QUEENSBURY, N.Y., April 26 -- A "minimally invasive" treatment for correcting varicose veins, the Endovascular Laser Venous System (ELVS), was unveiled recently at the annual Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology conference in Baltimore. The ELVS systems was developed by AngioDynamics Inc. and German company biolitic Inc. The ELVS system, used under local anesthetic, involves threading a tiny laser fiber into the saphenous vein to seal it and correct the cause of varicose veins. The company said the "patient-friendly" procedure is an "effective alternative to painful surgical ligation and vein stripping." It reportedly takes less than an hour to perform and produces immediate visual results. Patients undergo a rapid recovery, experience no scarring and can resume normal activities as soon as they leave the doctor's office, AngioDynamics said. AngioDynamics and biolitec have entered into an exclusive distribution agreement for the interventional radiology and vascular surgery market segments. The ELVS 980 laser and fiber are currently cleared in the US for vascular lesions and other applications, but the ELVS laser is pending 510(k) clearance for treating varicose veins.