Advances in Nd:YAG Laser Surgery


Book Description

The Nd:YAG laser has finally become the multidisciplinary and muitispeciaity tool of the 1980s. Primarily developed for gastrointestinal applications for controlling bleeding, at present it is also used for endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal tumors, endobronchial cancer, and bladder and gynecological lesions and finding applications in otorhinolaryngology and neurosurgery. De velopment of laser scalpels and focusing head-pieces has now allowed the Nd:YAG laser to be used for open surgical procedures in general and plastic surgery, head and neck surgery, urology, gynecology, dermatology, and neu rosurgery. The rapid development in ceramic technology has led to contact surgery allowing physicians a choice of excision, vaporization, coagulation, incision, or combinations thereof by easily changing probes rather than having to select new laser wavelengths. This technology is rapidly replacing the carbon dioxide laser which currently has no adequate flexible waveguide for fiberoptic en doscopy, cannot be used in a water medium (e.g., bladder), and has poor coagulation properties when compared to the Nd:YAG laser. Future developments may see the Nd:YAG laser even replacing electro cautery in the operating room due to its greater safety and efficacy. Local hyperthermia (laserthermia) with computer control, photodynamic therapy, and ophthalmic applications make the Nd:YAG laser the most exciting tech nological advancement in medicine and surgery for the 1980s.




Textbook on Scar Management


Book Description

This text book is open access under a CC BY 4.0 license. Written by a group of international experts in the field and the result of over ten years of collaboration, it allows students and readers to gain to gain a detailed understanding of scar and wound treatment – a topic still dispersed among various disciplines. The content is divided into three parts for easy reference. The first part focuses on the fundamentals of scar management, including assessment and evaluation procedures, classification, tools for accurate measurement of all scar-related elements (volume density, color, vascularization), descriptions of the different evaluation scales. It also features chapters on the best practices in electronic-file storage for clinical reevaluation and telemedicine procedures for safe remote evaluation. The second section offers a comprehensive review of treatment and evidence-based technologies, presenting a consensus of the various available guidelines (silicone, surgery, chemical injections, mechanical tools for scar stabilization, lasers). The third part evaluates the full range of emerging technologies offered to physicians as alternative or complementary solutions for wound healing (mechanical, chemical, anti-proliferation). Textbook on Scar Management will appeal to trainees, fellows, residents and physicians dealing with scar management in plastic surgery, dermatology, surgery and oncology, as well as to nurses and general practitioners







Laser Treatment of Vascular Lesions


Book Description

Today, nearly 60 years after the invention of the first medical laser, multiple laser and light systems exist and are applied in various medical specialties such as dermatology, ophthalmology, and urology. This volume - the first in the series Aesthetic Dermatology - focuses on the laser treatment of cutaneous lesions with a vascular target. Each chapter describes a particular laser or light modality and its specific application to a variety of both vascular and nonvascular lesions. Renowned specialists in laser medicine have contributed their expertise, incorporating current evidence-based literature and their own personal treatment recommendations, as well as pearls and perils. The purpose of this book is to explore the options and parameters available to treat cutaneous lesions traditionally responsive to vascular laser therapy and to expand the application to further lesion treatments. Readers who wish to broaden their knowledge and further hone their skills in treating cutaneous vascular lesions with lasers will find this publication a valuable and comprehensive review.




Lasers for Medical Applications


Book Description

Lasers have a wide and growing range of applications in medicine. Lasers for Medical Applications summarises the wealth of recent research on the principles, technologies and application of lasers in diagnostics, therapy and surgery.Part one gives an overview of the use of lasers in medicine, key principles of lasers and radiation interactions with tissue. To understand the wide diversity and therefore the large possible choice of these devices for a specific diagnosis or treatment, the respective types of the laser (solid state, gas, dye, and semiconductor) are reviewed in part two. Part three describes diagnostic laser methods, for example optical coherence tomography, spectroscopy, optical biopsy, and time-resolved fluorescence polarization spectroscopy. Those methods help doctors to refine the scope of involvement of the particular body part or, for example, to specify the extent of a tumor. Part four concentrates on the therapeutic applications of laser radiation in particular branches of medicine, including ophthalmology, dermatology, cardiology, urology, gynecology, otorhinolaryngology (ORL), neurology, dentistry, orthopaedic surgery and cancer therapy, as well as laser coatings of implants. The final chapter includes the safety precautions with which the staff working with laser instruments must be familiar.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, this important book summarizes international achievements in the field of laser applications in medicine in the past 50 years. It provides a valuable contribution to laser medicine by outstanding experts in medicine and engineering. - Describes the interaction of laser light with tissue - Reviews every type of laser used in medicine: solid state, gas, dye and semiconductor - Describes the use of lasers for diagnostics







Advanced Laser Surgery in Dentistry


Book Description

Advanced Laser Surgery in Dentistry delivers a state-of-the-art reference for laser technology in the context of a dental practice. The book encompasses oral surgery, periodontology, and implant dentistry, covering the latest research, knowledge, and clinical practices. The author demonstrates the clinical relevance by including many real-world clinical cases that illustrate the application of the discussed techniques. The book includes high-quality, color photographs throughout to support the text and add visual information to the covered topics, which include wound healing, oral surgery, periodontology, implant dentistry, and laser fundamentals and safety considerations. Advanced Laser Surgery in Dentistry provides readers with a step-by-step guide for using lasers in dental practice and discusses likely new directions and possible future treatments in the rapidly advancing field of laser dentistry. Readers will also benefit from a wide variety of subjects, including: A thorough introduction to the fundamentals of lasers, including the beam, the laser cavity, active mediums, lenses, resonators, and delivery systems An exploration of lasers and wound healing, including soft tissue and bone healing, as well as laser-assisted excisions and osteotomies An analysis of lasers in periodontology, including laser-assisted bacteria reduction in the periodontal tissues and the removal of subgingival dental calculus A discussion of lasers in implant dentistry and treatment for peri-implantitis Perfect for oral and maxillofacial surgeons, periodontists, and implant dentists, as well as general dentists, Advanced Laser Surgery in Dentistry will also earn a place in the libraries of dental students and residents seeking to improve their understanding of laser-based oral and dental procedures with a carefully organized reference guide.




Principles and Practice of Laser Dentistry - E-Book


Book Description

Expand your skills in the rapidly growing field of laser dentistry! Principles and Practice of Laser Dentistry uses a concise, evidence-based approach in describing protocols and procedures. Dr. Robert A. Convissar, a renowned lecturer on this subject, has assembled a diverse panel of international contributors; he’s also one of the first general dentists to use lasers in his practice. The book covers the history of lasers in dentistry and laser research, plus the use of lasers in periodontics, periodontal surgery, oral pathology, implantology, fixed and removable prosthetics, cosmetic procedures, endodontics, operative dentistry, pediatrics, orthodontics, and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Full-color images show the latest laser technology, surgical techniques, and key steps in patient treatment. Full-color photos and illustrations demonstrate surgical techniques and key teaching points. A Laser Fundamentals chapter describes the physics of lasers and the wavelengths that can produce better outcomes. Introducing Lasers into the Dental Practice chapter provides guidelines on investing in laser technology and in marketing this new procedure. Clinical Tip and Caution boxes include advice and alerts that can only be offered by a seasoned practitioner of 27 years.




Solid-State Mid-Infrared Laser Sources


Book Description

The book describes the most advanced techniques for generating coherent light in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum. These techniques represent diverse areas of photonics and include heterojunction semiconductor lasers, quantum cascade lasers, tunable crystalline lasers, fiber lasers, Raman lasers, and optical parametric laser sources. Offering authoritative reviews by internationally recognized experts, the book provides a wealth of information on the essential principles and methods of the generation of coherent mid-infrared light and on some of its applications. The instructive nature of the book makes it an excellent text for physicists and practicing engineers who want to use mid-infrared laser sources in spectroscopy, medicine, remote sensing and other fields, and for researchers in various disciplines requiring a broad introduction to the subject.




Lasers in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery


Book Description

This book provides surgeons with important insights into laser technologies as well as a sound understanding of their current and potential applications within oral and maxillofacial surgery and related disciplines. The opening chapters focus on the relevant physical background, the technology of the typically used lasers, laser–tissue interactions, and the treatment systems. Detailed information is then provided on the various established applications of laser treatments, including in relation to skin and mucosa and the dental hard tissues and bone. Special applications are also described, for example with respect to periodontal surgery, peri-implantitis therapy, photodynamic treatment, holography and additive manufacturing. The book closes by examining technologies that will soon be available for application in hospitals, topics which are currently the subject of research, and laser safety. Beyond surgeons, the book will be of value for engineers and scientists working in the field of medical engineering using lasers.