Iridex DioLite 532

The Iridex DioLite 532 is a compact dermatology laser that makes green 532 nm light from semiconductor parts instead of a lamp-pumped crystal. Inside the console, an 808 nm infrared diode laser supplies the energy, which is converted to visible 532 nm output, and a separate red diode in the 630 to 650 nm range provides the aiming beam. FDA cleared it under K964074 on April 1, 1997 for photocoagulation of vascular and pigmented skin lesions. Iridex launched it in June 1997 under its IRIDERM dermatology name.

The 510(k) summary lists up to 3 watts of output in pulses of 1 to 100 milliseconds, repetition rates up to 15 Hz and treatment spots from 200 to 1400 microns. Iridex's 1998 annual report describes a 15 pound console of about 6 by 12 by 12 inches that needs no external air or water cooling. The spot size comes from interchangeable DioLite handpieces, which were sold in 200, 500, 700, 1000 and 1400 micron versions.

Sellers often mix this unit up with its relatives. Iridex later sold the DioLite XP and the VariLite, a 532 and 940 nm system cleared in 2004 that accepts earlier DioLite 532 handpieces and the ScanLite scanner. After buying Laserscope's aesthetics business in January 2007, Iridex sold the DioLite XP alongside the Aura-i and Gemini. In February 2012 it sold the whole aesthetics business to Cutera. A console labeled simply DioLite 532 belongs to the original 1997 generation and has no 940 nm output.

Before making an offer, a buyer wants to know which handpieces and spot sizes come with the console, whether the fiber connectors and handpiece optics are clean and undamaged, and whether the laser reaches its rated power on a calibrated meter. Iridex no longer sells aesthetic lasers, so recent service records and any history of laser source repairs carry real weight. Photos of the serial label, front panel and each handpiece help.