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ASTRAL - Lumibird

ASTRAL - Lumibird

Abstract

The Ellex ASTRAL® is a contactless Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) platform with integrated anterior chamber OCT, designed to visualize and target the trabecular meshwork for precise, lens-free glaucoma treatment.

Core Technology Specifications

Treatment Platform: Transscleral Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) with integrated OCT visualization

System Type: Contact-free, lens-free SLT laser combined with anterior segment OCT and eye tracking

Regulatory Status: CE-marked. Not FDA approved.

Anatomical Targeting & OCT Visualization

ASTRAL® is built around seeing the treatment target before firing:

  • 120 Radial OCT Cross-Sections: Full-eye acquisition of the anterior chamber, giving a comprehensive view of the iridocorneal angle
  • Trabecular Meshwork Targeting: True anatomical targeting on stacked images from the four cardinal planes (nasal, superior, inferior, temporal)
  • Location-Matched Display: ASTRAL Intelligence shows the corresponding OCT image for each potential treatment location as the operator navigates around the eye
  • Transscleral Delivery: The laser is delivered through the sclera toward the trabecular meshwork, with no gonioscopy lens or coupling gel
  • Configurable Exclusion Zones: Areas can be excluded from treatment as required

SLT Laser Specifications

  • Laser Type: Q-switched, frequency-doubled Nd:YAG
  • Wavelength: 532 nm
  • Energy: Adjustable, 1.1 to 1.9 mJ
  • Burst Mode: Single pulse only
  • Spot Size: 400 µm
  • Pulse Duration: 3 ns (±20%)
  • Maximum Repetition Rate: 50 Hz
  • Beam Divergence: ≤ 0.031 rad
  • Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance (NOHD): 40.8 m
  • Cooling: Air cooled

OCT Module Specifications

  • Line Sensor: InGaAs
  • Number of Pixels: 1024
  • Pixel Pitch: 12 µm
  • Pixel Height: 250 µm
  • Maximum Line Rate: 40 kHz
  • Digital Output: 16-bit GigE

Intelligent Workflow

The software guides the operator through five steps: Align, Focus, Acquire, Target and Deliver.

  • Locate and focus: about 7 seconds
  • OCT acquisition: about 5 seconds
  • Treatment: 360° laser delivery in under 3 seconds
  • Active patient engagement: about 15 seconds per eye, compared with more than 10 minutes for traditional SLT (manufacturer figures; total procedure time depends on the clinician)

System & Ergonomics

  • Display: 15.6" color touch screen, 1920 x 1080, on a 270° articulated arm so the clinician can sit beside the patient
  • Patient Positioning: Forward-angled headrest for better fixation and stability
  • Computer: PC tablet, Windows 11 IoT
  • Connectivity: LAN, DICOM compatible
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 530 x 680 x 850 mm
  • Weight: 38 kg
  • Power Supply: 100 to 240 VAC, single phase, 50/60 Hz, 300 W
  • Operating Conditions: +15 °C to +35 °C, 35% to 85% relative humidity (non-condensing)
  • Storage & Transport: -10 °C to +55 °C, 10% to 85% relative humidity (non-condensing)
  • Standard Accessories: Safety glasses, laser safety sign, dust cover
  • Optional Accessory: Motorised height-adjustable table

Clinical Applications

ASTRAL® is designed for first-line treatment of:

  • Open-angle glaucoma (OAG)
  • Ocular hypertension (OHT)

SLT is recommended as a first-line option by the AAO, EGS, APGS and WGA, following the LiGHT trial. The manufacturer cites 6-year LiGHT results showing 69.8% of SLT patients reaching target IOP and staying drop-free, along with reduced need for incisional glaucoma and cataract surgery versus drops.

Manufacturer Profile

ASTRAL® is developed by Ellex Medical Pty Ltd (Mawson Lakes, Australia), a brand of Lumibird Medical. Lumibird Medical is the medical division of the French Lumibird Group and was formed in 2020 from the merger of Quantel Medical, Ellex and Optotek. It focuses on diagnostic and treatment devices for ophthalmology, including lasers, ultrasound and ocular surface platforms. ASTRAL® was launched on September 12, 2026 at the ESCRS Congress in London.

System Advantages

  • OCT-guided targeting gives visual confirmation of the trabecular meshwork before treatment
  • Lens-free, gel-free delivery improves comfort and lets vision recover within minutes
  • Very short treatment time with 360° delivery in under 3 seconds
  • Eye tracking supports rapid treatment without a contact lens
  • Reproducible workflow reduces clinician variability and supports higher patient throughput

Limitations of Available Specifications

Note: Clinical evidence is currently limited to an early pilot study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06833060), with the manufacturer reporting a favorable safety profile and positive patient experience. The OCT wavelength, axial resolution, scan depth and scan speed per image, as well as pricing, were not available in current documentation. Healthcare professionals should contact Lumibird Medical or authorized distributors for complete technical specifications.

The ASTRAL® represents a new approach to glaucoma laser therapy, combining OCT visualization, eye tracking and lens-free transscleral SLT delivery in a single platform.

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