If a basic advance in physics has any practical applications, among the first are those in biology and medicine. This is quite striking when one considers even such unlikely things as the Mössbauer effect and X rays. Within a very short period of their discovery, they had welI-formulated biological and medical applications. The discovery of the laser is no exception. AIthough the theoretical basis for it was established in 1917 by Einstein, the techniques and materials necessary for building a laser were not then available. The laser has revitalized everything connected with optics. It has furnished the experimenter and the teacher with a pseudo-point source. It has translated many a theoretical experiment into one that can be realized practicalIy. The highly monochromatic and coherent aspects of the light, in addition to the high power levels that can be attained, add greatly to the usefulness in this regard. The industrial applictions range from punching holes in baby bottle nipples to a surveyor's instrument of such accuracy that it can plot tlie position of the moon relative to the earth within a few feet. Many years of very informal meeting on the subject of lasers in medicine and biology have been sponsored by the Gordon Research Conferences. The present book is an outgrowth of the discussions that took place at these meetings, aIthough it is in no sense a symposium report.
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Dateigröße
ISBN-13
978-1-4615-7320-3 (9781461573203)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-4615-7320-3
Schweitzer Klassifikation
1 Laser Characteristics that Might be Useful in Biology.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Characteristics of Laser Output.- 3. Applications in Biology and Medicine.- References.- 2 Calibration of Lasers-Necessity and Techniques.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Measurement in Living Tissue.- 3. Measurement of Laser Parameters.- 4. The Problems Associated with a Specific Case of Energy Measurement.- 5. Pulse Monitoring.- References.- 3 Laser Effects on Normal and Tumor Tissue.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Reaction of Normal and Tumor Tissue.- 3. Energy Levels Necessary for Cellular Destruction.- 4. Effect of Adjuvant Agents.- 5. Adverse Reactions to Laser Treatment.- 6. Histological Findings.- 7. Current Studies.- 8. Laser's Future.- References.- 4 Cell Biology by Laser Light.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Macromolecule Studies.- 3. Organelle Studies.- 4. Metabolism Studies.- 5. Continuity and Development Studies.- 6. Summary.- References.- 5 Dentistry and the Laser.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Early Investigations.- 3. Current Investigations.- 4. Potential Applications.- 5. Summary.- References.- 6 Ocular Damage from Laser Radiation.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Interaction of Radiation and Matter.- 3. Effects of Laser Radiation on Biological Systems.- 4. Models for Ocular Damage.- 5. Summary and Conclusions.- Appendix-Heat Flow Problems.- References.- 7 The Development of Laser Safety Criteria-Biological Considerations.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Establishing Safe Exposure Levels for Health and Safety.- 3. Laser Safe Levels.- 4. Probability of Injury, Applicability of Laser Safe Levels, and Accident Experience.- 5. Pupil Size.- 6. Spectral Considerations.- 7. The Retinal Image Size.- 8. Biological Data of Retinal Damage.- 9. The Ultraviolet and Far-Infrared Regions of the Spectrum.- 10. The Skin.- 11. Summary ofSafe Levels.- 12. Laser Hazard Controls-Practical Considerations.- References.- 8 Lasers in Ophthalmology.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Use of Photocoagulation in Treating Ocular Diseases.- 3. Development of Laser Use in Ophthalmology.- 4. Laser Photocoagulators.- 5. Techniques of Laser Photocoagulation.- 6. Diseases of the Macula.- 7. Diabetic Retinopathy.- 8. Protocol for Eye Examination of Laser Workers.- References.- 9 Models in Pathology-Mechanisms of Action of Laser Energy with Biological Tissues.- 1. Introduction.- 2. The Nature of Models.- 3. Types of Models.- 4. Application of Models Through Interpretation of Pathology.- 5. Detailed Examination of a Simple Thermal Model for the Retinal Image.- 6. Conclusions.- References.- Author Index.
