From Cancer Detection to Nuclear Waste Disposal: Lithuanian Laser Innovators Seek to Solve Global Challenges

Laser-based technology is bringing promising advances across multiple industries. Currently in clinical trials, a new laser-based ultrasound device, the PAM3+ diagnostic system, shows potential for improving breast cancer diagnostics. Lasers are also playing a key role in advancing nuclear waste disposal research. An industry expert emphasizes the need for passionate specialists to drive further innovations to address global challenges.

Aldas Juronis, CEO of EKSPLA

 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, accounting for 25% of all cases. When detected early before spreading to other tissue, the 5-year survival rate is 99%. Although mammography, the standard method for women over the age of 40, is the most effective breast cancer screening tool today, it misses about 13% of breast cancers. A new diagnostics tool might be able to improve diagnosis and detect cancer in breast tissue at an even earlier stage. 

 

The Lithuanian laser manufacturer EKSPLA contributed to developing a unique laser source for the world’s first 3D photoacoustic and ultrasound mammoscope. This medical device uses fast light pulses and sound waves to produce detailed images of tissues. 

 

“This breast imager has the potential to detect breast cancer at an extremely early stage, enabling timely interventions and increasing the effectiveness of treatments,” Aldas Juronis, CEO of EKSPLA, explains. “As a novel and unique medical device, it is currently undergoing extensive clinical trials with real patients to ensure a comprehensive understanding of how to interpret the data it provides.”

 

The company’s laser technology is also used in the manufacturing of medical devices, such as stents—small tubes that are inserted into blood vessels to keep them open and ensure proper blood flow. Since stents are often made from heat-sensitive materials like nitinol, high-speed, precision lasers can cut the material without generating heat, preserving its essential properties.

 

For example, the ultra-short pulse lasers FemtoLux 30 emits light in pulses lasting just millionths of a billionth of a second. This product earned the company the prestigious SPIE Prism Award, often referred to as the “Oscars of Photonics.”

 

Tackling nuclear waste disposal with laser transmutation

 

Lasers, known for their precision and ability to generate enough energy to cut through diamonds, are driving groundbreaking innovations. In collaboration with Light Conversion, another manufacturer of femtosecond laser sources, EKSPLA installed the high-intensity laser system SYLOS 3 at the ELI-ALPS Institute in Hungary. Using this technology, an international consortium developed a new tool for nuclear waste management research – using neutron acceleration to alter the atomic structure of radioactive material, potentially eliminating nuclear waste. 

 

While treating nuclear waste would require approximately 100 high-intensity lasers, this approach could still be more cost-effective than building traditional particle accelerators. Current solutions for nuclear waste involve only temporary repositories, costing billions of euros and requiring thousands of years for the waste to decompose. However, with advancements in laser technology, the decomposition timeline of such waste is projected to be reduced to a small fraction of its original lifespan.

 

“There is still a long and costly journey ahead, potentially spanning decades. However, it’s incredible that we already have the knowledge, tools, and dedicated experts working on this crucial solution, which will ultimately make the world safer and cleaner,” Juronis says.

 

Yet, the CEO emphasizes that talent is the critical factor in driving these world-changing solutions. In Lithuania, the photonics industry is growing at an impressive rate of 15% annually, compared to Europe’s 6,5% growth. With this rapid expansion, the sector faces an increasing demand for specialists. A talent shortage, particularly in areas such as photonics, electronics engineering, programming, and optomechanics, could hinder both growth and the positive impact of this technology.

 

Although studies in this field can be challenging, Juronis encourages individuals to consider a career switch, having witnessed several successful transitions within his own company. “It’s not just about technical qualifications, but about the passion for what lasers can achieve: from developing life-saving medical devices to eliminating nuclear waste. Enthusiasm for these innovations can make all the difference,” he says.