RESEARCH INTO SURGICAL USES OF A 2 .9-MICROMETER LASER

激光在外科应用中的重要性日益增加 导致了对激光之间相互作用的新研究 辐射和组织。从这项研究中得出了一个 对外科激光的要求的理解 最大限度地消融组织，最大限度地减少对 周边地区。一种工作在波长为 2.9微米具有这些特征，此外还可以 很容易通过薄而柔软的氟化物玻璃传播 光纤，这是一个非常方便的优势，也是为了 开发全新的外科手术程序。这些努力 在这项提案中将导致初步开发和 脉冲2.9微米波长固体激光器的构建 基于掺铒晶体的状态激光器。一系列 组织相互作用实验将在 马萨诸塞州总医院威尔曼实验室的激光 医院和对该项目潜力的总体评估 激光系统的进一步开发和商业应用 将会被执行。基于目前对它的理解 似乎有一种可靠的、脉冲的 2.9微米的激光将对 激光手术技术和能力。

The increasing importance of lasers for surgical applications has resulted in new research into the interaction between laser radiation and tissue. From this research has come an understanding of the requirements for surgical lasers which maximize the ablation of tissue and minimize damage to surrounding areas. A pulsed laser operating at a wavelength of 2.9 micrometers has these characteristics and in addition can be readily transmitted through thin, flexible fluoride-glass fibers, a great advantage for convenience and also for the development of entirely new surgical procedures. The efforts in this proposal would result in the initial development and construction of a pulsed, 2.9-micrometer-wavelength, solid state laser based on erbium-ion-doped crystals. A series of tissue-interaction experiments would be performed with the laser at the Wellman Laboratories of the Massachusetts General Hospital and an overall assessment of the potential of the laser system for further development and commercial application would be carried out. Based on current understanding it appears that the availability of a reliable, pulsed 2.9-micrometer laser would have a significant impact on laser-surgery techniques and capabilities.