Lasers, specifically fiber lasers, are already implemented in medical diagnosis, treatments, and therapies. Scientific laser systems are promising for many fields of medical studies, one of them being cancer research and treatment. Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with approximately 14 million new cases and 8.8 million cancer-related deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization (WOH). Late-stage presentation and inaccessible diagnosis and treatment are common.
In 2017, only 26% of low-income countries reported having pathology services generally available in the public sector. Only one in five low- and middle-income countries have the necessary data to drive cancer policy. The recommended management strategy, which can significantly reduce cancer mortality, is early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Early diagnosis consists of three steps that must be integrated and provided in a timely manner:
- awareness and accessing care
- clinical evaluation, diagnosis, and staging
- access to treatment
Early diagnosis is relevant in all settings and the majority of cancers. In absence of an early diagnosis, patients are diagnosed at late stages when curative treatment may no longer be an option. However, it should be noted, biopsy and histopathology are invasive, costly, and time-consuming procedures, although they are necessary for a clinical examination of the suspicious lesion.
Laser innovations drive the field of cancer studies forward. Laser systems provide new and promising ways of not only treating cancer in patients but to detect cancer cells early on and efficiently remove tumors. Recent developments in laser technology have been highly beneficial to cancer research. One of the ways in which scientific laser systems are applied is through the use of laser technology to detect specific cells.
A specifically-designed device based on the Raman fiber laser is used to differentiate between cancer cells and healthy cells. The distinguishing happens by measuring the way different cells reflect laser-based light. The elimination of all cancer cells is a critical part of cancer treatment due to major complications in the case of cancer cells still remaining after the surgery. However, the detection of malignant cells during surgery is challenging.
Cancer cells are hard to detect visually, therefore laser systems are highly useful since they allow to detect the difference in light reflection from healthy and cancer cells. The Raman fiber laser used in the device is highly accurate, which is desired in the field as the information obtained is used to remove tissue. The 90% accuracy of the device improves locating stray cancer cells during surgery by 10%.
Raman fiber lasers and fiber lasers, in general, could potentially be incorporated into other instruments. The accuracy of scientific laser systems may allow them to be used as specialized needles used for taking biopsies; the use of lasers in surgical robots is also promising.
Optromix is a fiber laser vendor, which develops and manufactures a broad variety of fiber lasers, СО₂ lasers, Ti: Sapphire lasers, dye lasers, and excimer lasers. We offer simple erbium laser and ytterbium laser products, as well as sophisticated laser systems with unique characteristics, based on the client’s inquiry.
We manufacture lasers using our own technologies based on the advanced research work and patents of international R&D team. Laser processes are high quality, high precision, easily-automated manufacturing solutions that provide repeatability and flexibility.
If you would like to buy Optromix scientific laser systems, please, contacts us at info@optromix.com