Trimedyne Says Cosmetic Laser OKd

Trimedyne Inc. said it won approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market its new cosmetic laser. Shares of the Irvine-based company rose $2.28 to close at $5.50 in Nasdaq trading. The company said the new laser has possible uses that surpass those of any laser on the market, but it said it won’t disclose those uses until it officially unveils the laser in May. “If field evaluations by experts in cosmetic surgery confirm our expectations, this new laser could revolutionize the way in which a number of cosmetic surgery procedures are performed,” said Marvin Loeb, chairman of Trimedyne. The company refused to give any more details about the laser or its potential uses other than saying it can be used for dermatologic and plastic surgery as a treatment device as well as for cosmetic purposes. FDA officials didn’t have any immediate comment.