Lasers in medicine--some current issues

Although lasers have been applied to medical and surgical problems for many years, it is only recently that a significant momentum has been created. Lasers are now a routine part of many medical and surgical procedures. This article surveys a selection of current technical issues in this rapidly changing field, including applications in angioplasty, gastroenterology, dentistry, gynaecology, ophthalmology, lithotripsy, biostimulation and safety. As far as possible, only work published in the last three years is covered.