Laser Scalpel
The
first useful lasers were developed way back in the 1960s and today with
advances in laser and fiber optic delivery systems, there has been an
enhanced use of laser technology in various fields , especially in the field
of medicine. Today, there are a number of laser systems designed for
operation in a wide variety of applications primarily related to surgical
procedures.
What is a laser scalpel?
A laser scalpel can be used in every type of surgery and considered to more
accurate than traditional methods. A laser scalpel is a scalpel used in
surgery— cutting tissue by the energy of laser light. It is a types of
specialized medical instrument which is used for creating incisions in
tissues of the human or animal body. It uses a finely-tuned laser beam to
make the necessary cuts. The laser light required in the scalpel is
available in different wavelengths for varied cutting strength and depth.
Laser surgery
The small, intense bright beam or light of a laser can be focused to
provide a point of energy which is strong enough to burn through living
tissue. Because laser scalpels are usually small in size, they can very
delicately reach difficult places. The burning action resulted from laser
scalpel during surgery instantly clots the incision, thereby reducing
bleeding dramatically. Lasers used in surgery include Neodymium and yttrium
aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) crystal lasers , argon gas ion lasers, and excimer
lasers.
How are laser scalpels used?
- Incision
- Removal of tissue
- Cauterization of tissue
- Removal of tissue
- Necrosis or killing of live tissue
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During incision and removal of tissue, a laser beam causes an
instant vaporization of the water molecules in the tissue contacted by the
beam. The tissue gets removed with a puff of steam, leaving behind a very
small amount of charred tissue.
Cauterization and necrosis or killing of living tissue is done by photo
coagulation of contacted or penetrated tissue. Here the laser beam of the
scalpel causes the proteins in the contacted tissue to heat up rapidly and
thermally denature, which kills and seals living tissue and blood vessels.
Benefits of laser scalpels
Laser scalpels are nowadays more preferred compared to the traditional
surgical lasers because of the following reasons:
- Limited or no bleeding
- Faster operation
- Quicker healing
- Minimal post-operation pain
- Pleasant experience for both doctors and patients and
- Most aesthetically pleasing results.
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Applications
The laser scalpel is used in medical and other applications wherein the
transmitted radiation is delivered to the incident radiation source at an
angle. The instrument is capable of coagulating, cutting or vaporizing
tissue and hence extremely useful in a wide range of surgical and
non-surgical applications. There are various special laser micro-scalpels
that can make cuts smaller than a single cell. Reattaching detached retinas,
burning away ulcers in the stomach are just a few of the medical uses of
lasers.
Various medical fields make use of laser scalpels like
- Ophthalmology
- Circumcision
- Neurosurgery
- Vascular surgery
- Plastic surgery
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