Which lasers can be used in medicine?
Examples of lasers which can be used in medicine, both for surgery and therapy:
Therapeutic lasers (where the mechanism is not based oh heat):
| Laser | Wavelength | Use |
|---|---|---|
| GaAs | 904 nm (super pulsed) | Treatment of deep problems (back, shoulders, knees, head ache etc) |
| GaAlAs/td> | 780-808-890 nm (cont. or chopped) | Also deep problem, often a complement ot the GaAs-laser |
| InGaAlP | 630-700 nm | Treatment of skin and mucose problems |
| HeNe | 633 nm | Alternative to InGaAlP (see above) |
Thermal lasers (for surgery or esthetic use):
| Laser | Wavelength | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby | 694 nm | Hair removal (for Q-switch type: tattoo bleaching) |
| Nd:YAG/td> | 1064 nm | Coagulation of tumors, eye surgery (cataracts) |
| Ho:YAG | 2130 nm | Crushing of kidney stones, surgery |
| Er:YAG | 2940 nm | Dental drill, laser peeling of wrinkles and scars |
| KTP/532 | 532 nm | Coagulation of blood vessels, hemangioma |
| Alexandrite | 755 nm | Hair removal (for Q-switch type: tattoo bleaching) |
| CO2 laser | 10600 nm | Surgery and laser peeling of wrinkles and scars |
| Argon | 514 nm | Eye surgery (treatment of retinopathy) |
There are many other types, but those mentioned above are the most common.