ABSTRACT
Biophotonics is an emerging eld in modern biomedical technology that has opened up new horizons for many unique clinical applications in various areas ranging from minimally invasive diagnostics, bioimaging, and biosensors to biomaterial analysis and therapeutics. Recently, biophotonic techniques have been developed as alternatives to conventional medical methods for disease diagnosis, staging, interoperative monitoring, and therapeutics, as well as for drug discovery, proteomics, and environmental detection of biological agents. ese techniques oer noncontact, eective, fast, and painless ways to sense and monitor various biomedical quantities. Minimally invasive biophotonic devices are rapidly nding their way into the mainstream and improving patient care and quality of life. However, in order to translate these advanced biomedical technologies from the basic bench laboratory studies to the patient bedside, a thorough evaluation of optical radiation safety issues is required. In this chapter, we will review terminology for laser and optical radiometry, optical radiation damage mechanisms, as well as specic safety standards and methodologies for evaluating photobiological eects.
