Method and apparatus for laser-based surgery and treatment

A method of micro-neurosurgery, comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising a femtosecond laser that supplies at least one pulse of laser energy having a pulse duration of less than 100 femtoseconds;
• conducting said pulse of laser energy by means of a fiber optical cable to a vicinity of a nerve in a human body;
• irradiating said pulse of laser energy onto said nerve to effect cutting of a localized area of said nerve.

A method of cardiovascular microsurgery, comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising a femtosecond laser that supplies at least one pulse of laser energy having a pulse duration of less than 100 femtoseconds;
• conducting said pulse of laser energy by means of a fiber optical cable into a cardiovascular system of a human body;
• irradiating said pulse of laser energy onto diseased tissue of said cardiovascular system to effect a disintegration or a vaporization of a localized area of said diseased tissue.

A method of cardiovascular treatment, comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising a femtosecond laser that supplies at least one pulse of laser energy having a pulse duration of less than 100 femtoseconds;
• conducting said pulse of laser energy by means of a fiber optical cable into a cardiovascular system of a human body;
• irradiating said pulse of laser energy onto a baroreceptor of said cardiovascular system to effect a stimulation of said baroreceptor.

A method of cardiovascular treatment, comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising a femtosecond laser that supplies pulses of laser energy, each of said pulses having a pulse duration of less than 100 femtoseconds;
• conducting said pulses of laser energy by means of a fiber optical cable to a vicinity of a cardiovascular vessel of a human body;
• irradiating said pulses of laser energy onto said cardiovascular vessel to effect a sectioning of said cardiovascular vessel.

A method of laser surgery, comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising a femtosecond laser that supplies at least one pulse of laser energy having a pulse duration of less than 100 femtoseconds;
• conducting said pulse of laser energy by means of a fiber optical cable to a vicinity of a mucous membrane in paranasal sinuses or a nasal cavity of a human body;
• irradiating said pulse of laser energy onto said mucous membrane to effect cutting of a localized area of said mucous membrane.

A method of laser surgery, comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising a femtosecond laser that supplies at least one pulse of laser energy having a pulse duration of less than 100 femtoseconds;
• conducting said pulse of laser energy by means of a fiber optical cable to a vicinity of an area of irregular tissue on a skin of a human body;
• irradiating said pulse of laser energy onto said area of irregular tissue to effect disintegration or vaporization of a localized area of said area of irregular tissue.

A method of laser-based treatment, comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising a femtosecond laser that supplies pulses of laser energy having a pulse duration of less than 100 femtoseconds;
• conducting said pulses of laser energy by means of a fiber optical cable to a vicinity of a gallstone or kidney stone in a human body;
• irradiating said pulses of laser energy onto said gallstone or kidney stone to effect at least partial disintegration or vaporization of said gallstone or kidney stone.

A method of orthopedic laser surgery, comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising a femtosecond laser that supplies pulses of laser energy having a pulse duration of less than 100 femtoseconds;
• conducting said pulses of laser energy by means of a fiber optical cable to a vicinity of a joint in a human body;
• smoothing a bone surface of said joint by irradiating said pulses of laser energy onto said bone surface to effect at least partial disintegration or vaporization of irregularities on said bone surface.

A method of tumor cell devitalization, comprising the steps of:

• providing a treatment apparatus comprising a femtosecond laser that supplies at least one pulse of laser energy having a pulse duration of less than 100 femtoseconds;
• conducting said pulse of laser energy by means of a fiber optical cable to a vicinity of a tumor cell in a human body;
• irradiating said pulse of laser energy onto said tumor cell, wherein said pulse of laser energy is supplied by said femtosecond laser with an energy such that said irradiated pulse has an energy low enough to avoid structurally damaging a cell membrane of said tumor cell and high enough to damage at least one subcellular component of said tumor cell within said cell membrane.