Tag Archives: medical laser safety

The 2017 ILSC Medical Practical Applications Seminar: What Is It & Why Is It Important?

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By Alanna Ritchie 

MLSOs and medical laser safety professionals who attend the 2017 International Laser Safety Conference’s Medical Practical Applications Seminar will learn from experts, exchange ideas, and bring the latest knowledge back to their medical facility. Explore the event & it is important in our Lasers Today feature below.

As March draws closer, the deadline to register for the International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC) is quickly approaching. ILSC is the world’s leading laser safety event, drawing professionals from around the globe to master laser safety practices and uncover current trends in hazard control. This popular conference, held this year from March 20-23 at the Sheraton Atlanta Airport in Atlanta, GA, covers ground-breaking developments in laser technology as well as practical solutions related to its technical and medical challenges.

The four-day event includes the Medical Practical Applications Seminar (MPAS) which incorporates the latest scientific medical-related insights into practical applications related to laser safety. You can explore why MPAS is such a groundbreaking event and an annual ILSC highlight in our guide to MPAS below.

Excelling in Medical Laser Safety at ILSC’s MPAS

MPAS, held March 20-21, 2017, gives medical professionals a two-day pass to expert seminars about Medical Laser Safety Officer (MLSO) best practices. It’s an exciting opportunity for attendees to deepen their knowledge of medical laser safety through expert presentations and the exchange of ideas and take what they’ve learned back to their hospital, ASC, or office.

What Topics Are Covered During ILSC’s MPAS?

Move beyond online Medical Laser Safety Courses and hear about common scenarios where theory must be put into action. This year’s seminar is titled Laser Safety: More than Smoke and Mirrors and gives attendees the opportunity to learn from medical professionals and researchers dedicated to protecting the health of patients and clinicians using laser applications.

Presenters will explore topics like risks related to surgical smoke plume, collimated medical devices, methods for preventing potential injuries and new international initiatives. They will also take a critical look at current legislation and the need for future changes. The sessions will also examine how to address the role of MLSOs in improving the safety of patients and staff.

Who Should Attend MPAS?

Medical Laser Safety Officers, biomedical & biophysical researchers, environmental health & safety professionals, nurses, medical technicians and health physicists are among the many occupations that can benefit from this practical seminar. Those who monitor the safety and use of lasers in operating rooms, surgical centers, aesthetic clinics and medical spas will be able to apply tools and tips learned during the sessions. Non-medical laser safety professionals are also welcome to attend.

This is your chance to network with global attendees from a variety of fields and discuss questions related specifically to your industry. Bring current industry issues to the attention of your colleagues. After attending sessions as a group, you can ask questions and exchange with other field professionals. Share the obstacles you are facing with experts –and find solutions together.

Why Are MPAS Critical to Laser Safety?

Laser safety involves educating yourself, figuring how to take the proper precautions, and raising awareness. By attending the MPAS, you can earn contact hours, receive insights that you can put into action within your industry, and hear firsthand about how Medical Laser Safety Officers address risks before problems become emergencies.

The 2017 ILSC Medical Practical Application Seminar will better equip medical professionals & MLSOs to prevent harm while extending the reach of applied laser technology. Register today to reserve your ticket for the International Laser Safety Conference this March.

 

Weekly Wrap Up – Week of August 29, 2016

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Bringing you up to date with the latest in lasers, LIA’s Weekly Wrap Up is a collection of this week’s highlights in laser technology, Laser Institute news, and Conference Updates as found across the web, on Lasers Today, and LIA’s network of social media channels.

What happened in lasers during the week of August 29, 2016? 

Laser Industry News

Could lasers lead to more environmentally-friendly manufacturing? According to some, lasers can be used to save energy, reduce waste, and improve recycling when used. Lasers have already replaced some chemical processes, while laser marking has rendered the use of labels to be much less viable. Learn about other ways lasers are helping manufacturers “go green” here.

Researchers at University of Michigan, Ann Harbor are working on a laser–made of human blood, that would emit infrared light, allowing doctors to hunt down tumors. Using indocyanine green, a dye already used in medical imaging, researchers have found that mixing the dye with blood might lead to a powerful laser light. Currently, the mixture is held in a small container, and when shot with a conventional laser, is able to emit light. Learn more about the experimental process here.

Conference Updates

Mark your calendars! LIA’s Biennial International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC®) takes place March 20–23, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. ILSC® gathers laser safety experts from around the globe for a comprehensive conference for laser industry professionals. This year’s conference is anticipated to cover laser product safety, medical laser safety and bio-effects. Find out more about the event, and how you can get involved here.

Industrial Laser Conference is right around the corner! Be sure to keep an eye on #ILCatIMTS at the conference, or from home for updates throughout the event. Industrial Laser Conference takes place September 13th, in Chicago, Illinois.

LIA News & Updates

Are you familiar with laser safety regulations in your state? You may be surprised to know that some states have specific laser safety regulations, not found everywhere else. Luckily, LIA has created a handy guide to state-mandated laser safety regulations. Find it here.

Staying on top of news and updates in the laser industry can be a challenge. To make it easier for the busy laser professional, LIA has created a comprehensive guide filled with online resources, recommended publications, and more! Download the free e-book, and expand your knowledge here.

 

Interested in learning more about laser additive manufacturing and other emerging laser technologies? Lasers Today keeps you up to date on all that you need to know about the laser industry, LIA, and more.

The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide.

Find us at www.lia.org — and follow us on Twitter for live, up-to-date conference information.

Pressing Laser Safety Issues Addressed at ILSC 2015

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Bringing together more than 200 laser safety professionals from around the world, the Laser Institute of America’s International Laser Safety Conference (ILSC®­) touched on pressing medical and industrial hazards — as well as safety in unique environments like the Arctic and even outer space.

Held March 23-26 in Albuquerque, N.M., ILSC 2015 illuminated issues with “lasers of immense peak powers, hand-held laser devices with power that cannot have been imagined a decade ago, and ever-expanding applications of the laser,” noted LIA President Robert Thomas of the Air Force Research Laboratory.

Major U.S. facilities like Sandia National Laboratories and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory shared insights into safety issues surrounding the use of multiple lasers. At Sandia, keynote presenter Bill Seng noted that many of the lab’s more than 1,400 lasers —running the gamut from UV to visible to IR to white-light devices — are employed on aircraft, ships and even in the back of a van to detect potential airborne toxins.

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LIA’s Medical LSO Courses To Feature Laser Demonstrations

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ORLANDO, FL, Aug. 14, 2014 — In an effort to give students a first-hand experience with lasers in the operating room, the Laser Institute of America (LIA) is partnering with medical solutions provider Universal Hospital Services (UHS), through its UHS Surgical Services business unit, to offer laser demonstrations at LIA’s Medical Laser Safety Officer (MLSO) training courses.

UHS first demonstrated a CO2 laser at a recent LIA course in Boston. UHS is a nationally recognized provider of state-of-the-art mobile surgical equipment and operates from more than 80 offices across the US.

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