Applications of Lasers in Science

The light beam produced by most lasers is pencil-sized, and maintains its size and direction over very large distances; this sharply focused beam of coherent light is suitable for a wide variety of applications. Lasers have been used in industry since 1964 for cutting and boring metals and other materials, and for inspecting optical equipment. In medicine, they have been used in surgical operations. Lasers have been used in several kinds of scientific research. Lasers have opened new fields in scientific researches; such as general and open surgeries, dentistry, urology, veterinary. One important result of laser research is the development of lasers that can be tuned to emit light over a range of frequencies, instead of producing light of only a single frequency. Lasers have also been used in plasma physics and chemistry.

About general surgical procedures, it can be performed using lasers. General surgeons use a variety of laser wavelengths and laser delivery systems to cut, paste vaporize or remove tissue. The major use of "laser surgeries" actually uses the laser device in place of other tools such as electron surgical units, surgery probes, or microwave devices to accomplish a standard procedure like breast surgery or surgical removal. Yet, lasers allow the surgeon to accomplish more complex tasks, reduce blood loss, decrease postoperative discomfort, reduce the chance of wound infection, decrease the spread of some cancers, minimize the extent of surgery in selected circumstances and result in better wound healing if they are used appropriately by a skilled and properly trained surgeon.

The use of lasers in dentistry has advanced since the first laser was developed in the early 1960s. Early researchers looked to lasers as a potential method for altering the enamel surface, making it less susceptible to acid demineralization. It is this demineralization that leads to the development of dental decay. This research has progressed over the years, and the future of lasers reducing dental decay seems promising. The development of  different types of lasers during the last 40 years has offered researchers many wavelengths of laser light, which have been investigated by researchers. The most common laser in dental surgery has been the CO2 laser. It is this laser that is used commonly for surgery of the gingival (gum) tissues. Many of the reports suggest that this laser is beneficial because it allows for surgery without much bleeding. Regarding this point, many patients also report that when the CO2 laser isn’t used for surgery, they do have pain following surgery.

However, various types of lasers are utilized to successfully treat several diseases of the urinary and genital systems. The more common diseases include urinary stones, junction, urethral stricture, benign enlargement of the prostate (BPH) urethral strictures, benign warts of the  urethra, and superficial cancers of the urethra. According to the heading of the laser's beam in use of science. Seguin Sun says that “A majority of such treatments requires general anesthesia, and all performed as outpatient showed us with little or no blood loss and excellent results.”

About the Veterinary field, surgical lasers comprise a growing field of new technology available to practicing veterinarians. Although lasers have been used for animal surgery and diagnostics for over 15 years, most works were performed at universities. Currently, carbon dioxide, diode, and lasers are being used for vaporization, excision, or coagulation of tumors and other types of pathologic tissue in general soft tissue surgery, endoscopic procedures, and lithography. The use of lasers in veterinary medicine is expanding rapidly to meet the needs of animals and their owners in the 21st century.

To sum up, these dramatic developments have reshaped our ability to treat disorders and maintain the development of scientific researches in a century. The technology is continually evolving and the future of laser is very bright.