Diode laser based light sources for biomedical applications

Abstract

Diode lasers are by far the most efficient lasers currently available. With the ever-continuing improvement in diode laser technology, this type of laser has become increasingly attractive for a wide range of biomedical applications. Compared to the characteristics of competing laser systems, diode lasers simultaneously offer tunability, high-power emission and compact size at fairly low cost. Therefore, diode lasers are increasingly preferred in important applications, such as photocoagulation, optical coherence tomography, diffuse optical imaging, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and terahertz imaging. This review provides an overview of the latest development of diode laser technology and systems and their use within selected biomedical applications. 670 nm external cavity diode laser for Raman spectroscopy built on a 13 × 4 mm 2 microbench (Copyright FBH/Schurian.com).

Review of diverse optical fibers used in biomedical research and clinical practice

“…A wide variety of optical sources can be used to carry out these functions. 1,[13][14][15][16] For example, as indicated in Fig. 1, UV light from ArF or KrF lasers emitting at wavelengths of 193 and 249 nm, respectively, is strongly absorbed in the surface of a tissue and, thus, can be used for many surgical applications.…”

Efficient generation of 509 nm light by sum-frequency mixing between two tapered diode lasers

“…Diode lasers have the advantages of being very versatile in wavelength and capable of high power operation as well as being highly compact and having high wall-plug efficiency [1].…”

High-power non linear frequency converted laser diodes

“…Many applications, e.g., within biophotonics require laser sources in the blue-green spectral range 1 . A preferred method for such lasers has been frequency doubled solid state lasers.…”