Day: September 21, 2025

Laser systems for surgical operations

Laser systems for surgical operations

Comparison of laser systems in urology

Researchers from the United States, Germany, and Switzerland have presented a comparison of the properties of two types of laser systems applied in urological procedures. The researchers have determined in which cases it is necessary to use each of them and which settings allow for achieving the best result.

Benefits of laser systems in surgery

Laser systems have been used in surgery for more than half a century, and nowadays they are used in urology, for example, during operations for bladder cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and urothelial carcinoma. Laser systems offer several benefits over conventional surgical devices – their application reduces the cases of bleeding and the risk of complications, allowing surgery to be performed minimally invasive (with minimal damage to healthy tissue).

Characteristics of different laser systems

Laser systems are different from each other. The suitability of laser beams for specific types of operations is determined by their wavelength, duration, and strength of the pulse. They choose the degree of absorption and scattering of radiation, which means the speed and depth of dissection, the degree of damage to neighboring tissues, coagulation (irreversible changes in the structure of the protein), and carbonation. Different types of laser systems are suitable for various tasks; however, in recent years Ho:YAG has become popular, ideal for a wide range of operations, due to the high degree of laser beam absorption and pulsed exposure mode.

Development of the thulium fiber laser

Several years ago, specialists jointly developed and studied a new thulium fiber laser. Its laser beam emission is effectively absorbed in the water, which allows for increasing the speed of the operation. At the same time, the pulses of the fiber laser system reach lower peak power, gently dissecting the tissue, rather than tearing it, and they can operate longer, which gives a more uniform distribution of energy and less damage to the tissue.

Modes of operation: Ho:YAG vs. fiber laser

At the same time, Ho:YAG and fiber lasers have already been tested during the operation in two modes: quasi-continuous (a sequence of short pulses of equal power) and super-pulse. Each laser system was tested with different laser beam power settings and different speeds. In each case, the depth of dissection, the depth of coagulation, and the degree of carbonation were evaluated.
The fiber laser system allows deeper dissection of the tissue in a quasi-continuous mode, while the laser effectively coagulates the tissue. The fiber laser system in a quasi-continuous mode makes it possible to effectively dissect tissue and coagulate bleeding vessels, although the degree of tissue carbonization is higher.

The role of fiber lasers in modern surgery

Fiber lasers are one of the biggest and most significant changes in laser surgery in the last 20 years. The capabilities of these devices are actively studied all over the world, and their flexibility allows them to be used in all areas of urology.

Fiber lasers demonstrate efficient detection of cancerous cells

Novel fiber laser systems for cancer detection

Novel fiber laser systems have been developed by an international team of researchers to provide efficient detection of cancerous cells during the surgical process. The fiber laser is a part of a compact multimodal imaging system that enables testing tissue samples directly during surgery.

Combining imaging techniques in one system

Usually, microscopes based on fiber laser technology apply only one imaging technique (confocal microscopy, multiphoton microscopy, or Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy). Nevertheless, their combination in a single fiber laser system provides faster and robust information about tissues and possible diseases.
Even though these techniques can lead to making excitation laser systems complex, large, and expensive, this research is very promising. The team plans to produce a fiber laser that emits several excitation wavelengths and various laser beam pulse durations. This fiber laser technology allows combining several techniques in one compact device.

Precise detection of tumor margins

The fiber laser system helps to test tissue samples directly after surgery or even during it, resulting in more precise detection of tumor margins. “Combining three methods allows superimposing several levels of information and thus obtaining a more precise picture of the cells.”
These fiber lasers provide a simpler way to distinguish cancerous cells from healthy ones. Now, researchers are developing an ultrashort laser beam pulse source for the new laser system. This source will synchronously pump two optical parametric oscillators.
It is planned that the fiber laser system will emit several laser beam outputs with tunable wavelengths. These laser beam pulses are generated in both the femtosecond and picosecond range. The fiber laser technology is considered to be very promising for the three imaging techniques in a multimodal system.

Advantages and future applications

It is required to produce a quick electronic system to monitor the fiber laser in the multimodal system. The laser system will operate with the microscope’s scanner technology. A benefit of a novel fiber laser system as favorable thermal properties remove the need for additional air-cooling.
Advantages of fiber laser technology make the imaging system less expensive, more energy-efficient, and smaller than traditional microscopes with titanium-sapphire laser systems. The potential applications of novel fiber laser systems include the detection of drugs and nanoparticles in tissues and cells, or the testing of cosmetic products.

The latest version of femtosecond laser systems

Applications of femtosecond laser systems

Modern fiber laser technology allows for detecting a chemical transformation inside a cell live. Additionally, it promotes the production of microchips by printing paths in a thin layer. The latest femtosecond laser system makes all these developments real to achieve.

Distinction of laser beam sources

Numerous laser beam sources are distinguished. Different laser systems have their own characteristics and fields of application. The novel fiber laser system emits ultrashort laser beam pulses, femtosecond ones. “This is the scale on which, for example, intracellular chemical reactions take place.”

Detection and material processing

These reactions can be identified by capturing an image using the new laser technology. The femtosecond laser beam source enables very accurate removal of materials from different surfaces without damaging them. The scientists claim that this fiber laser is too accurate.

Comparison with conventional fiber lasers

Certain applications require nanosecond laser beam pulses (they last longer). Conventional fiber lasers can’t draw paths of accurately planned depths in ultra-thin materials, compared to novel laser systems. Strong laser beam energy located in a small area leads to melting the materials.

Operation and stability of the new system

The novel fiber laser system operates firmly and gently. It is prone to mechanical disruption since the laser system is compact and portable. Fiber lasers have significantly helped the team to develop the system. The operating principle of fiber laser systems is based on an optical fiber enclosed in a ring.

Pulse propagation and frequency control

The laser beam pulse passes inside the fiber without any mechanical disturbances. It is possible to touch, move, and shake the optical fiber not influencing the stability of the fiber laser. Also, this laser system offers a particular frequency at the output that makes the laser unique.
Standard laser systems use laser beam frequencies that are dependent on the length of the fiber optic loop in which the pulse passes. The solution is to reduce the circumference of the ring. Thus, scientists can control, change, and even duplicate the basic laser beam frequency.

Fiber lasers and robots for minimally invasive surgery

Challenges of traditional surgical tools

A team of engineers from the U.S. has created a microrobot that allows for directing a laser system within the body to perform minimally invasive surgery. Traditional energy-delivering tools are very complex compared to the new fiber laser. It is necessary to put them close to the target site, resulting in limitations of accuracy.

Risks of conventional laser systems

Additionally, such laser systems can lead to unwanted burns in adjacent tissues and a smoky appearance. Even though fiber laser systems are regarded as very promising solutions, they are required to meet additional requirements. The direct application of current fiber lasers for minimally invasive surgery is limited by the following factors:

the size of surgical systems;
levels of accuracy;
repositioning, steering, and manipulation.

Integration of fiber lasers with microrobots

The novel fiber laser system combined with the microrobotic end-effector can be widely applied in traditional endoscopic systems for application in minimally invasive surgery. The microrobot has a size of 6×16 mm, and it provides high speed and accuracy, and can operate with current endoscopic devices.

Benefits of the new system

The team members claim that their fiber laser technology promotes accurate direction of laser beams at small target sites in complex patterns to advance minimally invasive surgery by laser systems inside the body. Such benefits as “a large range of articulation, minimal footprint, and fast and precise action” make novel fiber laser systems very promising to increase surgical capabilities in a plug-and-play fashion.

Operating principle and design

A surgical fiber laser has to be both the diameter of a drinking straw and relatively nimble. The operating principle of the microrobotic laser system is based on the three compact mirrors that rapidly rotate to direct and redirect the laser beam in a compact surgical system.

Microfabrication and efficiency

The microfabrication technique is used to make the system smaller. This fiber laser technology offers a highly efficient fabrication process. The fiber laser has already been tested and demonstrated the high efficiency of microrobots in creating and following complex directions.

Surgical performance and outcomes

Numerous laser beam ablations can be carried out at a fast speed over a large range and with a high level of precision. The team showed efficient performance of the fiber laser system by integrating it at the end of an endoscope. This non-disruptive solution enables the team to increase the opportunities of minimally invasive surgeries in the human body with life-altering or potentially life-saving impact.

Fiber lasers for geothermal drilling

Application of fiber lasers in geothermal drilling

A high-power fiber laser has been successfully tested in field trials to weaken hard rocks to increase efficiency and reduce the cost of geothermal drilling. The fiber laser technology promotes a process applied to access geothermal heat, a clean and sustainable energy source.

Challenges in deep-earth drilling

When drilling deep into the earth’s crust, the drill bit’s temperature rises by approximately three degrees Celsius for every 100 meters, and upon striking hard rock, the drill bit experiences more rapid wear, leading to a reduction in its penetration speed.

Costs and research motivation

The cost of this process is high and often prevents investors from continuing with deep geothermal projects. Therefore, a group of researchers from Germany developed a method for mechanical drilling of hard rocks employing a laser system.

Design and operation of the fiber laser system

This fiber laser system can not only increase the penetration rate in geothermal drilling but also help to maintain the cutting edge of the drill bit by loosening and even breaking the rock just before drilling begins.

Technical specifications

The researchers have developed this laser system by initially installing a test unit with a ytterbium-based fiber laser with an output power of up to 30 kilowatts, which they then used to successfully loosen sandstone, granite, and quartzite. All these materials are solid rocks with a strength of more than 150 megapascals, up to 80 percent.

Laser guidance and safety

A jet of water is used to direct the laser beam to the rock surface – similar to how an optical fiber can direct a laser system— which also prevents contamination and damage to sensitive fiber laser optics and makes it easier to remove rock fragments with a drilling tool.

Field testing and future improvements

Then the engineers use a fiber laser system on the rig in a specially designed drill string and test the new tool in real-world conditions in field tests, which also proved successful. In future projects, the researchers plan to further improve the laser beam power distribution and add digital sensors to the hybrid tool to get feedback from the drilling process and thus be able to respond to material changes on the drilling path.

Advantages and potential impact

The flexible adjustment of the laser beam output power is one of the factors that make it a particularly effective tool for facilitating drilling processes. According to the researchers, the developed powerful fiber laser system will help reduce the cost of deep geothermal drilling in the future and simplify the use of geothermal energy as an inexhaustible source of energy-supporting other renewable sources such as sunlight, wind, and water.