Laser Technology In Medical Therapeutics And Diagnostics
Biophotonics and life sciences at LASER World of PHOTONICS 2011
Many countries face an aging society with growing health care needs. Fortunately, advances in optical technologies promise solutions to geriatric health care. New technologies, especially biophotonics and life sciences, can deliver more efficient and consequently less expensive diagnostic and therapeutic methods, potentially avoiding "two-class medicine" and providing all social classes with equal high-quality health care.
For example, one of the major biophotonics trends is optimization of diagnostic imaging using modern laser-based analyzers. Diode lasers are used in cell measurement, femtosecond lasers permit new health screening examinations in oncology while laser-based multi-photon microscopes are also utilized to carry out research on age-related diseases.
These and other major biophotonics and life sciences advances will be featured at LASER World of PHOTONICS 2011 and will be represented at both the trade fair and the World of Photonics Congress by a conference and practical subject-related talks. A separate biophotonics exhibition area, primarily in Hall B1, will closely examine the latest biophotonics and life sciences optical technologies.
"The future of biophotonics lies in the combination of different imaging methods", said Prof. Dr. Franz Pfeiffer from the Chair of Biomedical Physics at Munich Technical University. "This will greatly increase visualization opportunities, and it will be possible to see the entire body without surgical interventions and investigate disease-triggering mechanisms in a very much better way. New concepts are also necessary in biophotonics in order to improve the existing diagnostic possibilities for personalized medicine."
Lasers for diagnostics
Laser-based diagnostic methods are already helping to detect and treat diseases and anomalies at an early stage. Particularly in cancer screening, biophotonics offers possibilities which promise considerable improvements compared with conventional examination methods. JenLab, GmbH will present its laser tomograph which recently won the Prism Award at LASER World of PHOTONICS. This device uses a femtosecond laser beam to precisely penetrate a patient's tissue. The resulting fluorescence in the illuminated cells enable doctors to diagnose the condition, avoiding a conventional biopsy. This method also lends itself to long-term observation using fast uncomplicated tests, thus facilitating a paradigm change from treating symptoms to preventive medicine.
Laser-based diagnostic methods are already helping to detect and treat diseases and anomalies at an early stage. Particularly in cancer screening, biophotonics offers possibilities which promise considerable improvements compared with conventional examination methods. JenLab, GmbH will present its laser tomograph which recently won the Prism Award at LASER World of PHOTONICS. This device uses a femtosecond laser beam to precisely penetrate a patient's tissue. The resulting fluorescence in the illuminated cells enable doctors to diagnose the condition, avoiding a conventional biopsy. This method also lends itself to long-term observation using fast uncomplicated tests, thus facilitating a paradigm change from treating symptoms to preventive medicine.
The latest fibre-coupled diode lasers utilized in light microscopy and cell measurement are now already deployed in DNA. "In our company we regard biophotonics as an important growth market", said Dr. Kaenders, founding member and Chairman of the Board of Management of TOPTICA Photonics AG. "New laser-based techniques provide insights into cellular processes without disturbing or destroying the cell. The laser is playing an increasingly more important role in this case. New laser parameters such as spectral coverage, output and pulsability are currently leading to phenomenal growth in new techniques."
Lasers for research and therapy regarding geriatric diseases
An important tool in clinical diagnostics is cell analysis by means of fluorescence microscopy, which can also be used to research diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Fluorescence microscopy is based on optical signals from cells which are illuminated using a laser, revealing information on the characteristics of the cells. "The basic idea in the majority of life science applications is excitation of fluorescent dyes and proteins with lasers", explained Dr. Matthias Schulze, Marketing Director at the laser measuring system manufacturer Coherent Inc., Santa Clara, USA. "Our patented technology with its wavelength scalability is now widely accepted with more than 20,000 lasers in scientific and clinical applications. It is helping to meet the increasing demand for clinical diagnostic applications in an ageing population. This technology is also leading to improvements in the area of therapy, for example in ophthalmology."
An important tool in clinical diagnostics is cell analysis by means of fluorescence microscopy, which can also be used to research diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Fluorescence microscopy is based on optical signals from cells which are illuminated using a laser, revealing information on the characteristics of the cells. "The basic idea in the majority of life science applications is excitation of fluorescent dyes and proteins with lasers", explained Dr. Matthias Schulze, Marketing Director at the laser measuring system manufacturer Coherent Inc., Santa Clara, USA. "Our patented technology with its wavelength scalability is now widely accepted with more than 20,000 lasers in scientific and clinical applications. It is helping to meet the increasing demand for clinical diagnostic applications in an ageing population. This technology is also leading to improvements in the area of therapy, for example in ophthalmology."
Laser-aided therapeutics
LASER World of PHOTONICS 2011 will also present new future-oriented technologies for therapeutics, for example in oncology and clinical surgery. "Image-guided radiotherapy is now already established in radiation treatment of tumour patients", explained Professor Wilkens from the technical department "Advanced Technologies in Radiation Therapy" at Munich Technical University. "In the long term improved imaging techniques will enable tumours to be reliably detected at an early stage, so that radiotherapy can be started sooner and, thus, more effectively. Laser-powered sources for X-ray and particle radiation could play a decisive role in this respect."
LASER World of PHOTONICS 2011 will also present new future-oriented technologies for therapeutics, for example in oncology and clinical surgery. "Image-guided radiotherapy is now already established in radiation treatment of tumour patients", explained Professor Wilkens from the technical department "Advanced Technologies in Radiation Therapy" at Munich Technical University. "In the long term improved imaging techniques will enable tumours to be reliably detected at an early stage, so that radiotherapy can be started sooner and, thus, more effectively. Laser-powered sources for X-ray and particle radiation could play a decisive role in this respect."
The use of lasers also opens up new possibilities in endoscopy, for example for non-scarring operation techniques. So-called Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is an innovative operation technique which permits endoscopic surgery through natural body openings and, thus, very gentle operations. These applications will be presented during the trade fair in the practical talk entitled "Biophotonics & life sciences, laser diagnostics and therapy in medicine". The talks during the Photonics Forum in Hall B1 on 24 May 2011 are being organized by the German Association for Laser Medicine (DGLM), Berlin.
Focus on applications - talk series at a glance
The World of Photonics Congress will supplement the exhibition area of biophotonics and life sciences with four subject-related series regarding laser diagnostics and laser-based therapeutics. The talks are designed to create close links between developers and users of medicine, biochemistry and physics. Imaging diagnostics and laser-based instruments will be the focus of the talks by leading companies and research institutes from the industry:
The World of Photonics Congress will supplement the exhibition area of biophotonics and life sciences with four subject-related series regarding laser diagnostics and laser-based therapeutics. The talks are designed to create close links between developers and users of medicine, biochemistry and physics. Imaging diagnostics and laser-based instruments will be the focus of the talks by leading companies and research institutes from the industry:
- Innovations in the area of lasers for biomedical applications will be examined during the practical talk entitled "Lasers for analytics and imaging in biophotonics". One of several talks on this topic will be presented by TOPTICA Photonics AG during the Biophotonics Forum and will be discussed in Hall B1 on 24 May 2011.
- The use of lasers opens up new possibilities in endoscopy. This will be the topic of the practical talk entitled "Biophotonics & life sciences, laser diagnostics and therapy in medicine" during the Biophotonics Forum in Hall B1 on 24 May 2011.
- "Visions for Future Diagnostics", organized by the Institute for Photonic Technologies (IPHT), Jena, will explore other medical photonic technologies on 25 and 26 May 2011. This workshop will focus on oncology and infectious diseases. The interdisciplinary character of biophotonics research will be examined in detail during this workshop.
- ECBO 2011 (European Scientific Conference on Biomedical Optics, held from 22 to 26 May 2011) will be as part of the World of Photonics Congress. One highlight will be the joint sessions between CLEO (Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics) and ECBO. On 23 May 2011 Prof. James G. Fujimoto from the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will give a talk entitled "Optical coherence tomography imaging: technology and applications".
About LASER World of PHOTONICS
LASER World of PHOTONICS is regarded as the home base of the photonics industry. According to a survey conducted by Infratest, 98% of exhibitors and 97% of visitors were extremely satisfied with the trade fair and intend to return in 2011. In addition to business objectives, the cultivation of contacts in the industry plays a very important role for all participants.
LASER World of PHOTONICS is regarded as the home base of the photonics industry. According to a survey conducted by Infratest, 98% of exhibitors and 97% of visitors were extremely satisfied with the trade fair and intend to return in 2011. In addition to business objectives, the cultivation of contacts in the industry plays a very important role for all participants.
This year will feature three focus topics "Lasers and Laser Systems in Production", "Green Photonics" and "Biophotonics and Life Sciences".
LASER World of PHOTONICS has been held every two years since 1973. In 2009 it attracted 1,034 exhibitors and 25,365 visitors. The number of exhibitors and visitors from outside Germany has risen continuously and is presently 57% for exhibitors and 51% for visitors.
A sister event, LASER World of PHOTONICS China, is the leading regional trade show for optical technologies in China. It takes place in Shanghai March 15-17, 2011.
Claudia Sixl, Project Group Leader for LASER World of PHOTONICS at Messe München, explains the special nature of this event: "Due to the close connection between industry and research at an international level and the fact that LASER World of PHOTONICS covers the entire spectrum of optical technologies from components and systems through to application areas, we offer unique advantages. These advantages have become indispensable in a tough competitive environment with which our customers are now faced. This fact is also recognized by all the leading names in the industry through their attendance at LASER World of PHOTONICS."
For more information, visit www.world-of-photonics.net/en
About the World of Photonics Congress
The World of Photonics Congress, Europe's largest photonics conference, is organized with the cooperation of the world's leading photonics organizations. This conference will be held May 22 to 26, 2011, concurrently with the LASER World of PHOTONICS trade fair. The World of Photonics Congress conferences include:
The World of Photonics Congress, Europe's largest photonics conference, is organized with the cooperation of the world's leading photonics organizations. This conference will be held May 22 to 26, 2011, concurrently with the LASER World of PHOTONICS trade fair. The World of Photonics Congress conferences include:
- CLEO/Europe-EQEC, organized by the European Physical Society (EPS)
- Optofluidics and Manufacturing of Optical Components, organized by the European Optical Society (EOS)
- LIM - Lasers In Manufacturing, organized by the Scientific Laser Society (WLT)
- ECBO-European Conference on Biomedical Optics, organized by SPIE and the Optical Society of America (OSA)
- Optical Metrology, organized by SPIE Europe
- Application Panels - practical applications of lasers and photonics, organized by Messe München.
The program will also include conferences and events on material processing topics such as the "Lasers in Manufacturing" Conference (LIM 2011), which is being organized by the German Scientific Laser Society (Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft für Lasertechnik e.V. (WLT)).
The Congress program will include a new event, "Optofluidics", organized by the European Optical Society (EOS). The Optical Metrology Conference includes a new subconference, "Videometrics" in addition to its traditional program contents. For more information, visitwww.photonics-congress.com .
About Messe München International
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world's leading trade-fair companies. It organizes around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organizes trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. Via its six subsidiaries - in Europe and in Asia - and 64 foreign representatives actively serving over 90 countries, MMI has a worldwide business network. Environmental protection and sustainability are key priorities in all MMI´s operations, at home and abroad. For more information, visitwww.messe-muenchen.com .
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world's leading trade-fair companies. It organizes around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organizes trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. Via its six subsidiaries - in Europe and in Asia - and 64 foreign representatives actively serving over 90 countries, MMI has a worldwide business network. Environmental protection and sustainability are key priorities in all MMI´s operations, at home and abroad. For more information, visitwww.messe-muenchen.com .
With a combined total of 1,300 exhibitors and more than 50,000 visitors in Munich and Shanghai, Messe München International is one of the world's leading trade show organizers for lasers and photonics. The World of Photonics websites at www.world-of-photonics.net/en offer information on the photonics trade shows, industry information, market data, details on product innovations, and application reports.
MMI headquarters is Messegelände, 81823 München, Germany.
Thanks Dan...
ReplyDelete