Laser Institute of America

ORLANDO, FL., February 14, 2012 — Medical personnel in charge of the safe use of lasers for therapeutic procedures have a valuable new tool to help prevent harm to patients and health care professionals.

The Laser Institute of America has assembled the expert knowledge of leading certified medical laser safety officers in a new book, “CMLSOs’ Best Practices in Medical Laser Safety.” The book compiles the latest knowledge about establishing a medical laser safety program, including laser safety regulations, how to control and evaluate such programs and the duties of LSOs.

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Reinhart Poprawe, LIA’s 2012 president, has worked in the laser industry and its related organizations for over 30 years. He received an M.A. in physics from California State University in Fresno in 1977. After completion of his Ph.D. in physics (Darmstadt, 1984) he joined the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology in Aachen, Germany where he worked as head of a department for laser-oriented process development.

In 1988 Poprawe started Thyssen Laser Technik GMBH and was the company’s CEO. Since 1996 he has been managing director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and holds the University Chair for Laser Technology at the RWTH Aachen. In 2004 he served as vice rector of Aachen University and currently is a member of several boards in the scientific and industrial organizations, e.g. the AKL Arbeitskreis Lasertechnik e. V. Aachen. He also chairs the RWTH International Board and is the Rectors delegate for China.

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By: Geoff Giordano

With more therapeutic procedures moving into private medical offices and homes, the standard regulating the safe use of lasers in health care has undergone a much-needed update to ensure users, as well as patients, are protected.

The revised “ANSI Z136.3 Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care” publication defines the parameters of proper laser use outside the tightly regulated hospital environment. Formerly titled the “American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers in Health Care Facilities,” the revision released in January includes new guidelines and information on:

•Wavelengths employed in medical environments. While some lasers are no longer listed, at least four new wavelengths have been added.

•The duties of laser safety officers involved with rented or borrowed laser equipment.

•Audit requirements and procedures.

•Clinically relevant terminology.

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