Cynosure Palomar Emerge

The Emerge is a small tabletop non-ablative fractional laser that Palomar Medical Technologies brought to market in April 2012, after FDA clearance K111840 in November 2011. It uses a 1410 nm diode laser, and FDA's device database classifies it as a dermatological diode laser system. Palomar positioned it as an entry level professional system and said it reused technology and manufacturing methods from its PaloVia consumer fractional laser, which is one of the predicates named in the 510(k). Cynosure acquired Palomar in June 2013 and now holds the device records.

The 510(k) summary describes a single fractional handpiece connected to a base unit that holds the power supply, control electronics and an LCD screen. Palomar's published specifications give an 8 by 12 mm treatment window, energy of 10 to 30 mJ per microbeam, pulse durations of 4 to 20 ms, a handpiece about 9.8 inches long on a cord of roughly 4.9 feet, and a total weight near 8 pounds. The software offered manual firing plus AutoStamp and AutoGlide delivery modes and five factory presets, and Palomar stated there are no disposable costs. The clearance covers skin resurfacing, coagulation of soft tissue, pigmented lesions such as lentigos, melasma and dyschromia, and facial wrinkles and fine lines.

The Emerge is easy to mix up with Palomar's Lux1440 and Lux1540 fractional handpieces, but those plug into the much larger Icon and StarLux platforms, while the Emerge is a standalone unit with its own base. GUDID lists the laser assembly as model 0500-0001 and the handpiece assembly as model 0520A-0001, so the labels on the base and handpiece settle the question quickly.

Since the handpiece is the only delivery part, a buyer focuses on it: photograph the treatment window for scratches or residue, confirm the cord and connector are intact, and show the unit firing in each delivery mode. Add the base serial label, the software screen and any service paperwork from Palomar or Cynosure.