Fiber lasers in the medical industry

Fiber lasers have had a major impact in a variety of areas, including fundamental research, molecular detection, laser surgery, and biomedical research. Experts are making further progress in a number of studies using modern fiber laser technology. It is used for mid-IR laser spectroscopy, photodynamic therapy, etc.

In this article, we will look at the applications of fiber lasers in these two areas of medicine.

The current trend is to find the best applications for fiber laser systems, as for any other medical equipment. Firstly, they provide pain relief for patients during treatment. In addition, advanced laser modules increase the effectiveness of treatment. For maximum efficiency in the shortest possible time, high-precision laser beams are used. The ability to perform delicate procedures, minimal scarring and fast recovery are other benefits of fiber lasers.Fiber lasers for the medical industry

Fiber lasers for the Mid-IR Spectroscopy

Mid-infrared spectroscopy (or mid-IR) is a standard, non-destructive method of chemical analysis used in the laboratories.

New biomedical applications are of great importance due to the rising cost of healthcare and the need for rapid and non-destructive measurement technologies. In resource-constrained environments, compact designs of mid-infrared laser modules play a critical role in biomedical sensing applications.

The characteristics of fiber lasers, including benchtop applications, make them particularly suitable for biomedical applications. They provide high power spectral density and thus a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). And with today’s technology, final measurements are available in seconds.

The advancement of fiber laser systems has improved the clinical environment and treatment outcomes.

Fiber lasers for diabetes monitoring

Glucose monitoring in diabetes is one example of mid-infrared spectroscopy.

Glucometers are among the most widely used wearable biomedical sensors. Glucose monitoring is a necessary part of a patient’s life. They can do it either with the finger prick tests or with glucose monitoring devices worn on the body. Due to degradation, both types of devices have a limited lifespan. Mid-infrared spectroscopy can overcome some of the measurement problems. However, it can also face other difficulties.

According to modern technology, the process goes as follows: the device is placed on the patient’s skin, a flash lamp is activated, and broadband radiation is directed through the transmission fiber channel into the patient’s skin. Scattered and reflected optical signals are fed through the receiving optical fiber channels and interference filters to the arrays of CCDs. Then specialists see the information on the display.

Fiber laser systems for photodynamic therapy

PDT, or photodynamic therapy, is a treatment that uses a drug and the light of a laser beam to activate the drug. It is particularly effective in the destroying of cancerous and precancerous cells of various types including those of the lung, skin, bladder, brain and more. When it comes to cancer treatment, photodynamic therapy is used in the early stages under observation through the endoscope. Certain photosensitizers are also applied for treatment of other diseases such as bacterial, viral and fungal infections.

Common information about photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy is usually used as a local treatment, which means it affects different specific parts of the body. The affected part of the body is irradiated with a laser beam from a fiber laser. Then, when exposed to light, a form of oxygen is produced that kills the cancer cells.

The custom PDT process includes 2 main stages:

  • Introduction of the photosensitizers into the body;
  • Light exposure.

The interval between these phases can vary from 10 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the disease and its stage. There are different methods of light exposure. It depends on the localization of the pathological project:

  • Direct light exposure;
  • Endoscopic light exposure;
  • Intraoperative light exposure (during surgery);
  • Intravenous light exposure (blood photomodification).

PDT for use in ophthalmology

In ophthalmology, fiber lasers are used to treat certain eye diseases when we talk about PDT applications. For example, they are most commonly used in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, its role today remains quite limited. With this method, the photosensitizers are injected into the vein. They selectively accumulate in abnormal blood vessels. The low-power laser beam then activates the light-sensitive drugs. The drugs destroy or seal the abnormal vessels without damaging the other cells. Specialists consider photodynamic therapy as a way to slow the progression of the disease and preserve vision.

As the use of fiber lasers continues to grow in various medical fields, we can say that laser modules have proven to be effective. They have been instrumental in developing of a wide variety of fiber laser systems and obtaining useful theoretical and experimental results. This is especially true in the medical industry, where fiber lasers are widely used.

Optromix Inc., headquartered in Newton, MA, USA, is a manufacturer of laser technologies, optical fiber sensors, and optical monitoring systems. We develop and manufacture 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 laser modules using our technologies based on the advanced research work and patents of the international R&D team. Laser processes are high-quality, high-precision, easily automated manufacturing solutions that provide repeatability and flexibility.
If you are interested in Optromix fiber laser systems or Optromix CO2 lasers, please contact us at info@optromix.com

Fiber lasers in flow visualization

Since the invention of the first fiber laser module, these systems have found a range of applications in a number of scientific studies related to biology, chemistry, astronomy, etc. In the future, scientists are going to develop more contemporary fiber lasers due to the challenges of the modern world. Nowadays, fiber laser systems participate in a number of various field experiments from triggering lightning in thunderclouds to genomics.Fiber lasers in flow visualization

Advantages of the fiber laser systems

A fiber laser is a well-structured compact laser that provides high electrical and optical efficiency. Fiber lasers are reliable and capable of delivering well-controlled and accurately directed laser beams. By amplifying specific wavelengths inside optical fibers specialists are able to design a fiber laser system with excellent beam quality and high peak energy.

Lasers are not intended to be light sources as illumination devices. However, they are good at light concentrating in space or particular wavelengths. The majority of laser applications can be divided into three segments:

  • the data transmission and processing;
  • accurate delivery of energy;
  • alignment, measurement, and imaging.

Fiber lasers have many significant advantages in comparison with the other laser types. Except for the previously mentioned high-quality laser beam and many other features, laser modules are powerful due to their high brightness. Fiber lasers don’t require any additional maintenance because optical fibers are set up without any mirrors and lenses.

Flow visualization with fiber lasers

Flow visualization is a technology that is applied to make the flow patterns visible for getting qualitative or quantitative data about them. This method is to observe the behavior of particles in the air stream. Lasers help to see the direction and uniformity of the air flow.

Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is one of the technologies that refers to the flow visualization. It has received great popularity in a range of scientific and engineering spheres. PIV technology is required when there is a necessity in measurements of various fluids and gas characteristics, for example, instantaneous velocities.

A custom PIV system includes a multi-pulsed fiber laser system, at least one camera synchronized with the laser, and a computer to display the received information.

Specialists can apply CW or pulsed fiber lasers in the acquisition process of PIV data. Fiber lasers are used because they are highly powerful with short pulse durations. Fiber laser modules make small implemented tracer particles visible. With the flow of the fluid, they are moving at the same pace. Then with the help of a camera a series of photos is taken which are used for further calculations of particles’ speed or direction.

Applications of the PIV technology

Due to its capabilities, particle image velocimetry has found its applications in many fields where highly macro and microscopic scales are used.

As any other fiber laser-based application, PIV is a technology that requires highly reliable laser modules. In reality, they have to operate in harsh environments that bring some difficulties outside the lab. That’s why specialists are mostly interested in creating robust and cost-effective laser modules.

Particle image velocimetry systems are proved to be valuable instruments. They are applied in a range of industries, for example, in aerospace, agriculture, medicine, etc.

Here are some more detailed examples of applications that fiber lasers have as PIV technology components.

Automation and quality control processes for gas and liquid production. PIV technology based on the most modern methods can be applied for the simultaneous measurements of the velocity and turbulence fields including gas and oil production.

Measurements and analysis of the indoor airflow fields. It can be complicated to measure a complex turbulent flow field accurately. That’s why the PIV technique is used to meet these challenges. A number of studies have demonstrated this technology’s effectiveness and named it one of the most universal instruments for measuring. Depending on the scientists’ purposes, they can choose a range of parameters for measurements. Despite some limitations for PIV systems, the obtained data about indoor flow is essential for validating numerical simulations and analyzing.

Combustion diagnostics. PIV technique has become an advanced instrument for combustion constructions. Its optimization, including improvement of the in-cylinder flow structures, is necessary due to new emission regulations focusing on reduction of pollutant formation in engines. When we are talking about combustion diagnostics, there are some challenges. Due to the engines’ structure, it’s complicated to analyze any changes.

PIV technology in medicine. In addition to the technical measurements, PIV has been widely applied in evaluation of the medical devices’ performance, for example, of the blood pumps, artificial heart valves, etc. It can also make predictions of the blood damage potential that different medical devices have. This technology mostly depends on the quantity of the images, their resolution and quality.

Nowadays, PIV technology has proved to be effective, and specialists are still looking for new ways of its applications for various systems. Fiber lasers, in turn, have played a great role in its development thanks to their advantages compared to the usual production equipment.

Optromix Inc., headquartered in Newton, MA, USA, is a manufacturer of laser technologies, optical fiber sensors, and optical monitoring systems. We develop and manufacture 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 laser modules using our technologies based on the advanced research work and patents of the international R&D team. Laser processes are high-quality, high-precision, easily automated manufacturing solutions that provide repeatability and flexibility.
If you are interested in Optromix fiber laser systems or Optromix CO2 lasers, please contact us at info@optromix.com

Laser modules in optical pumping and optical trapping

Laser modules are applied in various industrial spheres due to the broad spectrum of produced wavelengths. High-power fiber laser systems are commonly used for welding, marking, cutting, etc. Low-power but more precise fiber lasers fit for applications where there is a need for high accuracy, for example, for science and medicine.

This article is dedicated to the two applications of low-power fiber laser modules such as laser pumping and optical trapping.Laser modules in optical pumping and optical trapping

Most common advantages of the laser modules

Laser diodes are applied in optical pumping of fiber lasers and DPSS. They are proved to be extremely effective, robust and compact in the laser industry. What is more important, laser modules provide high peak energy and stable laser beam quality. Let’s see all these advantages in detail:

  • The idea of photons’ limiting in rare earth-doped fiber gives fiber lasers priority over the other laser types. That is stability. Since a fiber laser generates the beam within the core, there is no need for complex or sensitive optical equipment. At the same time in a usual laser there is an optical fiber for laser beam regulation. Otherwise, optical fiber is applied for the mirror reflection. Both these operation principles constantly require highly accurate adjustment by the specialist every time they fail. Unlike conventional lasers, fiber lasers don’t have such a high level of sensitivity to the movements and shocks, keeping the operation stability the same.
  • To provide the straight and high-quality laser beam, there is a limitation by the doped fiber core. As a result, the focusing made by the laser beam is more accurate and effective.
  • Energy efficiency is the other strength that fiber lasers have. They can transfer almost all the input they get into the beam. Therefore, the limitation of energy amounts reduces the conversion to thermal energy. That makes fiber better thermally protected and immune to degradation.
  • Nowadays, the majority of laser sources have water-cooled operating systems. In contrast to them, fiber lasers use air cooling technology to take the heat out of the laser. This fact lets specialists solve the portability and power consumption issues. The specialists have developed the most effective cooling systems based on the heat dissipation calculations for different parts and a number of comprehensive studies of thermal loading. Due to the modern chilling systems, thermal dissipation of the fiber lasers with the air cooling technology is proved to be a highly effective method in mitigation of the thermal effects.
  • Fiber laser systems with 1 – 100 W output power ranges offer a wide choice of different wavelengths.

Fiber laser systems in optical pumping

Optical pumping of a certain laser medium is its illumination by an external light source in order to transfer it to an excited electronic state, the entire environment or its components. Fiber lasers, as all fiber laser systems, need an excitation source to pump energy into the system.

Nowadays, the most common forms of optical pumping include semiconductor lasers (laser diodes), solid-state, or fiber lasers. Solid-state and fiber lasers are pumped with laser diodes.

Laser pumping can be made in two methods: continuous or pulsed modes. The key distinction between these types is the delivery method of laser pumping source which is connected to fiber core and then fused into a double clad fiber. This double clad fiber is alloyed with certain material for the particular laser module. According to the applied material, the absorption band can be wide or narrow. It means that there can be applied conventional laser diodes, or wavelength stabilized diodes in some cases.

Fiber laser modules in optical trapping

Optical trapping is a scientific instrument applying a focused laser beam to hold and manipulate microscopic objects. Mostly this technology is effectively used in biomedical studies.

Thanks to the ability to work with nanoparticles, optical trapping can study the single molecules. That’s why progress in optical trapping has greatly helped in research of DNA properties and associated proteins.

Most of the optical trap systems employ laser modules with the 1 μm wavelength. For them, these lasers are necessary because their chances of biological material’s damage are lower. Such wavelength is optimal for aqueous biological specimens with a low absorption coefficient.

With both these instrument types scientists apply laser modules in modern micro- and nanotechnology. The efficiency of optical trapping and optical pumping has brought new opportunities to science.

Optromix Inc., headquartered in Newton, MA, USA, is a manufacturer of laser technologies, optical fiber sensors, and optical monitoring systems. We develop and manufacture 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 laser modules using our technologies based on the advanced research work and patents of the international R&D team. Laser processes are high-quality, high-precision, easily automated manufacturing solutions that provide repeatability and flexibility.
If you are interested in Optromix fiber laser systems or Optromix CO2 lasers, please contact us at info@optromix.com

Fiber lasers and their applications in medicine

Fiber lasers have received much attention because of their qualities, benefits in use and a number of applications in various spheres. A range of the different wavelengths allows specialists to use fiber laser systems in factory environments for welding, cutting, texturing, etc. At the same time, the ultraprecise fiber lasers are applied in spheres where accuracy is a crucial feature – for example, in medicine, micromachining or scientific research.Fiber lasers and their applications in medicine

History of the fiber lasers’ development

The history of the fiber lasers’ evolution began with the invention of the first laser in 1961. First lasers didn’t achieve great of popularity from the very beginning, as they were complex and quite expensive. Fiber lasers got serious commercial applications only in the 1990s. The main cause is the gradual development of the fiber laser technology.

Today, fiber laser technology is still improving, creating more powerful and efficient fiber lasers. Specialists are working on the lasers’ accuracy, lasers’ environmental impact, etc. More improvements were made when the outputs of multiple fiber lasers were combined. This modification has led to the improvement of the power and range of the laser beam.

Medical applications of ultrafast fiber lasers

When it comes to fiber lasers’ applications, ultrafast fiber laser systems are applied in various spheres. However, there are fields where fiber lasers are irreplaceable, for instance, in medicine.

Fiber laser technology has made a great contribution to the growth of medicine. Fiber lasers are applied in fields ranging from therapy and ending with surgery. Thanks to the tremendous demand for healthcare, fiber laser technology has grown into a mature industry by making new innovations. Fiber lasers have rapidly adapted to the medical procedures’ evolution, considering their high-power densities in sterile noncontact processes and providing cauterization.

Fiber lasers in photodynamic therapy

PDT or Photodynamic Therapy is a treatment where the fiber laser light is used to destroy abnormal cells. From the very beginning, this technology was specially developed for the cancerous and precancerous cells in oncology. Moreover, it was suitable just for the particular cancer types.

The further development of PDT demonstrated that it can also be effective for general oncology and other kinds of cancer. This method is more convenient for the patients because it represents a noninvasive or minimal invasive alternative technique and provides less time for the recovery.

Fiber lasers in dentistry

The other medical field where fiber lasers have been applied over recent decades is dentistry. Fiber laser systems have proved to provide a fast and easy way of treatment. Fiber lasers have offered a significant reduction of the pain during or after the treatment for the patients. Moreover, the time required for the procedure itself and for the recovery period has got shorter.

Fiber lasers’ requirements in this sphere can be diverse starting from the essential laser characteristics like the wavelength and ending with physical qualities like size.

Fiber lasers for optical coherence tomography

From the very beginning, optical coherence tomography was developed particularly for ophthalmology. Meanwhile, today optical coherence tomography has found many applications in medicine.

The laser beam light is applied to take the cross-section images for diagnostics in clinics. The good resolution of the image helps in finding tiny infections at a few millimeters depth at the early stage. It is applied for diagnosis and treatment of diseases, monitoring of the therapeutic efficacy and different processes.

Fiber lasers for aesthetic applications

Laser modules have also become necessary instruments in some aesthetic, cosmetic or dermatology procedures. Previously, the CO2 lasers were produced for these purposes. However, due to fiber lasers’ recent development and advances, fiber lasers demonstrated their effectiveness as well.

The fiber laser systems are increasingly applied for performing radiation treatment on a patient. The fiber lasers are distinguished by their wavelengths, quantity of laser beams, design, etc. The wavelength can define a desired efficiency and depth of penetration for the treatment of the certain body part. The plurality of the fiber lasers may be placed next to one another to provide radiation along a line or located to achieve only the selected spaced areas of damage.

The most common fiber lasers applications in aesthetic procedures are skin resurfacing and tattoo removal. If we are talking about more complicated procedures, fiber lasers are applied for treatment of vascular lesions, skin micro-preparation, psoriasis, etc.

Considering all the progress that fiber lasers have already achieved over the past few years, scientists are still focusing on the development of more powerful and precise fiber laser systems. Fiber laser technology is applied by many specialists from different spheres for medical procedures and scientific research. Thanks to the fiber lasers advantages, they have become an essential tool for a lot of industries and spheres.

Optromix Inc., headquartered in Newton, MA, USA, is a manufacturer of laser technologies, optical fiber sensors, and optical monitoring systems. We develop and manufacture 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 laser modules using our technologies based on the advanced research work and patents of the international R&D team. Laser processes are high-quality, high-precision, easily automated manufacturing solutions that provide repeatability and flexibility.
If you are interested in Optromix fiber laser systems or Optromix CO2 lasers, please contact us at info@optromix.com