Lasers in Biomedical Applications: A Spectrum of Light Source Solutions

Melles Griot manufactures a broad range of laser probe sources for biomedical applications. These include air-cooled argon, krypton, mixed gas, helium neon (HeNe), helium cadmium (HeCd), diode-pumped solid state (DPSS), and collimated diode-laser assemblies. In many cases, more than one kind of source may be used for a specific application. Green light from an air-cooled argon. DPSS, and HeNe lasers can all be used to effectively excite a rhodamine fluorochrome molecular tag. Understanding the differences in cost is the key to selecting the best laser for your needs.

HeNe lasers are among the lowest cost and most reliable systems available. Used in a wide variety of applications, from semiconductor wafer inspection to construction leveling, they are available in five wavelengths - near infrared (1523nm), red (633 nm), orange (612 nm), yellow (594 nm), and green (543 nm) - and have the best Gaussian beam quality of any laser. Expected life, ranges from 10,000 to 50,000 operating hours. HeNe lasers are convection cooled and use relatively little power. Output power, however, is limited to a maximum of 40 mW.