Argon-ion Laser
by Science Source
Title
Argon-ion Laser
Artist
Science Source
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
An Argon-ion laser used in photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a procedure used to treat cancer. Patients are injected with a photosensitizer, a light-sensitive drug selectively retained by cancer cells. When exposed to laser light, the photosensitizer produces a toxic reaction which destroys the tumor. This photo shows an argon-ion laser, the first component of the argon pumped-dye laser (630nm red). This argon-ion laser emits blue-green light at 488/514 nm, and is used to excite a dye in the second component, the dye laser head, where the wavelength is changed to 630nm red. Different photosensitizers absorb light at different wavelengths. Some absorb light most efficiently in the blue light region of the spectrum around 400 nanometers(nm) with lesser absorption in the green and red light range. However, red light at 630 nm penetrates deeper into the tumor tissue (3-8 mm) than green or blue light. For this reason, the majority of PDT work has used 630 nm light.
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March 7th, 2013
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