ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the path from basic research to clinical application of lasers with this goal and outline in mind. The general scenario as described above illustrates the dynamic changes that occur during laser-tissue interaction and which will depend on various laser parameters. In this short time, a considerable amount of energy can be delivered to the tissue, sufficient to increase the temperature far beyond 100 C. In such a short time, the water content in the tissue volume, is instantly turned into vapour. The Schlieren technique can be applied during 'real' laser-tissue interaction in biological tissues as it requires the tissue to be transparent. As well as using fibres to deliver the laser light, it is expected that increasing use will be made of the fibre to transmit fluorescent and Raman light back to the medical laser system for spectroscopic analysis. Lasers systems have been applied in medicine since they first became available.
