New laser technology ‘could lead to new forms of clinical diagnostics’

New laser technology has been developed that could potentially lead to new forms of clinical diagnostics. 

Scientists at Yale University have created a new semiconductor laser that they believe can lead to improvements in the imaging quality of next-generation high-tech microscopes, laser projectors, photolithography, holography and biomedical imaging.

The innovation combines the brightness of traditional lasers with the lower image corruption of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

It is hoped the new technology will eliminate the problem of 'speckle', which is a random, grainy pattern that can corrupt the format of images when traditional lasers are used in high-tech microscopes and other equipment.

Michael Choma, assistant professor of diagnostic radiology, pediatrics and biomedical engineering at Yale University, stated: "It is tremendously rewarding to work with a team of colleagues to develop speckle-free lasers. It also is exciting to think about the new kinds of clinical diagnostics we can develop."

Full details of the new laser were first published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.