Mid-infrared laser applications in medicine and biology

R. W. Waynant, I. K. Ilev, I. Gannot, J. R. Meyer, C. Sirtori

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

157 Scopus citations

Abstract

The mid-infrared (mid-IR) should be a fruitful area for medical research and instrumentation since this is the region where the most identifiable molecular molecules absorb and radiate. Due to the unique specificity of a biological molecule's spectrum in the mid-IR, semiconductor lasers in the mid-IR have a unique advantage over ultraviolet and visible or near-IR lasers. Small room-temperature laser diodes can be used in small hand-held, portable, and hopefully inexpensive, medical devices for rapid measurement, possibly in patient-operated home-care devices. Since the mid-IR radiation can be connected with otherwise invisible chemical processes, it becomes possible to watch the biochemical processes of life reveal themselves. Until recently, work in this region had been handicapped by lack of sources, detectors and optical materials, but this is changing, as this conference shows, and important new directions lie ahead.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)635-644
Number of pages10
JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Volume359
Issue number1780
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 'Fingerprint' region
  • Biology
  • Fibres
  • Medicine
  • Mid-infrared
  • Waveguides

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Mathematics
  • General Engineering
  • General Physics and Astronomy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mid-infrared laser applications in medicine and biology'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this