Therapeutic implications of nonablative laser application neurosurgery. Future possibilities

W. Z. Rymer*, S. F. Lin, U. Wesselmann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The application of pulsed or CW infrared lasers to peripheral nerves of mammalian subjects at subablative intensities has shown that action potential propagation is impaired preferentially in slowly conducting axons, and that these laser effects also impair exoplasmic transport over a much longer time period. Parallel studies of afferent processing in the dorsal gray matter of a mammalian spinal cord indicate that synaptic transmission is modified at even lower energy levels. Given that small diameter nerve fibers are concerned primarily with pain transmission, and given further that the superficial regions of dorsal gray matter in the spinal cord are concerned almost exclusively with pain processing, application of infrared lasers to these areas may prove to have short or even long term anesthetic actions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
PublisherPubl by Int Soc for Optical Engineering
Pages343-348
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)0819402419, 9780819402417
DOIs
StatePublished - 1990
EventProceedings of Laser Surgery: Advanced Characterization Therapeutics, and Systems II - Los Angeles, CA, USA
Duration: Jan 14 1990Jan 19 1990

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume1200
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherProceedings of Laser Surgery: Advanced Characterization Therapeutics, and Systems II
CityLos Angeles, CA, USA
Period1/14/901/19/90

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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