Laser technology heals new wounds

When it comes to the problem of stitching cuts and wounds, there hasn't been much change in the last 2000 years. Even with microsurgery techniques today, infections and scars are still major concerns.

To minimize these risks, doctors use carbon dioxide lasers to heal wounds, but if the laser heat cannot be adjusted, the technique poses even greater risks.

Using carbon dioxide lasers to heal wounds inside or outside the body with a technique called 'laser welding', a team of Tel Aviv University researchers has perfected a new device to heat muscle tissue It is possible to be controlled in a very accurate way. The research team's achievements, led by Professor Abraham Katzirth from the TAU Applied Physics Group, can change the way surgeons seamlessly cut cuts on the surface of the skin or inside the body.

With this new device, if the laser starts to become too hot and there is a risk of burning the tissue, the laser energy will be reduced, and if the temperature is too low, the laser energy will be increased.

Reach the standard temperature

Previous attempts to use carbon dioxide lasers to heal wounds in surgery or treatment achieved little success. Laser often 'undercooked' or 'overcooked' the delicate tissue of the patient, causing thermal damage.

Professor Katzir is always trying to find the right temperature for healing wounds, and perfecting a device that can maintain this temperature. He was the first to apply carbon dioxide lasers, along with optical fibers, to heal wounds under tight temperature control. The breakthrough was in the use of optical fibers made from silver halide developed at Tel Aviv University. Optical fibers transmit laser energy that heats connected wounds and is used to control temperature. This allows for the healing of tissues in the body.

He said: 'Blood and urine can penetrate wounds and cause infections. In many cases, the surgeon needs complex skills to perform a wound on the inside of the body, connect tiny blood vessels or make cuts on the skin without leaving any trace. '.

Laser technique makes new wounds immediately (Photo: tuanvietnam.net)

Inside and outside

Professor Katzir and colleagues successfully tested the gallbladder removal surgery. During these surgeries, four cuts are left on the abdomen, two of which are stitched by conventional methods, the other two using laser methods . The results of these experimental surgeries show that the tissue using the laser method recovers faster, leaving fewer scars.

Successful testing demonstrates that this new technique can be used to instantiate cuts on the cornea, bladder, intestine, blood vessels or trachea. This technique can also be used on tissues in organs such as kidneys, and even brain surgery. Laser is the optimal method for restoring soft tissue, minimizing trauma when used for internal wounds.

Go to FDA

Currently working under a license from the Israeli Ministry of Health, the team will soon adopt this method for longer cuts, such as in the case of hernia surgery. The team also expects to interact with the US FDA to conduct tests on a larger scale. If successful with these large experiments, basic research can be developed into commercial products within a few years.

Prof. Katzir: 'We think that plastic surgeons will be particularly interested in this invention. Making tissues without scarring is an art that few people have. This method is much simpler than the conventional suture method and prevents infection while accelerating the recovery process. '

Professor Katziz, currently serving as president of Carol and Mel Taub Applied Medical Physics at Tel Aviv University's School of Physics and Astrophysics, concluded: 'It can also become a device in combat. , allowing soldiers to heal each other with a laser chopsticks'.