Laser scalpel 1019426 210024681 2008-05-04T02:22:47Z Laservet 6668182 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)]]