Cynosure Elite iQ

The Cynosure Elite iQ is a dual wavelength aesthetic workstation that pairs a 755 nm alexandrite laser with a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser in a single cart. FDA cleared it under 510(k) K193426 on March 9, 2020, and Cynosure announced the launch that June, presenting the Elite iQ as the next generation of its Elite+ workstation. The clearance covers hair removal and permanent hair reduction, with the 755 nm source cleared for Fitzpatrick skin types I to VI including tanned skin, along with vascular lesions, benign pigmented lesions and wrinkles.

Light travels through a lens coupled fiber to interchangeable quick release handpieces. The 510(k) summary lists spot sizes of 2.5, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 22 and 24 mm. The system includes the Skintel Melanin Reader, which measures skin melanin so the operator can choose a starting fluence for a test spot. The same summary notes that the system works with a cold air chiller for skin cooling.

Sellers sometimes confuse the Elite iQ with the models on either side of it. In FDA's comparison table the Elite iQ reaches 600 J/cm² against 300 J/cm² for the older Elite+, and its smallest spot is 2.5 mm where the Elite+ starts at 3 mm. The later Elite iQ PRO, cleared in March 2024, adds a 30 mm handpiece and a 12 Hz maximum and carries PRO branding in its software, so a 30 mm handpiece or PRO on the start screen points to the newer model.

A dealer pricing an Elite iQ will want the pulse count, the software version and the service history. Name each handpiece by spot size, say whether the Skintel reader and a chiller are included, and describe the condition of the fiber and handpiece windows. Photos of the serial label, the main screen and each handpiece let the buyer confirm the configuration before making an offer.