When was Laser Surgery Invented?

You may hear a lot about laser surgeries in this day and time. They are used for cosmetic purposes and for more serious health conditions. It came about in the 1960s; it involves the use of light that emits radiation. You can find laser surgery procedures being used for skin, eyes, gynecology, liver, gallbladder, prostate and sometimes the brain. The high demand for this type of surgery because it provides pinpoint accuracy and enhanced healing.

Theory

There is an early theory about laser surgery that dates back to 1917, when Albert Einstein graced us with his presence. He had a theory about stimulated emission of radiation (laser). Other scientists began to look up his work and continued it to the first creation of the actual laser. The first one ever created was in 1953; it was called a maser. It used microwave instead of infrared. Then in 1960, Theodore Maiman from the Malibu, California Hughes Research Lab demonstrated a real working laser.



Solution to a Problem

The first laser was invented without the knowledge of how it would be used. Once various industries began testing with it for their own fields. Some used it for welding, cutting, identifying parts and for heat treatment. Then there were others that used it for marking targets in electronics, guiding munitions and disabling enemy munitions. For consumer products, lasers are used in printers, CD players and scanners. In the medical field, lasers started being used for treating kidney stones, eyes and even in the dental field. Just about every form of medical practices uses laser surgeries today.

Future of Laser Surgery

Laser surgery is now being tested for use in thoracic surgery for patients that have lung cancer. It can be used to unblock arteries within the heart and remove tumors in the esophagus and tracheobronchial tree.