Nd doped crystals for medical laser applications

Some secondary laser lines of the Nd3+ ion in crystals like YAG and YAP are now being used or re-examined very seriously for several purposes. So, after a brief description of the main parameters characterizing the general optical and thermomechanical properties of these 'well-known' materials, a discussion is developed here concerning the interest of these particular lines for specific medical applications and a comparison is made with other existing solutions. Then, the operational characteristics (laser performance, thermal behaviour) and the effects (laser-tissue effects) of some of the laser systems we have studied for these applications, already commercially available systems as well as prototypes, are presented. In the end, the potential of Nd:KGW, another emerging Nd doped laser material, is analysed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.