HealthcareHow Laser Technology Is Driving Healthcare Innovation

Healthcare has emerged as one of the most tech-forward industries in recent years. Many innovative tools are available to elevate patient outcomes. These include remote telehealth solutions, wearable devices, and patient data management applications. Laser technology is another game-changer.

The global medical laser market is projected to increase from $4.5 billion in 2021 to an incredible $15.63 billion by 2030. While this technology has been around since the 1960s, it has come a long way. The future looks bright, too, as it will likely revolutionize diagnosis, imaging, and surgical techniques.

Laser tools enable surgeons to perform complex surgeries with great accuracy and precision. Additionally, laser manufacturing empowers medical device manufacturers with advanced processes and design improvements.  The pharmaceuticals sector uses it to clamp down on counterfeit products in the healthcare market.

Here is a comprehensive overview of the role of laser tools and technologies in the medical industry:

Modernizing a Range of Surgical Procedures

Besides being less invasive than traditional surgery, laser technology makes procedures fast and effective. It minimizes the risk of infection and post-operative discomfort in patients. More and more surgeons prefer the technology for a range of procedures, such as:

Refractive Eye Surgery

Laser ophthalmology is widely popular in the country, with statistics showing 20 to 25 million laser vision correction procedures performed in the US since the FDA approval of LASIK 25 years ago. During the procedure, a cool beam is used to reshape the cornea and address vision issues such as farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.

Cosmetic Surgery

An ablative laser, such as a CO2 laser, is used for cosmetic skin tightening procedures for treating acne and scars, lines and wrinkles, and precancerous lesions. It also helps with the non-invasive removal of skin tags and warts.

Dental Procedures

Another common application of medical lasers is in the dentistry field, covering procedures such as tooth decay, teeth whitening gum disease, and lesion removal. In surgical dentistry, lasers can easily cut or vaporize the tissue.

Laser microscopy, DNA sequencing, and oncology are other areas where technology is driving innovation in the industry.

Design and Manufacturing of Purpose-Built Medical Devices

Precision and quality are the cornerstones of medical device manufacturing. But incorporating them into the process has always been challenging. With laser processing solutions such as 3D laser printing, micromachining, cutting, and ablation, precision, speed, and cost-savings are no longer concerns for manufacturers.

For example, the use of 3D laser printing technology in prosthetics manufacturing reduces the cost of production. Additionally, it accelerates the production processes, improves quality, and ensures a contamination-free production process by design. Manufacturers can rely on laser processing technologies to scale their capabilities and meet the ever-evolving demand and design expectations of the healthcare industry.

Novanta Photonics notes that laser and beam steering solutions offer better control over the production process. It translates into the quality, uniformity, and safety of every product passing through the production line.

Safety, Identification, and Anti-Counterfeiting

Besides facilitating precision manufacturing, laser technology helps medical devices and pharmaceutical manufacturers to etch information onto products without damaging or altering the material surface. The best thing about laser marking is that these marks are resistant to tampering, alteration, cleaners, acids, and other fluids.

UV laser etching is even better because the marks are beneath the substrate, eliminating the risk of infection due to raised edges. Any packaging or equipment subject to the laser marking method is sterile and safe for medical use. For example, implants marked with lasers are reliable because they do not contaminate the patient’s body.

Apart from safety, these marks help in identifying products and preventing counterfeiting. In modern healthcare setups, medical products and devices are given unique device identification (UDI) for the purpose of traceability. The code provides details such as the item reference, manufacturer’s name, and expiry date, all of which are critical to patient safety. Lasers can etch the details, from product information to serial numbers, batch numbers, QR codes, barcodes, and graphics.

What’s Next?

The future of laser technology in the healthcare industry looks more than promising. Countless patients have already experienced the benefits of this innovation, and providers consider it an empowering innovation that helps them deliver better care and outcomes.

The medical industry can expect even more from laser innovation in the future, from personalized medicine to connected software and automation and enhanced early diagnosis. With more and more manufacturers adopting laser production, the medical device and pharmaceutical segments are also ready to embrace it in a big way. Laser tech is here to stay and enhance healthcare in many ways.