MIRSURG · Mid-Infrared Solid-State Laser Systems for Minimally Invasive Surgery

The goal of this proposal is to develop advanced table-top solid-state photonic sources for a specific wavelength in the mid-IR spectral range, as a practical, reliable and cost-effective alternative to large-scale free-electron lasers (FELs), for an important application in biomedicine (health): minimally invasive surgery. Recent experiments have verified that the use of mid-IR FEL at wavelengths near 6.45 µm, with a focused beam penetration depth comparable to the cell size and coupled both into the spectral wing of the water bending mode and the amide-II vibrational mode, results in tissue ablation with minimal collateral damage and very effective ablation rate. This finding is extremely important as a useful tool for minimally invasive human surgery. However, the clinical use of FEL is ultimately not viable due to large size, high cost, operational complexity and restricted access at a few million-dollar accelerator-based facilities worldwide. Several attempts to develop non-FEL alternatives have largely failed to meet the necessary requirements in terms of pulse energy and repetition rate. The main strategy in this project will be to exploit nonlinear optical techniques (OPO) in combination with novel near-IR laser pump sources (near 1 and 2 µm) and new materials (e.g. orientation patterned GaAs) to obtain an unprecedented energy level (10 mJ) near 6.45 µm at a repetition rate of 100 Hz (an average power of 1 W). Two basic approaches, differing in the time structure, will provide less than few µs (macro) pulse duration. The project encompasses four distinct elements: (1) Material research; (2) Pump laser development; (3) OPO development; and (4) Validation in tissue ablation experiments. The partners, 4 companies and 5 institutes from 7 member states, with proven track record, extensive expertise, and complementary skills provide the critical mass and strong cohesion to achieve the goals of the project in the most successful, effective and timely manner.