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LASER sensors could help surgeons minimise scarring by revealing where to
make incisions.

The collagen fibres in skin line up in the direction of tension. Cuts made
along these so-called Langer鈥檚 lines sever fewer fibres and are less likely to
leave unsightly scars.

The direction of these lines at any point, however, varies from person to
person. 鈥淚f they don鈥檛 know exactly where it goes on an individual, we think
surgeons could end up cutting against the grain,鈥� says Michael Patterson of
McMaster University in Ontario.

While looking for a way to monitor glucose levels, Matthias Essenpreis of
Roche Diagnostics in Germany happened to notice that skin does not scatter light
equally in all directions. When he and Patterson investigated further, they
found that light scattered in the direction in which most fibres are aligned
travels further before leaving the skin. This is because the light is less
likely to be deflected, Patterson says.

The group has now made a sensor, consisting of a fibre-optic probe linked to
a camera, to assist plastic surgeons. 鈥淚 can certainly see the value of it
anywhere reducing scarring is important,鈥� says Tom Mills of University College
London, who has tested the probe to make sure it is safe.