“Lasers in Medicine” – Sophomore Introductory Seminar
OPHT
108Q, Class Number 26822
Instructor: Daniel Palanker
Abstract
During the last two
decades lasers have penetrated into most of the fields of medicine and in many
cases have revolutionized the way we diagnose and treat patients. They also have become an indispensable tool
in experimental biology with applications ranging from the high-resolution
microscopy to cell surgery. What makes
lasers so effective? This course will
provide an insight into the world of medical lasers reviewing such issues as:
Why lasers? How do lasers work? How does light interact with matter and in
particular with biological tissue? We will survey various applications of
lasers in medicine and biology including three major categories: Therapeutic
(from cell surgery to vision correction and cosmetic surgery), Diagnostic (from
detection of neural cell activity to diagnostics of cancer), and Imaging (from
single molecules to optical tomography).
The course will assume an interest in basic physics
and medicine although no specific prerequisites are required. Motivated
students from any discipline should be able to keep up with the technological
aspects of the course and will develop most of the necessary technical concepts
on the spot.
Prerequisites:
Freshman
calculus and basic physics knowledge are recommended but not strictly required.
Books: “Fundamentals
of Physics” by David Halliday, R. Resnick and J. Walker.
“Optics” by Eugene Hecht;
“Laser-Tissue Interactions” by Markolf Niemz; “Lasers in Medicine” by Ronald
Waynant
Grading Basis: Research
paper
Time:
Tentative Schedule
Lecture 1.
Introduction, wave motion;
plane, spherical and cylindrical waves.
Lecture 2.
Electromagnetic theory,
electromagnetic waves, energy and momentum of radiation.
Lecture 3.
Dipole emission, emission and
absorption by atoms and molecules, black body radiation, electromagnetic
spectrum
Lecture 4.
Propagation of light:
reflection, refraction, scattering, interference and diffraction.
Lecture 5.
Geometrical optics,
fiberoptics.
Lecture 6.
Microscopy and limits of
resolution, mechanisms of contrast.
Lecture 7.
Eye and vision,
perception of color.
Lecture 8.
Spontaneous and stimulated
emission, principle of laser, cavity modes,
lasing media, pumping
mechanisms, continuous and pulsed regimes.
Lecture 9.
Mechanisms of laser-tissue
interactions I: Photochemical. Photodynamic therapy, photostimulation,
cytotoxicity of UV light.
Lecture 10.
Mechanisms of laser-tissue
interactions II: Photothermal. Heat conduction and distribution. Thermal damage
to tissue.
Lecture 11.
Mechanisms of laser-tissue
interactions III: Photomechanical. Explosive evaporation, shock and acoustic waves,
cavitation, jet formation.
Lecture 12.
Mechanisms of laser-tissue
interactions IV: Dielectric breakdown, plasma-mediated ablation.
Lecture 13.
Laser laboratory
Lecture 14.
Lasers in Ophthalmology.
Refractive surgery, intrastromal ablation, coagulation, capsulorexis,
trabeculoplasty, vitreoretinal surgery.
Lecture 15.
Lasers in Dermatology.
Shrinking of collagen, hair and tattoo removal, PDT, Port Wine stains removal.
Lecture 16.
Lasers in General Surgery,
Cardiovascular, Gynecology, Tissue welding. Low power lasers.
Lecture 17.
Micromanipulation and cell
surgery. Laser tweezers, dissection of chromosomes, laser poration, optical catapulting,
in-vitro fertilization.
Lecture 18.
Lasers in Imaging: Confocal,
multiphoton and near-field microscopy, Optical Coherence Tomography.
Lecture 19.
Diagnostic applications:
Autofluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, Scattering Light Spectroscopy, Oximetry,
Doppler velocimetry.
Lecture 20.
Electrosurgery: Mechanisms of
interaction and tissue damage. Pros and cons vs. laser surgery.