7. Conclusion

We have shown in this article that the various effects that a laser beam can produce on biological tissue have all been the subject of a variety of medical applications. The therapeutic indications we have chosen to describe illustrate recent laser applications. These applications continue to develop, and advances in laser miniaturization should encourage their multiplication. Indeed, the large size, high cost and difficulty of using lasers have often hindered their widespread use in operating theatres. Today's lasers are compact, reliable and easy to use, and most of them can be injected into optical fibers. This last feature should enable them to play an increasingly important role in the fast-growing field of minimally invasive surgical procedures.