Diode Lasers Enable Diverse Therapeutic Applications

Abstract

Lasers are widely used throughout medicine, from diagnostic imaging and clinical testing, to surgical treatments and the latest aesthetic procedures. For therapeutic medical procedures, in particular, diode lasers have now become the dominant laser type in use. This is because these workhorse devices provide lower cost of ownership, a wider choice of output wavelength and power, compact rugged packaging, and superior (semiconductor) reliability as compared to other laser types. In this article, we briefly examine the main features and advantages of typical diode laser types, and then survey some of the leading therapeutic applications that currently rely on them.