50 years LASERS: in vitro diagnostics, clinical applications and perspectives

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optics and Photonics
• Medical Diagnostics

Background:

• The invention of the Ruby Laser in 1960 spurred decades of research in biomedical applications.
• Industrial property documents, particularly patents, are crucial for understanding the development trajectory of laser-based in vitro diagnostics.
• Early innovations include fluorescence-based flow cytometry (1968) and Hybrid Coulter Principle-LASER Hematology Analyzers.

Observation:

• The patent landscape reveals significant evolution in laser-based diagnostic tools.
• Key technologies include Flow Cytometry, Fluorescent in situ Hybridization (FISH), and Confocal LASER Scanning Microscopy.
• The development of the Free Electron Laser (FEL) in 1971 marked a new era in high-resolution imaging.

Findings:

• A review of industrial property documents highlights the patent trail of laser-based in vitro diagnostics.
• Free Electron Lasers (FELs) represent a significant advancement, enabling nanoscale observation of biological processes.
• FEL patent trends show smoother growth compared to conventional laser diagnostics over the last 20 years.

Implications:

• FELs, like LCLS and XFEL, function as high-speed nanoscale cameras, capturing molecular dynamics in real-time (<100 femtoseconds).
• These advanced systems provide unprecedented insights into fundamental life processes at atomic and molecular levels.
• While costly, FELs are poised to revolutionize the understanding of life's basic mechanisms.