A new laser scalpel--a brief report

Technol Health Care. 1996 Dec;4(4):425-9.

Abstract

One may consider the clad silica fibre cutting probe as a cheap alternative of the popular sapphire probe, sharing some of its properties. Made of silica, the scalpels have a fair heat tolerance and may be used without cooling by liquids or gas as is necessary with sapphire blades. The laser scalpel described here is driven (powered) with a 10 W cw Nd:YAG laser energy source (1064 nm) and possesses good cutting and haemostatic properties. It may also be used with lasers emitting other wavelengths. One may assume that a diode laser emitting in the near infrared (800-810 nm) may have very similar, although no analogous cutting properties when used with the described scalpel.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Laser Therapy / instrumentation*
  • Silicon Dioxide

Substances

  • Silicon Dioxide