Les lasers médicaux d'hier, d'aujourd'hui et de demain

On May 16, 1960, Theodore H. Maiman operated the first functioning laser. Almost immediately lasers were evaluated for medical applications. The ruby laser was used in 1961 by Campbell in ophthalmology by Leon Goldman in 1963 in Dermatology. Since then, they have become ubiquitous, finding utility in thousands of highly varied applications in every section of modern society. Now, numerous medical areas employ lasers for treatment. The very low efficiency, limited power and poor reliability of the first generation of gas lasers are now replaced by diode laser, fiber laser, DPSSL Medical lasers are now smaller, more efficient, reliable and less expensive. If there has been a technological change (electro-optical industry to semi-conductor industry), this economic sector is still struggling to reform its organization. Indeed, medical lasers are still "technology-driven". Eventually, the medical laser industry should be integrated by large medical groups and will be part of a set of technologies and skills organized for a better safety, productivity, customer service, education, etc... Indeed, the continued advances in medical technology involve a challenge to the autonomous development of technology and medical qualifications.