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Laser User Groups
Medical Group
The Medical Group within AILU exists to serve the needs of clinicians, researchers, engineers and equipment and service providers involved in the development, manufacture and use of equipment in medical applications, and the field of biology in general. Such equipment ranges from surgical tools, implants and prostheses; laser-based diagnostic equipment and instruments, lab-on-a-chip; laser scalpels and equipment for corrective refractive eye surgery.
The medical group was founded in November 2007 and currently has over 60 members. Thanks to support from the Photonics Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), membership of the Medical Group is free.
Introductory information about the group can be also be found on the Medical Group postcard
Membership of the Medical Special Interest Group (SIG) is free and open to AILU members and Photonics KTN members alike.
To be added as a Medical SIG member simply contact the AILU office. If you are already an AILU member or have registered on the AILU web site, simply request to join. Otherwise, please include in the email your full contact details.
Why join?
As a member of the medical special interest group you will be alerted to workshops and other networking events, and will be given the opportunity of influencing the program of Medical SIG activities.
Also, as a member you will have access to the on-line Medical SIG Forum, where you can post a question of discussion point, respond to other peoples inputs, or simply review the existing material. However you use the forum it will be a worthwhile experience.
In all of these activities you will be connecting with other researchers, equipment suppliers and end users who share your interest in the application of lasers in medical technologies.
Accessing the on-line Medical SIG Forum
To access the forum you first need to login using your assigned name and password. The entry point is in the top right corner of this page. (tip: If you are still using the random number/letter password you were originally given, why not change it to something memorable by clicking on the ‘edit details’ link after you’ve logged in?)
Once you do this a link to the forum will appear in the left hand links column under ‘Laser User Groups’.
Networking with other groups
AILU is a partner in the Photonics KTN, with strong links to the Healthcare Technologies KTN and, through this, to other UK medical organisations. For information and links, click useful links and go to the medical sector section.
Forthcoming Events
AILU will be supporting Medtec UK at the NEC 25–26 March 2009
Medtec is the Exhibition and Conference of Manufacturing and Automation Technology, Materials and Outsourced Expertise for Medical Device Manufacturers based in the UK. For further details click here.
Recent events
Opportunities for Photonics in Medical Device Manufacture at Photonex 08 - 16 October 2008, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry
Lasers in Medicine and Biophotonics at Photon 08 - 27 August 2008, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Medical Group meeting in Cork, Ireland - 22 May 2008
Recent articles in the news
APRIL 2008:
AILU published a feature article about medical device manufacture in Medical Device Developments magazine published by SPG Media.
Medical Device Developments Magazine
"Medical Device Developments 2008 Vol. 1
Medical devices, like the industry itself, are going through continual change; a new technology can shape the development of a product, direction of a company and ultimately future treatments for patients.
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is an ageing global population. In response to this device manufacturers are having to look at new technologies while physicians and clinicians focus on new techniques for allowing people to grow old and maintain their quality of life."
For feature see Laser is the Tool, April 2008
Proposed government deregulation of Class 3b and Lcass 4 lasers for non-surgical procedures
Click here to read the response (dated 22 May 2009) that has been published by the Prime Minister’s Office to an ePetition against the proposed de-regulation
Laser is the Tool
From household electronics to security holograms, lasers play a significant and positive role in everyday life. AILU examines their extensive use in medical technology.
From their uses as ray guns in science fiction and being used to threaten Mr Bond in Goldfinger, lasers have always been considered an object of suspicion in the world of fiction. However, without them, many devices that we take for granted in the modern world would not exist. For example, CD and DVD players, barcode scanners in the supermarket and the production of holograms as security features on our credit cards all require lasers to exist. Lasers in the medical arena have innumerable benign uses, from their application in device manufacture to surgical operations. ... more
For more information
Introductory information about the group can be be found on the Medical Group postcard.
To join the group, see ‘Joining the Medical Group ‘ above.