Robust and reliable mid-infrared pulsed fiber laser as a laser scalpel

Mid-infrared pulsed lasers emitting around a wavelength of 2.94 µm have a great potential for biomedical applications such as a laser scalpel their laser radiation can interact strongly with water in biological tissues. The most popular laser scalpel technology is a solid-state laser that provides pulses that can cut through biological tissues but also cause damage to the surrounding area resulting in pain and an impeded healing process. A mid-infrared pulsed fiber laser that could produce shorter pulses would allow efficient ablation without the surrounding area damage while improving the efficiency and the compactness of the device. The project’s main objective is to develop an efficient, compact, and reliable mid-infrared pulsed fiber laser that generates nanoseconds-scale pulses at high average power and high peak power suitable for biomedical applications such as dental and bone surgery. Another objective is to study their effect on biological tissues since the scientific knowledge in this field is lacking. This collaboration project between LumiIR lasers and a research group at the Center for Optics, Photonics and Lasers (COPL) at Laval University will make use of the state-of-the-art mid-infrared fiber laser architecture currently commercialized by LumIR lasers to ensure its robustness and reliability. The research group’s expertise will make it possible to develop an all-fiber laser that generates high energy and high peak-power nanoseconds-scale pulses suitable for surgical applications. This project will lead to an innovative laser technology for biomedical applications and will provide significant scientific contributions as patents and journal publications.

Faculty Supervisor:

Younès Messaddeq

Student:

Partner:

LumIR Lasers

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

Université Laval

Program: