Minimally invasive medicine

Abstract

Progress in the field of minimally invasive and non-invasive therapy is closely linked to the development of high-resolution imaging tools for diagnostics and the guidance of surgical instruments. Minimally invasive medicine opens the way to low-cost, ambulant treatment under local anaesthesia with less post-surgery pain and improved cosmetic results. Microsystems engineering, nanotechnology, and laser technology, in particular, have contributed to the development of the required miniaturised high-tech medical devices. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.