LASER World of PHOTONICS – DGLM Application Panel: Laser-advanced new methods for diagnostics and therapeutics

Abstract

As part of the LASER World of PHOTONICS Congress and Exhibition, which will be held from 22 to 25 June 2015 at the International Congress Centre Munich, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Lasermedizin (DGLM) e.V. is organizing an application panel on the topic “Laser-advanced new methods for diagnostics and therapeutics”. Medical laser applications represent a constantly growing part of the photonic market, more recently driven by diagnostics than therapy. And the story carries on and the wheel continues to turn. Compact lasers with high effectiveness and reliability at comparably low costs have become available and new wavelengths are being added “daily” which are opening up new future perspectives. To transform a laser into a successful medical device requires intense and careful cooperation between industry and research coupled with commitment and a feeling for the right moment. Evaluation of medical and social benefits, the power of competing techniques, rules and regulations, financing and reimbursement issues all play their role in the development and placement of a medically approved device or procedure. Furthermore all medical procedures need continuous reevaluation with respect to competing techniques and to their usefulness and clinical outcome. This panel will focus on how cooperation can ensure the success of biophotonic innovations from bench to bedside with the help of clinicians, researchers, engineers and innovators from industry. Medical, scientific and industrial representatives will provide information about their specific tasks and their efforts to launch a specific device or procedure.