Arteriosclerosis

Booming sales of Trimedyne's medical laser catheters boosted the Santa Ana company's earnings to a record $1.5 million for the third quarter ending June 30. Profits increased sixfold from $203,000 a year earlier. Third-quarter sales were $8.3 million, more than double last year's $3.8 million. "(The results) surprised a few of us," said Dana Nickell, the firm's vice president of finance and chief financial officer. "We're growing at a tremendous rate."

Trimedyne, the Santa Ana laser catheter maker, Monday reported record earnings of $1.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, compared to a net loss of $117,000 for the year-earlier period. Revenues for the company's fiscal 1988 second quarter increased 206% to $7 million, from $2.3 million. "I expected them to do well, but not that well," said Frank Ingersoll, an analyst at Knibb Securities in San Antonio, Tex. "They are doing some phenomenal things."

Trimedyne Inc., a rapidly growing maker of laser catheters in Santa Ana, said Tuesday that it expects second quarter net earnings to be lower than the $769,000 earned in the same period a year ago. The company attributed the expected decline to the cost of growth. During the quarter, the company increased spending for staff, manufacturing, research and development, and clinical testing programs.

Trimedyne Inc., a Santa Ana manufacturer of medical devices, said it has received federal Food and Drug Administration approval to market a laser catheter device to treat severe gastro-intestinal diseases, such as bleeding stomach ulcers and cancerous tumors. The disposable catheter, called a Laser Probe-GI, comes in varying sizes and costs $200 to $300. Its companion machine, the Optilase Argon Laser System, provides the laser power for the catheter.

Trimedyne Inc. said Friday that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has ruled in its favor in a patent dispute involving a medical laser used to clear blocked arteries. The Irvine-based company said its patent for the laser technology, which it markets under the name Laserprobe, was challenged by an unidentified company with a similar product. But the patent office determined that the patent rights are owned solely by Trimedyne, the company said.

In the southeastern United States, kudzu is known as a pesky weed that can grow up to a foot a day during summer. The vine was introduced from Asia in the late 1800s, and until about 50 years ago it was a popular prescription for controlling soil erosion. Kudzu's enormous root has been used medicinally in China for thousands of years. * Uses: In traditional Chinese medicine, kudzu is prescribed for allergies, migraines, angina and muscle pain.

Geeta Sikand complains that Medicare does not recognize nutrition therapy as a covered benefit (Orange County Voices, April 20). She offered the example of a man who did not consult such a therapist and found himself with an increased cholesterol level to be treated by drugs. But could not the doctor offer simple booklets which give the same information as a "consultation" with a "nutritional therapist"? I attended a session with one, and received information right out of a booklet, which was given to me at the end of the meeting.

Advanced Interventional Systems Inc., which pioneered the use of laser catheters for heart angioplasty, said Thursday that it has agreed to merge its operations with a Colorado company in an exchange of stock that it valued at $26 million to $29 million. Shareholders of the Irvine company, which lost $9.9 million on $14 million in sales last year, would receive a 47% stake in a new company to be formed in a merger with Spectranetics Corp. in Colorado Springs. Both companies are publicly held.

Trimedyne, a Santa Ana maker of medical lasers, said Tuesday its president, Michael R. Henson, has resigned as president and chief executive of the company that he has led for five years. Henson, 42, said he voluntarily tendered his resignation, effective Jan. 31, because he has achieved his goal of guiding the young company to profitability. "I'm an entrepreneur, a start-up person," Henson said.