VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
Lasers in Medicine
Laser in der Medizin
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:29:46
Abstract
The course will provide answers to questions such as: Why lasers? How do lasers work? How does light interact with tissue? We will concentrate on three major interaction categories: Therapeutic (from cell surgery to vision correction and general surgery), Diagnostic (from detection of neural cell activity to diagnostics of cancer), and Imaging (from single molecules to optical tomography).
Objective
Introduction into medical laser applications. Understanding of the physics underlaying the laser-tissue-interaction in order to understand the influence of different irradiation parameters on tissue effects. Basics of diagnostic laser applications as well as laser safety.
Content
Lasers become increasingly important in almost all medical disciplines especially where they can be used selectively to treat soft and hard tissue in a non-invasive manner or for diagnostic purposes. Basic mechanisms of light propagation in tissue as well as laser-tissue-interactions i.e. photochemical, photothermal and photomechanical interaction will be discussed. The influence of laser wavelength and pulse duration on the interaction process will be studied. Different laser and beam delivery systems used in medicine will be presented. Different clinical laser applications in ophthalmology, urology, gynecology and ENT-surgery will be discussed. Diagnostic applications as well as biomedical imaging techniques are considered. Laser safety.
Resources
Lecture Notes
will be published in the Internet
Literature
- M. Born, E. Wolf, "Principles of Optics", Pergamon Press - B.E.A. Saleh, M.C. Teich, "Fundamentals of Photonics", John Wiley and Sons, Inc. - A.E. Siegman, "Lasers", University Science Books - O. Svelto, "Principles of Lasers", Plenum Press - J. Eichler, T. Seiler, "Lasertechnik in der Medizin", Springer Verlag - M.H. Niemz, "Laser-Tissue Interaction", Springer Verlag - A.J. Welch, M.J.C. van Gemert, "Optical-thermal response of laser-irradiated tissue", Plenum Press
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- BSC , MSC
- Frequency
- Every two years
Examination
- Type
- end-of-semester examination
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Laser in der Medizin |
|
3 h weekly |