MID-INFRARED LASER FOR HEAD AND NECK SURGERY

CANDELA LASER CORPORATION WILL DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED LASER/LIGHT DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT WILL PROVIDE A SURGEON WITHA TOOL THAT CAN REMOVE SMALL, PRECISE AMOUNTS OF BONE, YET CAN BE EMPLOYED TO CUT OR SHAPE BONE ON A LARGE SCALE. THE SYSTEM AND DESIGN WILL STRICTLY MINIMIZE ANY DAMAGE TO NEARBY SENSITIVE TISSUE, AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION IN SUCH FIELDS AS HEAD AND NECK SURGERY. SPECIFICALLY, A FLASHLAMP-EXCITED DYE LASER-PUMPED HO:YAG LASER WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TO PRODUCE SHORT DURATION PULSES OF UP TO 5 WATTS AVERAGE POWER AND UP TO 100 HZ REPETITION RATE. THE EFFICACY OF THE SYSTEM WILL BE EVALUATED BY IRRADIATING SAMPLES OF OSSICLES, MANDIBLE, AND TEMPORAL BONES. HISTOLOGIC ANALYSIS WILL BE CONDUCTED TO REVEAL THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF ANY THERMAL DAMAGE. THE SYSTEM WILL HAVE IMMEDIATE IMPACT IN PROCEDURES IN OTOLARYNGOLOGY AND HEAD AND NECK SURGERY, AND CAN BE USED BY SURGEONS OF MANY DISCIPLINES, THEREBY JUSTIFYING THE INVESTMENT IN A HOSPITAL/OUTPATIENT SETTING.