Laser scalpel
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2008-05-04T02:22:47Z
Laservet
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Deleted dead cathegories. Also laser does not really "cut" the tissue, more like evaporates it, which is very different
A '''laser scalpel''' is a [[scalpel]] for [[surgery]], cutting or [[ablation|ablating]] living [[biological tissue|biological tissue]] by the energy of [[laser]] light. In [[soft tissue laser surgery]], a laser beam [[ablation|ablates]] or vaporizes the [[soft tissue]] with the high water content.
In [[ophthalmology]] [[excimer laser]]s are used for changing the shape of the [[cornea]], procedures known as [[LASIK]] and [[LASEK]].
Other surgical fields where the use of a laser scalpel is common are [[circumcision]], [[neurosurgery]] and [[vascular surgery]]. Today YAG and CO<sub>2</sub> lasers are used, but possible benefits of using the vastly more expensive [[free electron laser]]s are being researched.
For research use in [[cell biology]], special laser micro-scalpels can make cuts smaller than a single cell.
==Literature==
*D.H. Sliney, S.L. Trokel: ''Medical lasers and their safe use'', ISBN 3-540-97856-9
*Leon Danaila, Mihail-Lucian Pascu: ''Lasers in Neurosurgery'', ISBN 973-27-0802-6
*K. K. Jain: ''Handbook of Laser Neurosurgery'', ISBN 0-398-04844-4
==External links==
*[http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News/research/ravf96/ravf96_7.html Vanderbilt — free electron laser for brain tumor removal]
*[http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=353527 Harvard — laser micro-scalpels]
* [http://www.aesculight.com/expert-opinion.php How to select a surgical veterinary laser] by Prof. George M. Peavy
[[Category:Laser applications]]
[[Category:Dental lasers]]
[[Category:Surgical instruments]]
[[de:Laserskalpell]]
[[hu:Lézerszike]]
[[fi:Laserleikkaus (lääketiede)]]