Lasers for Fun and Profit

Stuart of Wapping writes "This is a very interesting site, links to pages describing real-life, tried-and-tested Star-Trek/James Bond gadgets... The Laser Medical Pen, or Medpen, developed in-house by the Laser Division of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate, is a second-generation device that provides a physician or paramedic with a unique, compact, portable, and battery-operated laser capability. The laser can cut like a scalpel as well as coagulate bleeding."

Comments

Coagulate?

[BitHive]

"The laser can cut like a scalpel as well as coagulate bleeding."

Do you mean it cauterizes the wound? That is when intense heat stops bleeding. Coagulation is when the platelets aggregate to form clots. I doubt the laser is doing this.

Re:I've got one

[Mister Transistor]

You also must realize that that entire 3W is concentrated into the diameter of the fiber optic. I think they are about 60 micro-meters inner core diameter, so the power distribution is something on the order of a KW per square mm. LOTSA power in a VERY small area!

The beam isn't collimated out of the fiber, so after about 1/4" or so, the beam diverges enough that it doesn't set things on fire. I have a simple collimator from a laser diode, and with a little tweaking, I can set things afire from 8 to 10 inches away!! That is REALLY cool.