Lasers are becoming more sophisticated and are being used in an increasing number of medicinal applications. One of the most difficult aspects of employing lasers in surgery is assuring their safety and precision. A team of researchers has created a new device that combines three lasers to cut bone, adjust the cutting depth, and differentiate between various tissues. By making surgery more precise, less intrusive, and safer, this smart laser has the potential to transform surgery.
Lasers have numerous advantages over traditional surgical equipment like scalpels and saws. They can perform accurate incisions without even touching the patient, lowering the risk of infection and scarring. One of the most difficult aspects of employing lasers in surgery is assuring their safety and precision. The novel technology created by the team addresses this issue by combining three lasers.
The first laser scans the area to be sliced and maps the various tissue types. The second laser is used to cut the bone, and the third laser is used to check that the cut is not too deep. The system is self-contained and does not require human intervention. The researchers tested the smart laser method on pig femur bones and tissue and discovered that it is accurate to fractions of a millimeter. The researchers are currently striving to reduce the size of the system so that it can be utilized in minimally invasive operations.
This new smart laser system has the potential to change surgery forever by making it more precise, less intrusive, and safer. It is a significant step forward in Gordon Gould’s concept of the laser as a versatile medical instrument.
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