Abstract
Lasers were first conceived by Einstein in 19171 when he wrote his “Zur Quantum Theorie der Strahlung” (the quantum theory of radiation) which enumerated concepts of stimulated and spontaneous emission and absorption. Drs. Arthur Schawlow and Charles Townes, in 1958,2 extended lasers into the optical frequency range and Maiman, in 1960,3 operated the first laser using ruby as the active medium (ruby laser). C.K.N. Patel, in 1964,4 working in the Bell Laboratories, first developed the CO2 laser. Jako and Polanyi studied the absorption of human cadaver vocal cords when exposed to a pulsed neodymium laser, and later a CO2 laser, thus providing one of the first purely medical applications.5,6 These investigations eventually led to the development of an endoscopic delivery system in 1968. Jako first described the precision of the laser beam and noted the subsequent good wound healing.7 Hall,8 in 1971, accurately described tissue reactions to laser. Ketcham9 in general surgery, Goldman and Blaney10 in dermatology, Zweng11 in ophthalmology, Kaplan et al.12 in plastic surgery were all early contributors to their specialties. Currently, many medical and surgical specialties are finding innovative uses for multiple laser systems in both the diagnostic and therapeutic arenas.
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References
Einstein A: Zur Quantum Theorie der Strahlung, Physikalische Zeitschrift, 18:121, 1917.
Schawlow AL, Townes CH: Infrared and optical masers. Phys Rev 112:1940, 1958.
Maiman TH: Stimulated optical radiation in ruby. Nature 187:493, 1960.
Patel CKN: High-power carbon dioxide Lasers. Sci Am 219:23, 1968.
Strully KJ, Yahr W: Biologic effects of laser radiation enhancements by selective stains. Fed Proc 24(1 No. 3):5–81, 1985. (Discussion)
Polanyi TG, Bredemeier HC, Davis TW: A CO2 laser for surgical research. Med Bio Engnrg 8:541–548, 1970.
Jako FG: Laser surgery of the vocal cords; an experimental study with the carbon dioxide laser on dogs. Laryngoscope 82:2204, 1972.
Hall RR, Hill DW, Beach AD: A carbon dioxide surgical laser. Ann Roy Coll Surg 48:181, 1971.
Ketcham AS, Hoye RC, Riggle GC: A surgeon’s appraisal of the laser. Surg Clin North Am 47:1249, 1967.
Goldman L, Blaney D: Laser therapy of melanomas. Surg Gynecol Obstet 124:49, 1967.
Zweng HC: Current status of laser ophthalmology. Laser Focus Magazine, Advanced Technology Publications, 3:32, 1967.
Kaplan I, Ger R, Sharon U: The carbon dioxide laser in plastic surgery. Br J Plast Surg 26:359, 1973.
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© 1987 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
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Apfelberg, D.B. (1987). Biophysics, Advantages, and Installation of Laser Systems. In: Apfelberg, D.B. (eds) Evaluation and Installation of Surgical Laser Systems. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4648-0_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4648-0_1
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-9098-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-4648-0
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