Applications of pulsed light technology in the medical field

This chapter reviews best-published data on the use and development of pulsed light (PL) for applications in healthcare. In particular, it describes the benefits and limitations of deploying PL for medical device sterilisation, for treatment of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, and for disinfection of contact surfaces and air in healthcare. It reports that the future is very promising as it is envisaged that deployment of this energy-efficient PL-technology will help alleviate the occurrence of unwanted human infections thus improving the quality of life for patients, particularly vulnerable groups having reduced or underdeveloped immune systems. As we beginning to witness the first application and market penetration of PL technologies across this domain, it is likely that the capital cost of the systems will be quite high but not prohibitive considering the benefits to public health and economic return by way of alleviating infections and returning people to the workforce (such as less days lost through illness). Pulsed light, also referred to as intense pulsed light (IPL), has already been accepted and met regulatory standards for different healthcare applications, such as the field of clinical and aesthetic dermatology. It is likely that deployment of PL will be considered in combination with other established and emerging technologies in order to combat healthcare-related infections in the years ahead.