High absorption diode lasers for medical applications Available to Purchase

Fiber Optic Fabrications, Inc. and CeramOptec, Inc. have been developing the Ceralas® laser family of diode lasers. This family of lasers operate at 980 nm, which is the wavelength corresponding to the second overtone of the O-H stretching frequency. As a result, this wavelength is highly absorbed by materials having high OH content, such as body tissue which is predominantly water. Many ‘medical’ applications including dental soft tissue surgery and various veterinarian treatments benefit from this absorption. Furthermore components of blood, especially oxyhemoglobin, absorb 980 nm better than other common laser wavelengths, such as 810 nm or 1064 nm. Since non-thermal coagulation causes no permanent tissue damage and since the operating field is blood free(ideal for endoscopic procedures and detailed tumor removal), patient’s benefits are greatly enhanced unlike either standard surgical instruments or lasers operating at other near infrared wavelengths. The paper will present evidence of these and other benefits to a broad range of applications within the medical, dental and veterinarian fields of medicine.