“…The Vanderbilt Mark-III free electron laser (FEL) operating at 6.45 µm in wavelength first demonstrated the ablation of soft tissue in a highly efficient manner with minimal collateral damage (<40 µm) in 1994 (Edwards et al 1994); however, the mechanism of this efficient ablation has not been fully understood to date. In the ten years since this landmark discovery, research has continued into the study of soft-tissue ablation at both 6.1 and 6.45 µm using the FEL for possible clinical applications, including eight human surgeries (Edwards et al 2002a, Coffey 2001, Edwards and Hutson 2003, Ellis et al 1999, Hill et al 1998, Hutson et al 2002a, Jansen et al 2003, Joos et al 1996, 2000, Mackanos et al 2003a, 2003b, 2005, Mawn et al 2004, Miyoshi et al 2002, Nakajima et al 2004, Ovelmen-Levitt et al 2003, Robbins et al 2003, Shen et al 1999, Uhlhorn et al 1999, Uhlhorn 2002, Auerhammer et al 1999, Fowler et al 1999, Jean and Bende 1994, Tribble et al 1997. The success of the Mark-III FEL for clinical applications has been limited, however, due to the large overhead and difficult implementation of a FEL as a clinical laser system.…”