. Lesions ranged in size from small flat 1 mm. circular warts to larger raised irregular shaped 3-4 mm. wide verruca on various parts of the body. Time of treatment ranged from 5-15 seconds and 2 applications were used for each lesion. No prior anesthesia was required for any patient. Average visit took less than 5 minutes of physician face time for wart/lesion treatment and could be incorporated into longer acute visits or health maintenance evaluations.
All our patients tolerated the procedure well. Only a few required repeat therapy, while repeat treatments seem to be the norm with alternative therapies. We did note that user dexterity improved with increased use (how close to position tip of CryoProbe to lesion, time to freeze various size lesions, continued nitrous oxide flow for several seconds after release of trigger), but we noted that both the physician user and patients were very satisfied with application as well as outcome.
The lesions that can be treated also vary per device. CryoProbe is cleared to treat all benign lesions. It can be used to treat irregular shaped lesions as well as small lesions on the eyes and lips from close range on the face. Verruca Freeze can be used on 21 specific lesions and Histofreezer can be used on 9 specific lesions. Liquid nitrogen is indicated for both benign and malignant lesions.
Finally, any medical facility needs to look at the cost of a product and its return on investment (ROI). After the initial cost of the device, CryoProbe requires no maintenance. Cost per treatment can be as low as $2-4 per treatment. Verruca Freeze ranges between $6-10 per treatment and Histofreezer is $9-13 per treatment. Liquid nitrogen cost $150 per 60 gallons and while per treatment cost are much lower per treatment (less than $1) it does require equipment and outlay of money and maintenance of this equipment which requires high volume use to justify cost. Reimbursement levels vary by insurance carrier, but are usually very profitable and offer patients an overall savings from visiting multiple specialists and the associated extra expense this involves.
In conclusion, both CryoProbe C and CryoProbe X are excellent new and improved devices for outpatient cryosurgical therapy. Features that include ultra cold temperatures, precise accuracy and a stable cryogen make CryoProbe a first rate choice for quality cryotherapy. Add low cost per application and no maintenance design, these devices are a must have instrument for any primary care physician who is interested improving patient care while improving office economies. We strongly recommend a thorough evaluation of the CryoProbe line of cryosurgical instruments.
You can contact Dr. Mishik thru our website www.DocSavings.com
Or Email at "DrTony" (at) DocSavings.com
Phone: 888 DOC-SAV2 (888-362-7282)
And see other practice management articles at www.DocSavings.com
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