TAU physicist’s ‘infrared fibers’ can defend water supplies from

A Tel Aviv University physicist has developed a system to monitor the safety of a building’s or community’s water supply in real time, which could combat the threat of contamination due to industrial spillage, natural disaster or sabotage.

Although most people take the safety of their drinking water for granted, ordinary tap water could become deadly within minutes, says Prof. Abraham Katzir of Tel Aviv University’s School of Physics and Astronomy.

Modifying special fibers developed in his lab, Katzir can detect “colors” in the infrared spectrum that distinguish between pure and contaminated water. Connected to a commercial infrared spectrometer, the fibers serve as sensors that can detect and notify authorities immediately if a contaminant has entered a water reservoir, system, building or pipeline.

In the lab, the fiberoptic system detected poisons, such as pesticides, in amounts well below the World Health Organization safety threshold. Preliminary field experiments have already been done at several European sites, and the results were reported recently in the Journal of Applied Spectroscopy.

Once in use, the sensor system would be one of the first real-time water monitors to provide protection from chemoterrorism attacks – a threat to which water supplies in places like the US are particularly susceptible.

“It’s unlikely that someone will poison the water supply in Afghanistan,” says Katzir, “but America is in grave danger and needs to arm itself against chemical threats to its drinking water.

With our naked eyes we can’t distinguish between pure water and water that contains a small amount of alcohol or acetone. They’re all clear. We can’t do it even with a spectrophotometer, which measures visible colors,” explains Katzir.

“But we can clearly distinguish between liquids using an infrared spectrometer which can distinguish between ‘colors’ in the invisible infrared spectrum.”

The special fiber sensors make it possible to monitor the quality of water in a remote location, such as a lake, a river, or a pipeline, and detect trace amounts of contaminants in real time, adds Katzir.

Water management executives in Florida’s Everglades and officials in Germany are among those who have expressed an interest in using the technology.

“Toxic materials are readily available as pesticides or herbicides in the agriculture industry, and can be harmful if consumed even in concentrations as low as few parts per million,” says Katzir.

Cities like New York are especially susceptible to a chemoterrorist threat. With many skyscrapers holding water reserves on the top of the building, a terrorist only needs to introduce poison into a tank to wreak havoc.

“A terrorist wouldn’t have to kill tens of thousands of people. Only 50 deaths – as horrible as that would be – would cause nationwide panic,” Katzir says.

Currently, water authorities in America test water reservoirs usually once every day or two, with no system in place to detect chemical threats instantaneously.

“This new system can cut millions of dollars from the cost of testing water manually,” he says,

The fiber sensors developed by Katzir are made of insoluble, non-toxic, and biocompatible materials.

“You can eat them and nothing will happen to you,” he notes.

Katzir’s determination to fight terrorism through science has a personal side as well. His father, world-renowned scientist Prof. Aharon Katzir, was assassinated by the Japanese Red Army in a terror attack in 1972.

“I am trying to walk in his footsteps by doing applied research that can be a practical tool in an important battle,” he says. “This system can be ready for use in less than a year.”

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1242212416749&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Monitoring water through a snake’s eyes ( From EURUKALERT.ORG)

Although most Americans take the safety of their drinking water for granted, that ordinary tap water could become deadly within minutes, says Prof. Abraham Katzir of Tel Aviv University’s School of Physics and Astronomy.

To combat the threat of contamination due to industrial spillage, natural disaster or sabotage, the physicist has developed a new system to monitor the safety of a building or community’s water supply in real time.

Modifying special fibers developed in his Tel Aviv University lab, Prof. Katzir can detect “colors” in the infrared spectrum which distinguish between pure and contaminated water. Not visible to the naked eye, this spectrum is normally only seen by certain animals, like snakes or vampire bats, to track down prey. Connected to a commercial infrared spectrometer, the fibers serve as sensors that can detect and notify authorities immediately if a contaminant has entered a water reservoir, system, building or pipeline.

In the lab, the fiberoptic system detected poisons such as pesticides in amounts well below the World Health Organization safety threshold. Preliminary field experiments have already been done at several European sites, and the results were reported recently in the Journal of Applied Spectroscopy.
Although most Americans take the safety of their drinking water for granted, that ordinary tap water could become deadly within minutes, says Prof. Abraham Katzir of Tel Aviv University’s School of Physics and Astronomy.

To combat the threat of contamination due to industrial spillage, natural disaster or sabotage, the physicist has developed a new system to monitor the safety of a building or community’s water supply in real time.

Modifying special fibers developed in his Tel Aviv University lab, Prof. Katzir can detect “colors” in the infrared spectrum which distinguish between pure and contaminated water. Not visible to the naked eye, this spectrum is normally only seen by certain animals, like snakes or vampire bats, to track down prey. Connected to a commercial infrared spectrometer, the fibers serve as sensors that can detect and notify authorities immediately if a contaminant has entered a water reservoir, system, building or pipeline.

The Colors of Danger
Once in use, the sensor system would be one of the first real-time water monitors in the United States to provide protection from chemoterrorism attacks ― a threat to which U.S. water supplies are particularly susceptible. “It’s unlikely that someone will poison the water supply in Afghanistan,” says Prof. Katzir, “but America is in grave danger and needs to arm itself against chemical threats to its drinking water.

“With our naked eyes we can’t distinguish between pure water and water that contains a small amount of alcohol or acetone. They’re all clear. We can’t do it even with a spectrophotometer, which measures visible colors,” explains Prof. Katzir. “But we can clearly distinguish between liquids using an infrared spectrometer which can distinguish between ‘colors’ in the invisible infrared spectrum.”

Such an instrument can be used to detect hazardous chemicals, pollutants and threats in the water, “seeing” water in the same way as a snake does. The special fiber sensors make it possible to monitor the quality of water in a remote location, such as a lake, a river, or a pipeline, and detect trace amounts of contaminants in real time, adds Prof. Katzir. Water management executives in Florida’s Everglades and officials in Germany are among those who have expressed an interest in using the technology.

Skyscrapers in New York City a Likely Point of Attack

“Toxic materials are readily available as pesticides or herbicides in the agriculture industry, and can be harmful if consumed even in concentrations as low as few parts per million,” says Prof. Katzir.

Cities like New York are especially susceptible to a chemoterrorist threat. With many skyscrapers holding water reserves on the top of the building, a terrorist only needs to introduce poison into a tank to wreak havoc. “A terrorist wouldn’t have to kill tens of thousands of people. Only 50 deaths ― as horrible as that would be ― would cause nationwide panic.”

Currently, water authorities in America test water reservoirs usually once every day or two, with no system in place to detect chemical threats instantaneously. “This new system can cut millions of dollars from the cost of testing water manually.” The fiber sensors developed by Prof. Katzir are made of insoluble, non-toxic, and biocompatible materials. “You can eat them and nothing will happen to you,” he notes.

Prof. Katzir’s determination to fight terrorism through science has a personal side as well. His father, world-renowned scientist Prof. Aharon Katzir, was assassinated by the Japanese Red Army in a terror attack in 1972. “I am trying to walk in his footsteps by doing applied research that can be a practical tool in an important battle. This system can be ready for use in less than a year.”

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-05/afot-mwt051209.php

Monitoring Water Through A Snake’s Eyes

ScienceDaily (May 18, 2009) — Although most Americans take the safety of their drinking water for granted, ordinary tap water can become contaminated within minutes, says Prof. Abraham Katzir of Tel Aviv University’s School of Physics and Astronomy.

To combat the threat of contamination due to industrial spillage, natural disaster or sabotage, the physicist has developed a new system to monitor the safety of a building or community’s water supply in real time.

Modifying special fibers developed in his Tel Aviv University lab, Prof. Katzir can detect “colors” in the infrared spectrum which distinguish between pure and contaminated water. Not visible to the naked eye, this spectrum is normally only seen by certain animals, like snakes or vampire bats, to track down prey. Connected to a commercial infrared spectrometer, the fibers serve as sensors that can detect and notify authorities immediately if a contaminant has entered a water reservoir, system, building or pipeline.

In the lab, the fiberoptic system detected poisons such as pesticides in amounts well below the World Health Organization safety threshold. Preliminary field experiments have already been done at several European sites, and the results were reported recently in the Journal of Applied Spectroscopy.

The Colors of Danger

Once in use, the sensor system would be one of the first real-time water monitors in the United States to provide protection from chemoterrorism attacks — a threat to which U.S. water supplies are particularly susceptible. “It’s unlikely that someone will poison the water supply in Afghanistan,” says Prof. Katzir, “but America is in grave danger and needs to arm itself against chemical threats to its drinking water.

“With our naked eyes we can’t distinguish between pure water and water that contains a small amount of alcohol or acetone. They’re all clear. We can’t do it even with a spectrophotometer, which measures visible colors,” explains Prof. Katzir. “But we can clearly distinguish between liquids using an infrared spectrometer which can distinguish between ‘colors’ in the invisible infrared spectrum.”

Such an instrument can be used to detect hazardous chemicals, pollutants and threats in the water, “seeing” water in the same way as a snake does. The special fiber sensors make it possible to monitor the quality of water in a remote location, such as a lake, a river, or a pipeline, and detect trace amounts of contaminants in real time, adds Prof. Katzir. Water management executives in Florida’s Everglades and officials in Germany are among those who have expressed an interest in using the technology.

Skyscrapers in New York City a Likely Point of Attack

“Toxic materials are readily available as pesticides or herbicides in the agriculture industry, and can be harmful if consumed even in concentrations as low as few parts per million,” says Prof. Katzir.

Cities like New York are especially susceptible to a chemoterrorist threat. With many skyscrapers holding water reserves on the top of the building, a terrorist only needs to introduce poison into a tank to wreak havoc. “A terrorist wouldn’t have to kill tens of thousands of people. Only 50 deaths — as horrible as that would be — would cause nationwide panic.”

Currently, water authorities in America test water reservoirs usually once every day or two, with no system in place to detect chemical threats instantaneously. “This new system can cut millions of dollars from the cost of testing water manually.” The fiber sensors developed by Prof. Katzir are made of insoluble, non-toxic, and biocompatible materials. “You can eat them and nothing will happen to you,” he notes.

Prof. Katzir’s determination to fight terrorism through science has a personal side as well. His father, world-renowned scientist Prof. Aharon Katzir, was assassinated by the Japanese Red Army in a terror attack in 1972. “I am trying to walk in his footsteps by doing applied research that can be a practical tool in an important battle. This system can be ready for use in less than a year.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090512193241.htm

New system to monitor safety of building’s drinking water supply – Yahoo India

Wed, May 13 09:57 AM
New York, May 13 (IANS) Chemo-terrorists could turn drinking water into a deadly brew within minutes. To counter this, a researcher has developed a system to monitor the safety of the water supply to a building or a community.

The terrorist only needs to inject poison into a tank atop a skyscraper in cities like New York to wreak havoc, said Abraham Katzir, professor at Tel Aviv University (TAU) School of Physics and Astronomy.

‘A terrorist wouldn’t have to kill tens of thousands of people. Only 50 deaths – as horrible as that would be – would cause nationwide panic,’ he added.

Besides, ‘toxic materials, available as pesticides or herbicides, can be harmful if consumed even in concentrations as low as few parts per million’, said Katzir.

Concerned about these possibilities, Katzir developed a new system to monitor the safety of a building or community’s water supply in real time, which could be contaminated by industrial spillage, natural disaster or plain sabotage.

Currently, authorities in America test water reservoirs usually once every day or two, with no system in place to detect chemical threats instantaneously.

‘This new system can cut millions of dollars from the cost of testing water manually,’ said Katzir. His fibre sensors are made of insoluble, non-toxic, and biocompatible materials. ‘You can eat them and nothing will happen to you,’ he noted.

Modifying special fibres developed in his TAU lab, Katzir can detect ‘colours’ in the infrared spectrum which distinguish between pure and contaminated water.

Not visible to the naked eye, this spectrum is normally only seen by certain animals, like snakes or vampire bats, to track down prey.

Connected to a commercial infrared spectrometer, the fibres serve as sensors that can detect and notify authorities immediately if a contaminant has entered a water reservoir, system, building or pipeline.

In the lab, the fibre-optic system detected poisons such as pesticides in amounts well below the WHO safety threshold. Preliminary field experiments have already been done at several European sites, said a TAU release.

Once in use, the sensor system would be one of the first real-time water monitors in the United States to provide protection from chemo-terrorism attacks – a threat to which US water supplies are particularly susceptible.

‘It’s unlikely that someone will poison the water supply in Afghanistan,’ said Katzir, ‘but America is in grave danger and needs to arm itself against chemical threats to its drinking water.’

His paper was published in the Journal of Applied Spectroscopy recently.

Indo Asian News Service

Monitoring Water Through A Snake’s Eyes ( FROM REDORBIT.COM)

RedOribt: Posted on: Wednesday, 13 May 2009, 10:54 CDT

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1688153/monitoring_water_through_a_snakes_eyes/index.html

TAU’s special infrared fibers can defend America’s water from chemoterrorism

Although most Americans take the safety of their drinking water for granted, that ordinary tap water could become deadly within minutes, says Prof. Abraham Katzir of Tel Aviv University’s School of Physics and Astronomy.

To combat the threat of contamination due to industrial spillage, natural disaster or sabotage, the physicist has developed a new system to monitor the safety of a building or community’s water supply in real time.

Modifying special fibers developed in his Tel Aviv University lab, Prof. Katzir can detect “colors” in the infrared spectrum which distinguish between pure and contaminated water. Not visible to the naked eye, this spectrum is normally only seen by certain animals, like snakes or vampire bats, to track down prey. Connected to a commercial infrared spectrometer, the fibers serve as sensors that can detect and notify authorities immediately if a contaminant has entered a water reservoir, system, building or pipeline.

In the lab, the fiberoptic system detected poisons such as pesticides in amounts well below the World Health Organization safety threshold. Preliminary field experiments have already been done at several European sites, and the results were reported recently in the Journal of Applied Spectroscopy.

The colors of danger.
Once in use, the sensor system would be one of the first real-time water monitors in the United States to provide protection from chemoterrorism attacks — a threat to which U.S. water supplies are particularly susceptible. “It’s unlikely that someone will poison the water supply in Afghanistan,” says Prof. Katzir, “but America is in grave danger and needs to arm itself against chemical threats to its drinking water.

“With our naked eyes we can’t distinguish between pure water and water that contains a small amount of alcohol or acetone. They’re all clear. We can’t do it even with a spectrophotometer, which measures visible colors,” explains Prof. Katzir. “But we can clearly distinguish between liquids using an infrared spectrometer which can distinguish between ‘colors’ in the invisible infrared spectrum.”

Such an instrument can be used to detect hazardous chemicals, pollutants and threats in the water, “seeing” water in the same way as a snake does. The special fiber sensors make it possible to monitor the quality of water in a remote location, such as a lake, a river, or a pipeline, and detect trace amounts of contaminants in real time, adds Prof. Katzir. Water management executives in Florida’s Everglades and officials in Germany are among those who have expressed an interest in using the technology.

Skyscrapers in New York City a Likely Point of Attack

“Toxic materials are readily available as pesticides or herbicides in the agriculture industry, and can be harmful if consumed even in concentrations as low as few parts per million,” says Prof. Katzir.

Cities like New York are especially susceptible to a chemoterrorist threat. With many skyscrapers holding water reserves on the top of the building, a terrorist only needs to introduce poison into a tank to wreak havoc. “A terrorist wouldn’t have to kill tens of thousands of people. Only 50 deaths — as horrible as that would be — would cause nationwide panic.”

Currently, water authorities in America test water reservoirs usually once every day or two, with no system in place to detect chemical threats instantaneously. “This new system can cut millions of dollars from the cost of testing water manually.” The fiber sensors developed by Prof. Katzir are made of insoluble, non-toxic, and biocompatible materials. “You can eat them and nothing will happen to you,” he notes.

Prof. Katzir’s determination to fight terrorism through science has a personal side as well. His father, world-renowned scientist Prof. Aharon Katzir, was assassinated by the Japanese Red Army in a terror attack in 1972. “I am trying to walk in his footsteps by doing applied research that can be a practical tool in an important battle. This system can be ready for use in less than a year.”

NTDTV: CHINESE TV

http://english.ntdtv.com/?c=221&a=7593

STORY:

Israeli physicists have discovered that the heat from laser light can weld flesh back together. Now they’re experimenting with using it to heal wounds instead of using traditional stitching.

The bonding is also achieved using a blood protein called albumin. It works a bit like micro hooks on each side of the cut. They attach to each other and bond tightly after the skin has cooled down.

Professor Abraham Katzir demonstrates his laser technique on a piece of chicken breast.

[Abraham Katzir, Head of Applied Physics]:
“Both the edges of the cut and the albumin all stick together. And what the advantage is that you get, first of all, a strong bond, instead of sutures. Secondly it’s watertight, so that infection can not penetrate.”

But it has also proven successful on human flesh. Wounds from patients have healed faster and with less scarring.

The next step for Professor Katzir is to design a pen-like laser instrument. That way any doctor or medic could potentially use this technique.

[Abraham Katzir, Head of Applied Physics]:
“You will simply have an instrument that maybe will be in every hospital or in an emergency situation, or in an ambulance service, or in a battle field, that the less qualified surgeon or a medic, if there is a cut they can do it exactly like they do it in the Star Trek series…the television series. So it is science fiction made real.”

Professor Katzir is referring to the futuristic sci-fi TV series that used a so-called “Dermal Regenerator” to mend wounds.

According to Katzir, this new laser method could also be used in keyhole surgery to seal internal wounds. This would then avoid the need for making large invasive incisions on the body.

Katzir and his team hope to see their invention in operating rooms around the world in just a few years time.

Laser Welding’ Seals and Heals Wounds Faster Than Suturing!

From Medindia.net

Network for health

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Tel Aviv

University researchers in Israel claim to have perfected a technique called “laser welding”, in which carbon dioxide lasers are used to seal and heal wounds.

The breakthrough work can reduce may reduce the likelihood of infection and permanent scarring, which are associated with suturing and microsurgery techniques.

Prof. Abraham Katzir, a member of the university’s Applied Physics Group, says that their work may change the way surgeons bond cuts on the surface of skin and inside the body during surgery.

Some doctors tried using a carbon dioxide laser to seal wounds earlier also, but they lacked the ability to control the heat of the laser, and thus their technique posed even greater risks.

Katzir says that his team has created a device that can heat body tissue in a precisely controlled manner.

He says that with the new device, if the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, laser power is reduced.

He adds that laser power increases when the temperature is too low to complete a closure.

With this work, Prof. Katzir has become the first researcher to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibres, for wound closure under a tight temperature control.

He has revealed that the unique optical fibres deliver the laser’s energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling the temperature.

According to him, the fibres also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body.

“Sutures or stitches are not water tight, and blood or urine can pass through cuts, causing severe infection. Also, in many cases, a surgeon needs great skill to perform internal stitching, or in bonding tiny blood vessels, or in mending cuts on the skin so there will be no trace left on the body,” he says.

Prof. Katzir says that his team have carried out successful clinical trials on people undergoing gall bladder removal surgery, which suggest that laser-bonded tissues heal faster and have less scarring than sutured cuts.

He says that preliminary findings of the team’s work suggest that the novel approach may be used to bond cuts on the cornea, bladder, intestines, blood vessels or trachea.

He also envisions its use for bonding tissues inside the body on organs such as the kidney, and even in brain surgery.

The team say that they will soon be treating longer cuts, such as in the case of hernia operations, with the permission of the Ministry of Health.

They say that their work may lead to a commercial product within a few years if it turns out to be successful in larger tests.

“We think plastic surgeons will especially love this invention. Bonding tissues that heal well without scarring is a true art that few people possess,” says Prof. Katzir.

“It could also become a device for the battlefield, allowing soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” he adds.

Source-ANI
SPH

http://www.medindia.net/news/Laser-Welding-Seals-and-Heals-Wounds-Faster-Than-Suturing-43988-1.htm

CO2 laser heat controller is developed

From UPI.COM

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2008/11/12/CO2_laser_heat_controller_is_developed/UPI-15991226523631/

TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 12 (UPI) — Israeli scientists say they’ve created a technique to control the heat generated by carbon dioxide lasers that are used to seal body wounds.

A team of Tel Aviv University researchers has perfected a new device to heat body tissue in a precisely controlled manner. The research team headed by Professor Abraham Katzir said their new technique could change the way surgeons bond cuts on skin and inside the body during surgery.

With the new technology, if the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, laser power is automatically reduced; if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased.

Katzir is believed the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers made from silver halide, for wound closure under tight temperature control. The silver halide fibers, developed at the university, deliver the laser’s energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling temperature. They also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body.

The research team is expected to apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for permission to conduct larger clinical trials.

TAU laser technique seals and heals wounds

From Mangalorean.com

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=100747

London, Nov 13 (IANS) Using a carbon dioxide laser to seal wounds is fraught with risks, as laser heat could scald the tissues or the skin.

Now a team of Tel Aviv University (TAU) researchers have perfected a new device to heat body tissue in a precisely controlled manner.

The work led by Abraham Katzir of TAU’s Applied Physics Group, could change the way surgeons bond cuts on the surface of our skin and inside our bodies during surgery.

With the new device, if the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, laser power is reduced, and if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased appropriately.

Earlier attempts to use carbon dioxide lasers for bonding of cuts in the operating room or in clinics were not very successful. Causing thermal damage, the lasers either “undercooked” or “overcooked” the patient’s delicate tissues.

Katzir set out to find the right temperature for optimal wound healing, and to perfect a device that could maintain this temperature, said a TAU release.

He is the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control.

His innovation is in the use of unique optical fibres made from silver halide developed at Tel Aviv University. The fibres deliver the laser’s energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling the temperature. They also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body.

“Sutures or stitches are not water tight, and blood or urine can pass through cuts, causing severe infection,” he said. “Also, in many cases, a surgeon needs great skill to perform internal stitching, or in bonding tiny blood vessels, or in mending cuts on the skin so there will be no trace left on the body.”

Katzir and his colleagues have carried out successful clinical trials on people undergoing gall bladder removal surgery.

At the close of the surgery, four cuts were left on the skin of the abdomen, two of which were sutured and two laser-bonded. The results of the trials suggest that the laser-bonded tissues heal faster, with less scarring.

IANS

New laser technique seals and heals wounds

From Grinza.com http://www.grinza.com/index.php/20081113168/Latest/New-laser-technique-seals-and-heals-wounds.html

Written by Grinza Staff

There is a new development in micro surgery that addresses infection and permanent scarring. Previously, doctors relied on carbon dioxide lasers to seal and heal wounds. However, that proved to be very dangerous, because the beams were hard to control. But not anymore, with the recent development of a new devise that allows for precise laser control. A team of researchers from Tel Aniv University have perfected a new device that heats body tissue in a precisely controlled manner. The research team was headed by Prof. Abraham Katzir from TAU’s Applied Physics Group. The study could change the way surgeons bond cuts on the surface of the skin and on the inside of bodies during surgery. As asserted in a press release, “With the new device, if the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, laser power is reduced, and if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased appropriately.” For more on this, please browse www.sciencedaily.com

CO2 laser heat controller is developed

From MoneyTimes.com

http://themoneytimes.com/news/20081113/co2_laser_heat_controller_is_developed-id-1041228.html

Tel Aviv, Israel — Israeli scientists say they’ve created a technique to control the heat generated by carbon dioxide lasers that are used to seal body wounds.

A team of Tel Aviv University researchers has perfected a new device to heat body tissue in a precisely controlled manner. The research team headed by Professor Abraham Katzir said their new technique could change the way surgeons bond cuts on skin and inside the body during surgery.

With the new technology, if the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, laser power is automatically reduced; if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased.

Katzir is believed the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers made from silver halide, for wound closure under tight temperature control. The silver halide fibers, developed at the university, deliver the laser’s energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling temperature. They also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body.

The research team is expected to apply to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for permission to conduct larger clinical trials.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.

Future suture

From:

From The Times

November 15, 2008

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5154727.ece

STITCHES and sutures may be on their way out, thanks to a laser technique that promises to seal and heal wounds with minimal scarring. Tel Aviv University surgeons have discovered how to weld flesh together at exactly the right temperature, so that the skin will bond without burning.

Earlier attempts to use carbon dioxide lasers have proved messily unsuccessful, resulting in undercooking or overcooking patients’ delicate tissues. Now a team headed by Professor Abraham Katzir has perfected an optical-fibre device that can ensure that laser and flesh are kept at the optimum temperature, so that tissues inside the body and on the skin can be repaired seamlessly.

Israeli researchers pioneer laser treatment for sealing wounds

Nov 16 2008

http://www.israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles^l2338&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Health

Suturing wounds and cuts has always been problematic. Even using today’s microsurgery techniques, the treated wounds are open to infection, and the patient is inevitably left with permanent and unsightly scars. 

When carbon dioxide lasers were invented, many thought they would be the ideal remedy, sealing wounds more effectively and minimizing scarring. Attempts to use these lasers for bonding cuts in the operating room or in clinics failed dismally, however, because surgeons were unable to control the heat emitted by the laser. The lasers either “undercooked” or “overcooked” the patient’s delicate tissues, causing long-term thermal damage. 

Now a team of Israeli researchers could have the solution. The scientists, from Tel Aviv University (TAU), have developed a new technique that maintains the heat of the laser at exactly the right temperature for optimal wound healing, allowing surgeons to seal cuts both on our skin and inside our bodies with less scarring, and less exposure to infection. 

The new technique, developed by Prof. Abraham Katzir and a team from TAU’s Applied Physics Group, is called laser-welding. When the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, the device reduces laser power, and if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased appropriately. 

Keeping the heat right 

Katzir is the first researcher to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control. His innovation is in the use of unique optical fibers made from silver halide developed at the university. The fibers deliver the laser’s energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling the temperature. They also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body. 

“Sutures or stitches are not water tight, and blood or urine can pass through cuts, causing severe infection,” he says. “Also, in many cases, a surgeon needs great skill to perform internal stitching, or in bonding tiny blood vessels, or in mending cuts on the skin so there will be no trace left on the body.” 

The device has already been tested successfully in clinical trials on people undergoing gall bladder surgery. At the close of the surgery, four cuts were left on the skin of the abdomen, two of which were sutured and two laser-bonded. The results of the trials suggest that the laser-bonded tissues heal faster, with less scarring. 

Faster healing, less trauma 

Successful preliminary experiments also showed that the new technique can be used to bond cuts on the cornea, bladder, intestines, blood vessels or trachea. It may also be used for bonding tissues inside the body on organs such as the kidney, and even in brain surgery. Perfect for healing soft tissues, the laser may prevent an enormous amount of trauma when used for closing internal wounds. 

“We think plastic surgeons will especially love this invention. Bonding tissues that heal well without scarring is a true art that few people possess,” says Katzir. He believes the method will be much easier to master than suturing, and will generate a watertight bond, preventing infections and accelerating healing. 

The researchers plan to apply to the FDA in the US for large scale trials, and with permission from Israel’s Ministry of Health, they will soon begin testing the device on longer cuts, such as hernia operations. If these trials prove successful, the basic research could be developed into a commercial product within a few years. 

Katzir is looking ahead. “It could also become a device for the battlefield, allowing soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” he suggests.

Healing with Laser Heat Surgical lasers could soon heal cuts as well as make incisions. By Lauren Gravitz

http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/21687/

The promise of medical lasers goes beyond clean incisions and eye surgery: Many believe that lasers should be used not just to create wounds but to mend them too. Abraham Katzir, a physicist at Tel Aviv University, has a system that may just do the trick and is proving successful in its first human trials.

In principle, “laser-bonded” healing offers certain advantages over classic needle-and-thread sutures, including faster healing, decreased risk of infection, and less scarring. Researchers have been working toward flesh-welding lasers for more than a decade, and a number of human trials have shown promise. But what was lacking, until now, was consistency. Flesh, blood vessels, and nerves are delicate tissues that can easily be — for lack of a better word — overcooked.

To overcome this problem, Katzir and his colleagues developed a laser-based system with a feedback loop that prevents overheating. First, they had to determine the optimal temperature at which flesh melts but can still heal (about 65 degrees Celsius). Then the group created a pen-sized tool that incorporates optic fibers: one that channels a carbon dioxide-powered infrared laser to the wound with pinpoint precision, and another that leads from the pen to an infrared sensor, which measures the temperature and ensures that the heat remains within the ideal range, between 60 and 70 degrees. All a surgeon has to do is move the pen’s tip along the cut, strengthening and sealing the weld with a solder of water-soluble protein.

While many scientists have experimented with laser-bonded healing, most have relied on visual feedback to make sure they were not over- or under-heating the wound. Too little heat results in an unclosed wound, while too much heat causes a bond that initially appears strong but that breaks down as the tissue dies off. “Our advantage is that we have developed optical fibers — we’re one of the very, very few groups in the world who have optical fibers that transmit IR radiation,” Katzir says. “We measure the infrared emitted from the spot and can know the temperature exactly.”

Until recently, the researchers worked to perfect their technique on pigs, whose skin is most similar to that of a person. Those studies told them that their method was sound: the laser-healed wounds were just as strong, mended faster, and resulted in less inflammation and infection than normal sutures, since a cut that’s welded closed is better at keeping bacteria out.

Now, the group has finished their first clinical trial on human patients. Ten subjects underwent laparoscopic surgeries for gall bladder removals: each patient had four small incisions, two of which were closed with sutures and two with Katzir’s laser technique.

“It seemed that the laser-bonded cuts healed faster and looked better,” he says. The researchers are waiting to see how the two types of closures perform 12 months after surgery before publishing their results, but Katzir is optimistic and already planning the next trial, this time on hernia patients.

“It’s a fabulous process, with undeniable biological advantages,” says Michael Treat, a surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital and associate professor at Columbia University Medical Center. But rather than using lasers to replace a surgeon’s needle and thread, he believes that such technology might be better used in robotic systems, in which an entire procedure is automated.

“It’s cumbersome for a mechanical system to place sutures, but a laser beam is something that a computer would have an easy time controlling,” says Treat, who was involved in some of the field’s seminal work. And, he notes, another procedure that could benefit from laser-bonding is nerve repair, where sutures can easily leave too much scarring and rapid, ultra-fine control is essential.

One of Katzir’s competitors, Irene Kochevar, is a dermatology professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and is working on her own version of laser-bonded welding, but one that takes advantage of light rather than heat. “If I were to predict, I’d say that his technology and ours both lead to decreased scarring,” she says. “He’s carried the thermal approach to the highest degree of sophistication of anyone in this area.”

Katzir is already thinking beyond the next clinical trial, and believes that his method has a wide range of applications: everything from delicate surgeries on blood vessels to procedures such as cornea transplants, in which sutures can cause incredible discomfort and inflammation, and must remain in place for as long as a year or more.

“It’s not simply a replacement of what surgeons do well today,” he says, “but it will give surgeons a better tool to do better surgery in the future.”

GIZMODO: Finally, Lasers That Heal Wounds Rather Than Creating Them

 

http://gizmodo.com/5093585/finally-lasers-that-heal-wounds-rather-than-creating-them

Generally, when you think of a hot laser being pointed at your body, you’d expect it to create a hole rather than seal one up. And most of the time, you’d be right. But Abraham Katzir, a physicist at Tel Aviv University, has just begun human trials of healing lasers that promise less scarring, faster healing and less risk of infection when compared to traditional stiches.

As you can see from the photos to the left, the laser-healed cut on the bottom healed much better than the suture-sewn cut on top. So how do they keep the laser safe and prevent it from doing more damage than good?

To overcome this problem, Katzir and his colleagues developed a laser-based system with a feedback loop that prevents overheating. First, they had to determine the optimal temperature at which flesh melts but can still heal (about 65 degrees Celsius). Then the group created a pen-sized tool that incorporates optic fibers: one that channels a carbon dioxide-powered infrared laser to the wound with pinpoint precision, and another that leads from the pen to an infrared sensor, which measures the temperature and ensures that the heat remains within the ideal range, between 60 and 70 degrees. All a surgeon has to do is move the pen’s tip along the cut, strengthening and sealing the weld with a solder of water-soluble protein.

Sounds awesome and scary. Bring on the laser sutures! [Technology Review]

By Adam Frucci, 6:00 PM on Wed Nov 19 2008, 6,980 views

SCIENCE DAILY: New Laser Technique Seals And Heals Wounds

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081110153722.htm

ScienceDaily (Nov. 11, 2008) — Not much has changed in the last 2,000 years when it comes to suturing together cuts and wounds.  Even with microsurgery techniques, infection and permanent scarring remain major concerns.

To minimize these dangers, doctors tried using a carbon dioxide laser to seal wounds, but without the ability to control the heat of the laser, the technique created even greater risks.  Until now.

Using carbon dioxide lasers to seal wounds inside the body and out with a technique known as “laser welding,” a team of Tel Aviv University researchers have perfected a new device to heat body tissue in a precisely controlled manner.  The work of the research team, headed by Prof. Abraham Katzir from TAU’s Applied Physics Group, could change the way surgeons bond cuts on the surface of our skin and inside our bodies during surgery.

With the new device, if the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, laser power is reduced, and if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased appropriately.

Getting the Temperature Just Right

Earlier attempts to use carbon dioxide lasers for bonding of cuts in the operating room or in clinics were not very successful.   Causing thermal damage, the lasers either “undercooked” or “overcooked” the patient’s delicate tissues.

Prof. Katzir set out to find the right temperature for optimal wound healing, and to perfect a device that could maintain this temperature. He is the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control.  His innovation is in the use of unique optical fibers made from silver halide developed at Tel Aviv University. The fibers deliver the laser’s energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling the temperature. They also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body.

“Sutures or stitches are not water tight, and blood or urine can pass through cuts, causing severe infection,” he says. “Also, in many cases, a surgeon needs great skill to perform internal stitching, or in bonding tiny blood vessels, or in mending cuts on the skin so there will be no trace left on the body.”

Inside and Out

Prof. Katzir and his colleagues have carried out successful clinical trials on people undergoing gall bladder removal surgery. At the close of the surgery, four cuts were left on the skin of the abdomen, two of which were sutured and two laser-bonded.  The results of the trials suggest that the laser-bonded tissues heal faster, with less scarring.

Successful preliminary experiments demonstrated that the new technique can be used to bond cuts on the cornea, bladder, intestines, blood vessels or trachea.  It may also be used for bonding tissues inside the body on organs such as the kidney, and even in brain surgery. Perfect for healing soft tissues, the laser may prevent an enormous amount of trauma when used for closing internal wounds.

Heading for the FDA

Working with the permission of Israel’s Ministry of Health, the team will soon be treating longer cuts, such as in the case of hernia operations, and is expected to apply to the FDA in the U.S. for larger-scale trials.  If successful in these larger tests, the basic research could be developed into a commercial product within a few years.

“We think plastic surgeons will especially love this invention. Bonding tissues that heal well without scarring is a true art that few people possess,” says Prof. Katzir.  This method, he says, will be much easier to master than suturing and will generate a watertight bond, preventing infections and accelerating healing.

“It could also become a device for the battlefield, allowing soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” says Prof. Katzir, who currently holds the Carol and Mel Taub Chair in Applied Medical Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Tel Aviv University.

Star Trek Now: Lasers Close Incisions

By Bill Christensen

posted: 22 November 2008 09:39 am ET

Laser welding of body tissues may provide a means of closing surgical incisions that is better than traditional methods. The technique, pioneered by Professor Abrahim Katzir of Tel Aviv University, can also be used with great efficacy on cuts made inside our bodies during surgery.

Prof. Katzir set out to find the right temperature for optimal wound healing, and to perfect a device that could maintain this temperature. He is the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control.

Successful clinical trials have already been made on people undergoing gall bladder removal surgery. Following surgery, four cuts were left on the skin of the abdomen, two of which were sutured and two laser-bonded. The results of the trials suggest that the laser-bonded tissues heal faster, with less scarring.

“We think plastic surgeons will especially love this invention. Bonding tissues that heal well without scarring is a true art that few people possess,” says Prof. Katzir. This method, he says, will be much easier to master than suturing and will generate a watertight bond, preventing infections and accelerating healing.“It could also become a device for the battlefield, allowing soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” says Prof. Katzir

If this sounds like space age medicine, you’re right. Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation will no doubt find this idea familiar. Starting in the 2250′s, the laser scalpel was the surgical instrument of choice and was available in different wavelengths for varied cutting strength and depth of cut.

However, as far as Dr. Katzir’s work on closing surgical incisions is concerned, I’m more interested in the dermal regenerator.The dermal regenerator was used on a number of occasions in the television show to heal cuts and burns. (Tip to Dr. Katzir – it is also useful in removing scars.)

Those of us who grew up watching the original Star Trek series are seeing Dr. McCoy’s medical tools everywhere, from LifeBed Systems Like Star Trek’s Sick Bay to Handheld Personal Biosensors.

link to article:

http://www.livescience.com/health/081122-laser-surgery.html

Laser Welding Skin Closure Like Star Trek

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=2008

Laser welding of body tissues may provide a means of closing surgical incisions that is better than traditional methods. The technique, pioneered by Professor Abrahim Katzir of Tel Aviv University, can also be used with great efficacy on cuts made inside our bodies during surgery.

Prof. Katzir set out to find the right temperature for optimal wound healing, and to perfect a device that could maintain this temperature. He is the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control. His innovation is in the use of unique optical fibers made from silver halide developed at Tel Aviv University.

Successful clinical trials have already been made on people undergoing gall bladder removal surgery. Following surgery, four cuts were left on the skin of the abdomen, two of which were sutured and two laser-bonded. The results of the trials suggest that the laser-bonded tissues heal faster, with less scarring.

“We think plastic surgeons will especially love this invention. Bonding tissues that heal well without scarring is a true art that few people possess,” says Prof. Katzir. This method, he says, will be much easier to master than suturing and will generate a watertight bond, preventing infections and accelerating healing. “It could also become a device for the battlefield, allowing soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” says Prof. Katzir

Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation will no doubt find this idea familiar. Starting in the 2250′s, the laser scalpel was the surgical instrument of choice and was available in different wavelengths for varied cutting strength and depth of cut.

(ST:TNG laser scalpel)

However, as far as Dr. Katzir’s work on closing surgical incisions is concerned, I’m more interested in the dermal regenerator.

(ST:TNG dermal regenerator)

The dermal regenerator was used on a number of occasions to heal cuts and burns. Tip to Dr. Katzir – it is also useful in removing scars.

Interested in other medical techniques and devices that you saw on Star Trek, and will now be used on you while unconscious? Of course you are.

  
• Ultrasound Bloodless Surgery Star Trek-Style
  Rather than cutting into patients with primitive steel tools that haven’t changed too much in the last several thousand years, doctors will focus high-intensity ultrasound beams.
• LifeBed System Like Star Trek Sick Bay
  Hoana’s technology transforms any hospital bed into a LifeBed, which invisibly tracks a patient’s basic vital signs without any connection to the patient whatsoever.
• ELISHA Handheld Personal Biosensors
  Aging Star Trek fans can’t wait to get their hands on this one; we’ve been waiting since 1967. Dr. McCoy used something just like this – see Star Trek medical scanner demonstration video.
• Zingo Local Anesthesia Like Star Trek Hypospray
  The device uses compressed gas to accelerate lidocaine particles under the skin.

 

Read more about laser wound closure; thanks to Moira for the tip and the reference. Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 11/18/2008)

Star Trek Now: Lasers Close Incisions

http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/1861329-star-trek-now-lasers-close-incision

Laser welding of body tissues may provide a means of closing surgical incisions that is better than traditional methods. The technique, pioneered by Professor Abrahim Katzir of Tel Aviv University, can also be used with great efficacy on cuts made inside our bodies during surgery.

Prof. Katzir set out to find the right temperature for optimal wound healing, and to perfect a device that could maintain this temperature. He is the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control.

Successful clinical trials have already been made on people undergoing gall bladder removal surgery. Following surgery, four cuts were left on the skin of the abdomen, two of which were sutured and two laser-bonded. The results of the trials suggest that the laser-bonded tissues heal faster, with less scarring.

“We think plastic surgeons will especially love this invention. Bonding tissues that heal well without scarring is a true art that few people possess,” says Prof. Katzir. This method, he says, will be much easier to master than suturing and will generate a watertight bond, preventing infections and accelerating healing.

“It could also become a device for the battlefield, allowing soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” says Prof. Katzir

If this sounds like space age medicine, you’re right. Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation will no doubt find this idea familiar. Starting in the 2250′s, the laser scalpelwas the surgical instrument of choice and was available in different wavelengths for varied cutting strength and depth of cut.

However, as far as Dr. Katzir’s work on closing surgical incisions is concerned, I’m more interested in the dermal regenerator.The dermal regenerator was used on a number of occasions in the television show to heal cuts and burns. (Tip to Dr. Katzir – it is also useful in removing scars.)

Those of us who grew up watching the original Star Trek series are seeing Dr. McCoy’s medical tools everywhere, from LifeBed Systems Like Star Trek’s Sick Bay to Handheld Personal Biosensors.

Source:www.livescience.com

Gadgetted.com: Healing wounds with a hot laser

 

 

http://www.gadgetted.com/?p=2613

The promise of medical lasers goes beyond clean incisions and eye surgery: Many believe that lasers should be used not just to create wounds but to mend them too. Abraham Katzir, a physicist at Tel Aviv University, has a system that may just do the trick and is proving successful in its first human trials.
Source: Technology Review
In principle, “laser-bonded” healing offers certain advantages over classic needle-and-thread sutures, including faster healing, decreased risk of infection, and less scarring. Researchers have been working toward flesh-welding lasers for more than a decade, and a number of human trials have shown promise. But what was lacking, until now, was consistency. Flesh, blood vessels, and nerves are delicate tissues that can easily be — for lack of a better word — overcooked.
To overcome this problem, Katzir and his colleagues developed a laser-based system with a feedback loop that prevents overheating. First, they had to determine the optimal temperature at which flesh melts but can still heal (about 65 degrees Celsius). Then the group created a pen-sized tool that incorporates optic fibers: one that channels a carbon dioxide-powered infrared laser to the wound with pinpoint precision, and another that leads from the pen to an infrared sensor, which measures the temperature and ensures that the heat remains within the ideal range, between 60 and 70 degrees. All a surgeon has to do is move the pen’s tip along the cut, strengthening and sealing the weld with a solder of water-soluble protein.
While many scientists have experimented with laser-bonded healing, most have relied on visual feedback to make sure they were not over- or under-heating the wound. Too little heat results in an unclosed wound, while too much heat causes a bond that initially appears strong but that breaks down as the tissue dies off. “Our advantage is that we have developed optical fibers — we’re one of the very, very few groups in the world who have optical fibers that transmit IR radiation,” Katzir says. “We measure the infrared emitted from the spot and can know the temperature exactly.”
Until recently, the researchers worked to perfect their technique on pigs, whose skin is most similar to that of a person. Those studies told them that their method was sound: the laser-healed wounds were just as strong, mended faster, and resulted in less inflammation and infection than normal sutures, since a cut that’s welded closed is better at keeping bacteria out.
Now, the group has finished their first clinical trial on human patients. Ten subjects underwent laparoscopic surgeries for gall bladder removals: each patient had four small incisions, two of which were closed with sutures and two with Katzir’s laser technique.
“It seemed that the laser-bonded cuts healed faster and looked better,” he says. The researchers are waiting to see how the two types of closures perform 12 months after surgery before publishing their results, but Katzir is optimistic and already planning the next trial, this time on hernia patients.
“It’s a fabulous process, with undeniable biological advantages,” says Michael Treat, a surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital and associate professor at Columbia University Medical Center. But rather than using lasers to replace a surgeon’s needle and thread, he believes that such technology might be better used in robotic systems, in which an entire procedure is automated.
“It’s cumbersome for a mechanical system to place sutures, but a laser beam is something that a computer would have an easy time controlling,” says Treat, who was involved in some of the field’s seminal work. And, he notes, another procedure that could benefit from laser-bonding is nerve repair, where sutures can easily leave too much scarring and rapid, ultra-fine control is essential.
One of Katzir’s competitors, Irene Kochevar, is a dermatology professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and is working on her own version of laser-bonded welding, but one that takes advantage of light rather than heat. “If I were to predict, I’d say that his technology and ours both lead to decreased scarring,” she says. “He’s carried the thermal approach to the highest degree of sophistication of anyone in this area.”
Katzir is already thinking beyond the next clinical trial, and believes that his method has a wide range of applications: everything from delicate surgeries on blood vessels to procedures such as cornea transplants, in which sutures can cause incredible discomfort and inflammation, and must remain in place for as long as a year or more.
“It’s not simply a replacement of what surgeons do well today,” he says, “but it will give surgeons a better tool to do better surgery in the future.”

Jerusalem Post: Israeli world first: Surgeons weld wounds shut with surgical laser

By JUDY SIEGEL 

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1226404836338&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

Surgeons of the future may have to learn welding rather than sewing, now that a team of applied physicists at Tel Aviv University have developed an efficient and safe way to close incisions in the skin that they say could also be used on cuts inside the body.

The team was led by Prof. Abraham Katzir, who found a way to maintain laser heat at the correct temperature so that the incision is sealed to minimize the risk of infection and scars and speed healing.

Katzir says the development is “a groundbreaking medical technology” and could also be used quickly and easily by medics on the battlefield and at road accidents, as well as by plastic surgeons and other surgical specialists.

Katzir is the son of the late Prof. Aharon Katzir, the world-famous biophysicist who was murdered in the 1972 Japanese Red Army terror attack at Lod Airport; he is the nephew of Israel’s fourth president, 92-year-old Prof. Ephraim Katzir.

The Health Ministry, which studied the technology carefully, gave permission for the firstclinical trials in 10 gall-bladder surgery patients a few months ago.

The test procedures were performed by Dr. Doron Kopelman, head of the general surgery department of Emek Medical Center in Afula, and Dr. David Simhon, who was a partner in the TAU research.

The results on patients were judged recently and found to be very successful, with comparisons made between the parts of the incisions closed by sutures and the parts using welding.

Now the team will see how the welding technique works on longer incisions, such as those in cesarean sections or inguinal hernias.

“The technique of sewing the human body with needle and thread is an old one that has existed for thousand of years,” Katzir noted.

“Modern medicine has advanced in many fields. Now the time has come to upgrade one of the most common and important procedures in surgery – sealing the two sides of an incision.

“Suturing often requires much skill, creates scars and always opens the possibility of infection through the wound, because sutures are not watertight. Using more advanced techniques such as pins or speedy glues can often create large and ugly scars that remain on the body for years and cause much distress. Our new technique is meant to solve these problems.”

Back in the 1970s, surgeons used a laser to try to fuse together the two flaps of skin, but it caused burns that disrupted the skin’s ability to heal and even encouraged scarring.

But Katzir and his team use another technique called “laser welding” in which biological glue – a special albumin protein produced by the Israeli biotechnology company Omrix – is smeared on the two sides of the incision.

Then a laser warms it at the correct temperature to make the glue thicken and create a hard “shell” that protects the wound and allows it to heal speedily without allowing pathogens to enter.

They used a temperature-controlled carbon dioxide laser and special silver halide optical fibers that they developed. The technology prevents overheating and burns.

The breakthrough has aroused world interest and is presented on the Web site of theMassachusetts Institute of Technology(www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/21687).

The TAU team will soon apply to the US Food and Drug Administration for authorization to carry out larger clinical trials of the procedure. If they are as successful as the operations so far, the technology could be turned into a commercial product in a few years.

Cloning Resources.com: A perfect bond (11/13/2008)

 

Not much has changed in the last 2,000 years when it comes to suturing together cuts and wounds. Even with microsurgery techniques, infection and permanent scarring remain major concerns.

To minimize these dangers, doctors tried using a carbon dioxide laser to seal wounds, but without the ability to control the heat of the laser, the technique created even greater risks. Until now.

Using carbon dioxide lasers to seal wounds inside the body and out with a technique known as “laser welding,” a team of Tel Aviv University researchers have perfected a new device to heat body tissue in a precisely controlled manner. The work of the research team, headed by Prof. Abraham Katzir from TAU’s Applied Physics Group, could change the way surgeons bond cuts on the surface of our skin and inside our bodies during surgery.

With the new device, if the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, laser power is reduced, and if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased appropriately.

Getting the Temperature Just Right

Earlier attempts to use carbon dioxide lasers for bonding of cuts in the operating room or in clinics were not very successful. Causing thermal damage, the lasers either “undercooked” or “overcooked” the patient’s delicate tissues.

Prof. Katzir set out to find the right temperature for optimal wound healing, and to perfect a device that could maintain this temperature. He is the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control. His innovation is in the use of unique optical fibers made from silver halide developed at Tel Aviv University. The fibers deliver the laser’s energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling the temperature. They also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body.

“Sutures or stitches are not water tight, and blood or urine can pass through cuts, causing severe infection,” he says. “Also, in many cases, a surgeon needs great skill to perform internal stitching, or in bonding tiny blood vessels, or in mending cuts on the skin so there will be no trace left on the body.”

Inside and Out

Prof. Katzir and his colleagues have carried out successful clinical trials on people undergoing gall bladder removal surgery. At the close of the surgery, four cuts were left on the skin of the abdomen, two of which were sutured and two laser-bonded. The results of the trials suggest that the laser-bonded tissues heal faster, with less scarring.

Successful preliminary experiments demonstrated that the new technique can be used to bond cuts on the cornea, bladder, intestines, blood vessels or trachea. It may also be used for bonding tissues inside the body on organs such as the kidney, and even in brain surgery. Perfect for healing soft tissues, the laser may prevent an enormous amount of trauma when used for closing internal wounds.

Heading for the FDA

Working with the permission of Israel’s Ministry of Health, the team will soon be treating longer cuts, such as in the case of hernia operations, and is expected to apply to the FDA in the U.S. for larger-scale trials. If successful in these larger tests, the basic research could be developed into a commercial product within a few years.

“We think plastic surgeons will especially love this invention. Bonding tissues that heal well without scarring is a true art that few people possess,” says Prof. Katzir. This method, he says, will be much easier to master than suturing and will generate a watertight bond, preventing infections and accelerating healing.

“It could also become a device for the battlefield, allowing soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” says Prof. Katzir, who currently holds the Carol and Mel Taub Chair in Applied Medical Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Tel Aviv University

red Orbit: New Laser Technique Seals, Heals Wounds

Not much has changed in the last 2,000 years when it comes to suturing together cuts and wounds.  Even with microsurgery techniques, infection and permanent scarring remain major concerns.

To minimize these dangers, doctors tried using a carbon dioxide laser to seal wounds, but without the ability to control the heat of the laser, the technique created even greater risks.  Until now.

Using carbon dioxide lasers to seal wounds inside the body and out with a technique known as “laser welding,” a team of Tel Aviv University researchers have perfected a new device to heat body tissue in a precisely controlled manner.  The work of the research team, headed by Prof. Abraham Katzir from TAU’s Applied Physics Group, could change the way surgeons bond cuts on the surface of our skin and inside our bodies during surgery.

With the new device, if the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, laser power is reduced, and if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased appropriately.

Getting the Temperature Just Right

Earlier attempts to use carbon dioxide lasers for bonding of cuts in the operating room or in clinics were not very successful.   Causing thermal damage, the lasers either “undercooked” or “overcooked” the patient’s delicate tissues.

Getting the Temperature Just Right

Earlier attempts to use carbon dioxide lasers for bonding of cuts in the operating room or in clinics were not very successful.   Causing thermal damage, the lasers either “undercooked” or “overcooked” the patient’s delicate tissues.

Prof. Katzir set out to find the right temperature for optimal wound healing, and to perfect a device that could maintain this temperature. He is the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control.  His innovation is in the use of unique optical fibers made from silver halide developed at Tel Aviv University. The fibers deliver the laser’s energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling the temperature. They also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body.

“Sutures or stitches are not water tight, and blood or urine can pass through cuts, causing severe infection,” he says. “Also, in many cases, a surgeon needs great skill to perform internal stitching, or in bonding tiny blood vessels, or in mending cuts on the skin so there will be no trace left on the body.”

Inside and Out

Prof. Katzir and his colleagues have carried out successful clinical trials on people undergoing gall bladder removal surgery. At the close of the surgery, four cuts were left on the skin of the abdomen, two of which were sutured and two laser-bonded.  The results of the trials suggest that the laser-bonded tissues heal faster, with less scarring.

Successful preliminary experiments demonstrated that the new technique can be used to bond cuts on the cornea, bladder, intestines, blood vessels or trachea.  It may also be used for bonding tissues inside the body on organs such as the kidney, and even in brain surgery. Perfect for healing soft tissues, the laser may prevent an enormous amount of trauma when used for closing internal wounds.

Heading for the FDA

Working with the permission of Israel’s Ministry of Health, the team will soon be treating longer cuts, such as in the case of hernia operations, and is expected to apply to the FDA in the U.S. for larger-scale trials.  If successful in these larger tests, the basic research could be developed into a commercial product within a few years.

“We think plastic surgeons will especially love this invention. Bonding tissues that heal well without scarring is a true art that few people possess,” says Prof. Katzir.  This method, he says, will be much easier to master than suturing and will generate a watertight bond, preventing infections and accelerating healing.

“It could also become a device for the battlefield, allowing soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” says Prof. Katzir, who currently holds the Carol and Mel Taub Chair in Applied Medical Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Tel Aviv University.

 http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1599500/new_laser_technique_seals_heals_wounds/

The Science Advisory Board: A Perfect Bond

 

Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008

A Perfect Bond

Not much has changed in the last 2,000 years when it comes to suturing together cuts and wounds. Even with microsurgery techniques, infection and permanent scarring remain major concerns.

To minimize these dangers, doctors tried using a carbon dioxide laser to seal wounds, but without the ability to control the heat of the laser, the technique created even greater risks. Until now.

Using carbon dioxide lasers to seal wounds inside the body and out with a technique known as “laser welding,” a team of Tel Aviv University researchers have perfected a new device to heat body tissue in a precisely controlled manner. The work of the research team, headed by Prof. Abraham Katzir from TAU’s Applied Physics Group, could change the way surgeons bond cuts on the surface of our skin and inside our bodies during surgery.

With the new device, if the laser begins to overheat and risks burning the tissue, laser power is reduced, and if the temperature is too low to complete a closure, laser power in increased appropriately.

Getting the Temperature Just Right

Earlier attempts to use carbon dioxide lasers for bonding of cuts in the operating room or in clinics were not very successful. Causing thermal damage, the lasers either “undercooked” or “overcooked” the patient’s delicate tissues.

Prof. Katzir set out to find the right temperature for optimal wound healing, and to perfect a device that could maintain this temperature. He is the first to apply the carbon dioxide laser, coupled to optical fibers, for wound closure under a tight temperature control. His innovation is in the use of unique optical fibers made from silver halide developed at Tel Aviv University. The fibers deliver the laser’s energy to heat the bonded cut and are used for controlling the temperature. They also make it possible to bond tissues inside the body.

“Sutures or stitches are not water tight, and blood or urine can pass through cuts, causing severe infection,” he says. “Also, in many cases, a surgeon needs great skill to perform internal stitching, or in bonding tiny blood vessels, or in mending cuts on the skin so there will be no trace left on the body.”

Inside and Out

Prof. Katzir and his colleagues have carried out successful clinical trials on people undergoing gall bladder removal surgery. At the close of the surgery, four cuts were left on the skin of the abdomen, two of which were sutured and two laser-bonded. The results of the trials suggest that the laser-bonded tissues heal faster, with less scarring.

Successful preliminary experiments demonstrated that the new technique can be used to bond cuts on the cornea, bladder, intestines, blood vessels or trachea. It may also be used for bonding tissues inside the body on organs such as the kidney, and even in brain surgery. Perfect for healing soft tissues, the laser may prevent an enormous amount of trauma when used for closing internal wounds.

Heading for the FDA

Working with the permission of Israel’s Ministry of Health, the team will soon be treating longer cuts, such as in the case of hernia operations, and is expected to apply to the FDA in the U.S. for larger-scale trials. If successful in these larger tests, the basic research could be developed into a commercial product within a few years.

“We think plastic surgeons will especially love this invention. Bonding tissues that heal well without scarring is a true art that few people possess,” says Prof. Katzir. This method, he says, will be much easier to master than suturing and will generate a watertight bond, preventing infections and accelerating healing.

“It could also become a device for the battlefield, allowing soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” says Prof. Katzir, who currently holds the Carol and Mel Taub Chair in Applied Medical Physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at Tel Aviv University.

***

This news provided by EurekAlert!, an online press service created by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

 

Biomedical News

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http://www.scienceboard.net/resources/newswire.asp?action=article&news_id=1853

FOXNEWS: Forget Stitching, Docs Can Now Weld Wounds Shut

 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,457767,00.html

http://www.foxnews.com/video-search/m/21531948/power_of_light.htm?q=laser+welding

Stitches, staples and sutures may soon be a thing of the past. And welding may be the wave of the future. In a world first, a team of applied physicists have developed a safe and effective way to close incisions using a laser, the Jerusalem Post reported Friday.

The team from Tel Aviv University found a way to maintain laser heat at a specific temperature so the incision is essentially welded shut. The scientists said this minimizes the risk of infection, scars and helps speed up the healing process, according to the report.

“The development is groundbreaking medical technology,” Professor Abraham Katzir told the newspaper. He also said it could be used quickly and easily by medics on the battlefield as well as by plastic surgeons and other surgical specialists.

The country’s Health

NY DAILY NEWS: Laser skin welding the suture of future for surgery

 

By Mathew Kalman  

Monday, December 1st 2008, 4:00 AM

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/health/2008/12/01/2008-12-01_laser_skin_welding_the_suture_of_future_.html

JERUSALEM - Doctors of the future may be able to trade their needle and thread for high-tech laser “skin welding.”

Scientists at Tel Aviv University are testing use of laser beams to seal surgical incisions, allowing skin and internal tissue to heal more quickly after operations and accidents.

“The technique of sewing the human body with needle and thread is an old one that has existed for thousand of years,” said Prof. Abraham Katzir.

Ambulance medics may be able to use the new technique to close wounds quickly and safely at the scene of accidents.

The new method leaves less scarring than traditional stitches and helps give the wound better protection against infection.

“Sutures or stitches are not watertight, and blood or urine can pass through cuts, causing severe infection,” Katzir said.

The use of lasers to heal surgical wounds was first proposed decades ago, but the early prototypes burned the skin and the tests were abandoned.

Katzir’s new technique of skin welding avoids that problem because it uses a smart laser that corrects its own temperature as it works.

The new device has already been tested successfully in clinical trials on patients undergoing gall bladder operations in Israel.

Researchers believe it could be especially useful for plastic surgery and for sealing battlefield wounds on contact.

“It could allow soldiers to heal each other on contact with a laser wand,” Katzir said.

The laser skin welding uses a special biological glue smeared on the two sides of the incision.

A laser warms it to the correct temperature to make the glue thicken and create a hard shell that protects the wound and allows it to heal while blocking germs.

Water Purity Detection In Real Time

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=2317

A water purity detection device has been created by the lab of Prof. Abraham Katzir of Tel Aviv University’s School of Physics and Astronomy. It can detect poisons and contaminants invisible to the naked eye immediately, rather than through sampling and testing.

Modifying special fibers developed in his Tel Aviv University lab, Prof. Katzir can detect “colors” in the infrared spectrum which distinguish between pure and contaminated water. Not visible to the naked eye, this spectrum is normally only seen by certain animals, like snakes or vampire bats, to track down prey. Connected to a commercial infrared spectrometer, the fibers serve as sensors that can detect and notify authorities immediately if a contaminant has entered a water reservoir, system, building or pipeline.

In the lab, the fiberoptic system detected poisons such as pesticides in amounts well below the World Health Organization safety threshold. Preliminary field experiments have already been done at several European sites, and the results were reported recently in the Journal of Applied Spectroscopy.

This will remind Dune fans of the poison snooper used by all noble-born persons on a regular basis. Pictured below is a hand-held version from a 1984 movie version; the quote below is from Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel.

Poison snoopers were installed over banquet tables for the sake of the guest’s piece of mind:

The Duke said: “Paul, I’m doing a hateful thing, but I must.” He stood beside the portable poison snooper that had been brought into the conference room for their breakfast. The thing’s sensor arms hung limply over the table, reminding Paul of some weird insect newly dead.
(Read more about the poison snooper from Dune)

From Science Daily; thanks to an anonymous reader for contributing the tip and the reference.

Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 5/22/2009)

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=2317

Fibers can defend against water terrorism (FROM MONEY TIMES)

 

Tel Aviv — Israeli scientists say they have developed a technology that can monitor the safety of a building’s or community’s water supplies to detect chemoterrorism.Tel Aviv University physics Professor Abraham Katzir says most Americans take the safety of their drinking water for granted, but he said ordinary tap water could become deadly within minutes.

To defend against contamination, as well as pollution caused by industrial spillage, natural disaster or sabotage, Katzir and his team created special fibers that can detect “colors” in the infrared spectrum that distinguish between pure and contaminated water.

The researchers said their fiber optic system could become one of the first real-time water monitors in the United States to provide protection from chemoterrorism attacks.

“It’s unlikely that someone will poison the water supply in Afghanistan,” Katzir said, “but America is in grave danger and needs to arm itself against chemical threats to its drinking water.”

Preliminary field experiments have been conducted at several European sites, and the results were reported recently in the Journal of Applied Spectroscopy.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Israeli Scientist Uses ‘Snake Vision’ to Monitor Water Purity

by Zalman Nelson

(IsraelNN.com) Prof. Abraham Katzir of Tel Aviv University’s School of Physics and Astronomy has developed a new system modeled after the biology of snakes to monitor the public water supply for poisons and contaminants in real time.
The successful results of preliminary field experiments performed at several European sites were recently reported in the Journal of Applied Spectroscopy.

Using fibers modified in his lab, Katzir found that he could detect “colors” in the infrared spectrum which distinguish between pure and contaminated water. His invention connects the fibers to a commercial infrared spectrometer that detects and notifies authorities immediately if a contaminant has entered a water reservoir, system, building or pipeline.

The infrared spectrum, not visible to human eyes, is typically used by animals like snakes and bats to track down prey.

“With our naked eyes we can’t distinguish between pure water and water that contains a small amount of alcohol or acetone. They’re all clear. But we can clearly distinguish between liquids using an infrared spectrometer which can identify ‘colors’ in the invisible infrared spectrum,” he added.

According to Katzir, ordinary tap water can become contaminated and deadly within minutes due to industrial spillage, natural disaster or sabotage. He said that his system could detect poisons like pesticides in amounts well below the World Health Organization safety threshold. “Seeing” water like a snake does, could be the first real-time water monitor to provide protection against a chemical terror attack.

“It’s unlikely that someone will poison the water supply in Afghanistan, but America is in grave danger, and needs to arm itself against chemical threats to its drinking water,” said Katzir. “Toxic materials are readily available as pesticides or herbicides in the agriculture industry, and can be harmful if consumed even in concentrations as low as few parts per million.”

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/131353

Softpedia: Star Trek Like Laser Stitches Wounds

Star Trek-Like Laser Stitches Wounds
Better results than regular sutures
More and more technologies that we used to see only in sci-fi movies are starting to become reality. Falling under this category is laser technology used to stitch wounds, which has been proven to be more efficient than conventional suturing techniques by a doctor from the Tel Aviv University.
Israeli physicists have discovered that the heat from laser light can weld flesh back together. Now, they’re experimenting with using it to heal wounds instead of using traditional stitching. The bonding is also achieved using a blood protein called albumin. It works a bit like micro hooks on each side of the cut. They attach to each other and bond tightly after the skin has cooled down.

Professor Abraham Katzir demonstrated his laser technique on a piece of chicken breast, presented by Reuters. “Both the edges of the cut and the albumin all stick together. And what the advantage is that you get, first of all, a strong bond, instead of sutures. Secondly it’s watertight, so that infection cannot penetrate,” said Abraham Katzir, head of Applied Physics, at Tel Aviv University.

However, since the main focus is surgery and wound healing in people, Dr. Katzir claims that the same technique has also proven successful on human flesh, as wounds from patients have healed faster and with less scarring. Since the technique is already proven to be efficient, all that’s left to do is develop an instrument to apply it. This way, the next step for Professor Katzir is to design a pen-like laser instrument. That way, any doctor could potentially use this technique.

“You will simply have an instrument that maybe will be in every hospital or in an emergency situation, or in an ambulance service, or in a battle field, that the less qualified surgeon or a medic, if there is a cut they can do it exactly like they do it in the Star Trek series… the television series. So it is science fiction made real,” he said.

According to Katzir, this new laser method could also be used in keyhole surgery to seal internal wounds. This would then avoid the need for making large invasive incisions on the body. Katzir and his team hope to see their invention in operating rooms around the world in just a few years’ time.

We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That’s why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit.