1. Fundamentals of Light and Laser Technology
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1.3 Types of Lasers Used in Medicine
Lasers differ by the medium used to generate the light, which influences their wavelength and energy output. Key types include:
- Gas lasers (e.g., Argon, CO₂): Often used in ophthalmology and dermatology. Argon lasers emit blue-green light useful for retinal photocoagulation.
- Solid-state lasers (e.g., Nd:YAG): Produce near-infrared light, widely used for tissue ablation, coagulation, and imaging.
- Diode lasers: Compact, efficient, and tunable across the NIR range. Increasingly used in portable diagnostic devices.
Excimer lasers (UV range): Used in refractive eye surgeries like LASIK due to their precision in removing corneal tissue without damaging surrounding areas.
The wavelength determines what kind of tissue or molecule the laser will interact with. For example, melanin and hemoglobin absorb visible light strongly, while water is the primary absorber in infrared wavelengths (Bacca et al., 2014).