The medical laser

Abstract The history and the main fundamentals of lasers in medicine are summarized in this article. The application of light for materials processing was first described by Aristophanes in his comedy “The Clouds” 423 B.C. In the 2500 years, or so, that have passed until the laser was invented, light had been used both for materials processing and for medical purposes in many ways. But only the laser has paved the way for widespread therapeutic use of optical radiation. Supported by numerous medical technology companies, Prof. Dr.-Ing. G. J. Muller founded the LMZ (Laser-Medizin-Zentrum gGmbH, Berlin), now LMTB (Laser- und Medizin-Technologie GmbH, Berlin) in 1985. Dr. H.-P. Berlien had been hired as Medical Director in this internationally renowned centre of competence for laser medicine. Dipl.-Ing. Clemens Scholz was among the first postgraduate students – he is now member of the board of WOM (World of Medicine). The German version of this paper was published in Umschan 1986;(4):233–240.