LASER

The word LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated

Emission of Radiation. The first theoretical postulates on a laser beam
were laid down by Albert Einstein in the early twentieth century,
describing the theoretical possibilities of a stimulated emission of light
in 1916-1917. However, the first laser unit was not constructed until
1960, following other important discoveries in the area of the so called
quantum radio technique (N.G. Basov and A.M. Prochorov of the
former USSR and C.H. Townes of the USA received a Nobel Prize for
these discoveries in 1964).

How Laser works

The nature and qualities of light can be interpreted in more ways, according to
classic, relativistic or quantum physics. However, the basic nature of light itself
as either a particle/corpuscular or an electromagnetic/wave mechanism cannot be
understood by our senses and it is incomparable to any other level of reality.
Therefore, we can only accept conclusions and deductions based on numerous
experiments.

Specific qualities of Laser

monochromatic: maintaining only one wavelength

polarized – waves are absolutely spatially oriented on a defined area

coherent – it is absolutely oriented in time - maxima and minima of all waves are
identical in time and the waveforms are the same

Properties of Laser
• Wavelength of a monochromatic laser beam (in nm). 


• Output pulse amplitude or mean (in mW). 


• Output aperture (in m2). 


 • Mode, i.e. continuous 


• Modulation frequency (in Hz) 


• Power density (in J/cm2), i.e. power emitted per unit of area. 

In medical application only high intensity laser beams were utilized.
Lasers of this type provide a source of energy that can destroy (cut,
shear) as well as evaporate and, using its thermic effect, cauterize
tissue. 

Types of Lasers 


Sorting by Source
• solid lasers (ruby laser) 


• liquid lasers 


• gas lasers - helium-neon, argon 


• semi-conductor lasers – the most important for non-invasive

therapy lasers, with 

miniaturization of the source, robustness and immunity to damage
and variety of wavelength requirements. 

Sorting by Wavelength 


• blue lasers – approx. 400-500 nm 


• green lasers – approx.500-550 nm 


• red lasers – approx. 600-700 nm 


• infra-red lasers – approx. 700-950 nm 

Sorting by Operation mode 


• pulse lasers (pulse length = app. 0.1-1 microsec., peak output =

app. 1-10W) 


• continuous lasers 


• lasers with modulated operation (peak output = app. 0.1-1 W). 


Sorting by Beam Type 


• convergent (point) beam 


• divergent (widening) beam 


• laser scanners – devices for irradiation of large areas 


• laser clusters – generating several independent laser beams,

which may be of various 

wavelengths 

Sorting by Class/Power 


• Class2:uptoanoutputof1mW 


• Class 3A (3R, 3M): up to an output of 5 mW and output density of

25 W/m2 


• Class 3B: up to 500 mW 


Sorting by Use 

 • simple pen lasers ("laser-pen") – very limited range of frequency
modes but great portability. 


• "pocket" lasers – usually designed to fit in a physician's coat

pocket; output up to hundreds of 

mW. 


• desk-top lasers – usually supplied from the mains, the probe is

connected with the device by 

cable. 


Optical spectroscopy at the ultimate limit of a single molecule has grown

over the past dozen years into a powerful technique for exploring the
individual nanoscale behavior of molecules in complex local
environments.
Observing a single molecule removes the usual ensemble average,
allowing exploration of hidden heterogeneity in complex condensed
phases as well as direct observation of dynamical state changes arising
from photophysics and photochemistry, without synchronization.
This paper reviews single-molecule spectroscopy experiments of the
Moerner group, both at liquid helium temperatures and at room
temperature, in the areas of physical chemistry, quantum optics, and
biophysics. Due to the breadth of applications now appearing, single-
molecule spectroscopy may be viewed as a useful new tool for the study
of dynamics in complex systems.

Lasers for medical applications

Modulight lasers are deployed in the medical applications field from surgery to
non-invasive therapeutic procedures. Semiconductor lasers are wavelength
versatile and offer a high level of customization of the output power and beam
delivery. Modulight medical lasers are engineered all the way from user interface
to harware and annual calibration for the specific needs of the medical products.
Customer applications include photo dynamic therapy (PDT), photo dynamic
detection (PDD) and non-surgical treatment of varicose veins, dentistry or
therapeutic and cosmetic treatments.
We have many customers working with Photodynamic therapy (PDT). Leading
institutes and companies in Oncology are using exclusively Modulight ML7710
laser platform as their laser of choice due to extreme versatility and simplicity of
use. In accordance to our normal approach we often co-design the laser with the
customer for their particular environment and provide the needed lifecycle
support as well as needed accessories such as fibers, illumination kits, spareparts
etc. PDT is an increasingly important technique for the treatment of cancer, age-
related macular degeneration, psoriasis, for bacteria reduction in dentistry and
general surgery. In future lasers might also play a significant role in solving the
MRSA problem.

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) is typically used for therapeutic and/or
stimulating skin treatments and involves lower laser power doses than those
generally used in surgical operations.

In surgery, lasers are used to cut, coagulate and vaporize. Various types of lasers
and pulse energies are used based on the absorption properties of the target tissue.
Modulight builds very sophisticated, medical applications hardware certification
ready laser systems and subcomponents per customer needs.

The application of lasers in dentistry enables dentists to perform a wide variety of

dental procedures they otherwise might not be capable of performing. When used
for surgical and dental procedures, the laser acts as a cutting instrument or a
vaporizer of tissue that it comes in contact with. When the laser is used for curing
a filling, it helps to strengthen the bond between the filling and the tooth. In teeth
whitening procedures, the laser acts as a heat source and enhances the effect of
tooth bleaching agents.

Case: Ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke is a serious and increasing indication as the average age
increases. Modulight customer had been developing an instrument for 7
years with 2 different laser vendors, and also tried internal development.
The result had been medically promising yet unsatisfactory usability and
reliability wise. Modulight was initially awarded a contract to supply fiber-
coupled lasers for the most recent development work. Very quickly it was
concluded by the customer that it makes sense to subcontract the whole
system design. Modulight worked and in less than a year produced the
system you see beside, as well as supported the clinical trials that achieved
very quickly remarkable medical results, implying more than twice higher
recovery compared to conventional methods. Unfortunately, in the most
recent clinical trial something was assumed to be mixed and no difference
was observed to the comparison group. The project was discontinued.
Even 2 years after, some of the leading professors from Harvard still
believe the treatment works and we expect it to see the light of the day
again. We wanted to share this story because it very concretely shows how
we can be the engineer for your company to take responsibility of the light
source.