Will the Laser Replace the Scalpel?

Friday, June 15, 2018

Will the Laser Replace the Scalpel?

Thomas Allen (Tom) Disselkamp, product development specialist for the 3M Company, has won several in-house awards for advanced systems. Over three decades, Thomas Disselkamp has nurtured several professional interests, such as the use of lasers in medical procedures.

After the industrialization of laser light, doctors and researchers found numerous applications for this versatile new tool. They discovered that in certain types of surgery, the laser’s finely focused beam can cut tissue precisely and cleanly.

One prime advantage is the laser’s consistency. A hand-held scalpel simply can not match the laser’s even cut all along the incision. Another benefit is its ability to seal off blood vessels. Finally, a laser-wielding surgeon can make very small cuts in areas surrounded by healthy tissue.

Medical lasers are still in development and are not yet suited to every kind of operation. Nevertheless, some doctors envision a future in which the laser has completely replaced the scalpel.

Today’s applications of the laser include external procedures on the skin, ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. However, innovations are coming that will employ them for internal surgery, with visibility being the only limiting factor.

About Thomas Disselkamp

Thomas Disselkamp has built a substantial career at the 3M Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. He has spent many of his 30 years at 3M as a product development specialist with team leadership responsibilities. As an expert in the areas of mechanical, electronic, and optical systems development, Thomas Allen Disselkamp has managed sizeable staffs to enhance manufacturing methods. In addition, Tom Disselkamp has won several corporate awards for his performance.

Currently a product development specialist in the Infection Prevention Division, Tom Disselkamp facilitates the design and production of stethoscopes, incubators, and sterilizers. He makes certain that all products meet industry safety standards and have proper documentation. Prior to this role, Tom Disselkamp held a similar position in the 3M Film Manufacturing and Supply Chain Organization. There, he guided a team that improved the ability of 3M to produce stable and reliable plastic films.

Mr. Disselkamp’s previous assignment was in the Traffic Safety Systems division, where he led efforts to design and develop the Opticom traffic light control system, which utilizes the global positioning system. Opticom works with emergency vehicles to change red lights to green. In his earlier years with 3M, he served in the Engineering Systems and Technology group developing and installing on line web inspection systems for defect detection.

In his time off, Thomas Allen Disselkamp pursues many hobbies, including gardening and woodworking. He also donates time to various hunger relief charities.