2023
Volume 23, Number 4, pp. 103-111
Medical applications of the laser: A review of the state of the art
S. Rafi Ahmad
Senior R&D Consultant, NEXTEK (UK) Ltd
The first major successful application within 4 years of the birth of laser (1960-T. Maiman) was in the field of medicine—eye treatment. Within the last few decades, two dozen books and a large number of major conference proceeding, elaborating many diverse applications of lasers in the biomedical field, have been published. There are at least 4 international journals covering various aspects of lasers in medicine. Although they are now widely used, particularly in surgery—as an effective and versatile scalpel—the mechanism of their interaction with tissue is not yet fully understood in many cases. While basic research on these aspects are ongoing in many laboratories all over the world, many successful clinical applications in gynaecology, gastroenterology, cancer treatment, cell necrosis (photodynamic therapy), ophthalmology, dermatology, dentistry etc. are in vogue. Laser coagulation seems to be the only effective treatment for diabetic retinopathy currently available in the market. Technology has progressed far ahead of science. The unique properties of the laser that make it the most effective and versatile scalpel for the most delicate surgery and also an effective tool in other applications, such as lithotripsy, keratoplasty etc. are presented in this review article. The mechanism of laser interaction with living tissue has also been reviewed to understand how lasers offer applications in so many diverse fields and have potential for even more esoteric future applications in both therapeutic and diagnostic applications. An overview of past (in the author’s laboratory) and present basic research elsewhere in the fields of photodynamic therapy, laser lithotripsy and laser spectroscopy for early diagnosis of dysplasia is also given.