Soliton

Soliton, Inc., founded in 2012 by Walter Klemp and Dr. Christopher Capelli, operated as a medical device company out of Houston, Texas, before its acquisition. The company's trajectory was defined by the development and commercialization of a proprietary technology platform licensed from The University of Texas' MD Anderson Cancer Center. This foundation led to the creation of its flagship product, RESONIC™, a device utilizing Rapid Acoustic Pulse (RAP) technology. Dr. Capelli was the lead inventor of this core technology.

The company's strategic focus was on the aesthetic medicine market, serving clients such as dermatologists and plastic surgeons. Its business model centered on the sale of the RESONIC™ device to these practitioners. Soliton achieved a significant milestone by going public on the Nasdaq in February 2019. A pivotal moment in the company's history occurred in December 2021, when it was acquired by Allergan Aesthetics, a subsidiary of AbbVie, for approximately $550 million. This acquisition integrated Soliton's technology into Allergan's broader portfolio of body contouring and aesthetic treatments, which includes well-known brands like Botox and CoolSculpting.

RESONIC™ is engineered to deliver high-frequency acoustic shockwaves, at a rate of up to 100 pulses per second, to targeted structures within the skin. The device secured its first FDA 510(k) clearance in May 2019 as an accessory to Q-switched lasers for accelerating the removal of black ink tattoos on individuals with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-III. Subsequently, in February 2021, it received FDA clearance for the non-invasive, short-term improvement in the appearance of cellulite. This clearance was later expanded to include long-term improvement for up to one year, based on clinical data showing sustained results. The technology functions through a process of 'acoustic subcision,' where sound waves break apart the fibrous septa under the skin that cause cellulite dimples, resulting in a smoother skin surface. For tattoo removal, the acoustic waves help dissipate laser-induced whitening, allowing for multiple laser passes in a single session and thereby accelerating the fading process.

Keywords: aesthetic device, cellulite treatment, tattoo removal, acoustic shockwave, medical technology, non-invasive procedure, body contouring, Allergan Aesthetics, RESONIC, Rapid Acoustic Pulse