Present Status and Future Developments of the Biomedical Applications of the Laser

Abstract

It is well at this time to consider where we are, and then where we plan to go with biomedical research. It is obvious that the laser still has a dramatic appeal for the public even though, as yet, it has not fulfilled many of the early reckless dreams of fiction writers. It is obvious now also that lasers, especially those with the high exit energy and high power output, are very expensive. Moreover, laser instrumentation has still not reached the desired state of maturity for which the early investigators prayed. So, biomedical research has not kept pace with the other fields of laser research.