The Laser Institute of America has assembled the expert knowledge of leading certified medical laser safety officers in a new book, “CMLSOs’ Best Practices in Medical Laser Safety.” The book compiles the latest knowledge about establishing a medical laser safety program, including laser safety regulations, how to control and evaluate such programs and the duties of LSOs.
By: Geoffrey Giordano
ORLANDO, FL, Feb. 7, 2012 — A future in which vital consumer and medical products and parts are made virtually from thin air with just metal or plastic powders and lasers could thrust the U.S. into the forefront of 21st century manufacturing.
Leading the charge in advocating such cutting-edge rapid manufacture and 3D printing is the Laser Institute of America, which holds its fourth annual Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM) Workshop in Houston, TX on Feb. 29 – March 1. The educational showcase will feature keynote presentations by experts Terry Wohlers of Fort Collins, CO, and Dr. Ingomar Kelbassa of Germany’s Fraunhofer ILT and RWTH Aachen University.
In 1988 Poprawe started Thyssen Laser Technik GMBH and was the company’s CEO. Since 1996 he has been managing director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and holds the University Chair for Laser Technology at the RWTH Aachen. In 2004 he served as vice rector of Aachen University and currently is a member of several boards in the scientific and industrial organizations, e.g. the AKL Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e. V. Aachen. He also chairs the RWTH International Board and is the Rectors delegate for China.
By: Geoff Giordano
With more therapeutic procedures moving into private medical offices and homes, the standard regulating the safe use of lasers in health care has undergone a much-needed update to ensure users, as well as patients, are protected.
The revised “ANSI Z136.3 Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care” publication defines the parameters of proper laser use outside the tightly regulated hospital environment. Formerly titled the “American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care Facilities,” the revision released in January includes new guidelines and information on:
•Wavelengths employed in medical environments. While some lasers are no longer listed, at least four new wavelengths have been added.
•The duties of laser safety officers involved with rented or borrowed laser equipment.
•Audit requirements and procedures.
•Clinically relevant terminology.
By: Dr. Andrew J Pinkerton, The University of Manchester
The environment continuously attacks our infrastructure in a way that is less spectacular than, for example, earthquakes or hurricanes, but far more expensive. Corrosion affects most surfaces, but especially metallic ones, on a daily basis and costs around 3–6% of developed countries’ GDP to combat. In the US alone corrosion costs are an estimated $276 bn/year, compared to the average annual cost of around $13 billion due to hurricanes. [1,2]
