Sharplan 10.6 μm CO₂ Lasers and Waveguides for Arthroscopic Laser Surgery

Abstract

The 10.6 μm CO₂ laser has a long history of use in the orthopaedic field, with more than 10 years of experience in arthroscopy and many thousands of procedures performed (Whipple et al., 1983, 1984, 1985; Smith et al., 1989, 1990; Garrick, 1992; Smith, 1992). Advances in the development and production of miniature 10.6 μm CO₂ laser waveguides have paved the way to new possibilities in arthroscopic surgical procedures. The 10.6 μm CO₂ laser with these waveguide delivery systems provides excellent noncontact surface ablation and incision using the free laser beam technique. With these delivery systems, tissue at locations normally inaccessible using mechanical instruments such as biting forceps and shavers are now easily accessible for treatment.