Review of Laser Medicine toward 21 Century

Abstract

According to the numbers of the papers reported in the major world conferences on laser surgery and medicine, the major active research areas are basic research, plastic surgery, PDT, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, biostimulation and laser tissue interactions. As the new medical lasers, Cu and Hg ion, diode, Ho-and Tm-YAG, excimer and free electron lasers are listed up.
As the new frontier areas, PDT & photosensitizers, stereotaxic endoscopic neurosurgery, coronary angioplasty, laser thermia, laparoscopic surgery, transurethral prostatectomy, biostimulation are pointed out.
The most, important subjects in laser medicine will be “How to solve the difficult medical issues of mankind in the 21 century”, that are considered as follows.
1) Treatment for the intractable diseases such as AIDS, cancers, genetic disorders etc. 2) Application to preventive medicine. 3) Contribution to health and welfare promotion. 4) Countermeasure for aging society. 5) Saving of medical resources. 6) Level up of medical standards in the developing countries. 7) International contribution to cope with worldwide accidents and emergency.