350 mW high-power He–Ne laser and its application in photodynamic therapy

Abstract

A high-power He–Ne laser that has two laser tubes with a flat discharge cross section is designed and made. It can generate the total output power of more than 350 mW. The laser beams can be coupled into a quartz optic fiber using an optical system and the output power from the end of the optic fiber is more than 280 mW. The optic fiber will then pass through the endoscope tube to enter the human body to destroy the cancer for photodynamic therapy (PDT). In 44 clinical cases where the high He–Ne laser is used for PDT, the complete response rate is about 60%. The design of this high-power He–Ne laser and its application are introduced briefly in this article.