Near infrared solid state lasers for medical applications

There have however been recent advances in crystal growth techniques and laser development which have allowed several new laser systems to be designed. These new solid state lasers, in particular erbium YAG, holmium YAG and titanium sapphire, which all operate in the near infrared at wavelengths ranging from 650 nm to 3 mu m, open up the possibility of new and improved surgical techniques because of the particular interaction of these wavelengths with biological tissue and the pulsed nature of these flashlamp pumped laser systems.<
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