3. Medical Diagnostic Applications of Laser Technology
3.5 Raman Spectroscopy
Though still in clinical development, Raman spectroscopy is emerging as a valuable laser-based tool for molecular-level diagnostics. It relies on inelastic scattering of laser light, where energy shifts in the scattered photons reveal the vibrational modes of molecules in tissue. Because each molecule produces a unique spectral fingerprint, Raman spectroscopy can differentiate between healthy and cancerous tissues, even at early stages.
The technique has been tested for brain tumor delineation, skin cancer detection, and oral cancer screening, offering high chemical specificity without requiring dyes or contrast agents. Coupled with fiber-optic probes and miniaturized devices, Raman systems are being integrated into bedside diagnostic platforms and robotic surgery environments (De Miguel & MartÃnez, 2023).