During the '80s and '90s South Africa had very intensive laser research initiatives running at the CSIR, Denel Eloptro (military laser rangefinders), the Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC) and several universities. Without doubt the largest activity was at the then Atomic Energy Corporation, which was funding a programme to investigate molecular laser isotope separation (MLIS).
MLIS was seen as the new technology way to enrich uranium and by 1996 the AEC had already invested more than R300 million in the project when it was joined by French COGEMA in a cost-sharing basis to continue the project. MLIS had resulted in the local development of technology for high pulse rate CO2 lasers together with Raman-shifting technology to convert the 10,6 μm CO2 laser radiation to 16 μm as required for the MLIS programme. By 1996 the pilot plant was almost completed but shortly thereafter the French withdrew its financial support and the programme was cancelled by the AEC.
Of the laser scientists and engineers, some combined with the laser R&D facilities at the CSIR to eventually create the National Laser Centre. Others were lost to the country as their skills were highly sought after by other countries pursuing one of two techniques for laser isotope separation. A smaller group realised that their combined skills allowed them to become commercially viable and they got together to form Scientific Development and Integration (SDI) in 1997, which was located on the CSIR premises, and which has Dr Einar Ronander as managing director. Together this group today, comprising scientists, engineers and technicians boasts between them more than 300 years experience in laser technology and isotope separation.
The company has grown from strength to strength and benefited initially from a grant to develop a laser-based carbon enrichment process, such carbon being used to grow artificial diamonds using a CVD process. The laser-based enrichment process not only produces a highly enriched product but this is obtained at a fraction of the cost of conventional processes. From there, SDI went on to become involved in LIDAR (light detection and ranging) systems with THRIP, and eventually has produced its own unique range of pulsed CO2 and diode laser systems. It has expanded its marketing capability internationally and unlike most overseas laser companies it will work with clients to develop custom systems. Several laser systems for LIDAR applications have already been exported.
The company believes that it has a world-leading TEA CO2 laser that can be used, for example, in the non-destructive testing (NDT) of composite materials. Its benefits are backed up by the fact that it is currently used by major aviation companies, including BAE, Airbus, Dassault Aviation, EADS and Lockheed Martin. Even NASA has purchased one of SDI's mini-TEA lasers and this is being used for the detection of trace gases in the upper atmosphere. Other laser systems have been delivered to the Chinese Space Agency. SDI believes that while similar lasers are produced elsewhere in the world, its products are superior in terms of both performance and cost. Despite the strong rand, highly skilled labour still comes at a lower cost than in the developed economies. Other applications of the company's CO2 lasers include paint stripping of aircraft, a market that is expected to be large in the future. The SDI mini-TEA laser was partially funded by the DTI and SDI received the Chairman's Award for Technical Excellence for this product in 2002.
Today, SDI offers a full portfolio of transversely excited pulsed CO2 lasers, including the MT, Platinum, HP and WH ranges. These include atmospheric and high-pressure systems covering a wide range of pulse energy and repetition rates as required by specific applications. The HP and WH lasers are continuously tuneable over the wavelength range of 9 to 11 μm.
SDI is also working on another type of laser called the excimer in which it also has past expertise. The project is funded on a 50% level by the dti to develop a UV Fluorine laser which has the shortest wavelength of any commercial laser (157 nm), lending itself to integrated chip manufacture and nanotechnology. SDI believes that the excimer laser will offer much more commercial opportunities.
From its beginning, SDI also had an interest in the treatment of glaucoma, an eye problem that creates excess fluid and pressure in the eye and can result in blindness if it goes untreated. While there are conventional surgical techniques to deal with this problem, these are expensive and inaccessible to many. According to the South African National Council for the Blind, glaucoma is responsible for 14% of all cases of blindness in South Africa, affecting predominately black and Asian people. Laser treatment is very effective but the high cost of this also has been a stumbling block to rolling out treatment to sufferers, most of whom live in the world's poorest countries.
SDI started a development programme a few years ago with the objective of developing a diode laser-based system (~800 nm) as opposed to the heavy and complex argon lasers available at up-market health centres. Instead of a weight of some 150 kg together with water cooling for the argon laser, the diode laser developed by SDI weighs a mere 7 kg and as it can be either powered by mains electricity or a battery it is easily transportable into remote areas. In the procedure which can be performed by any medical practitioner and not just an ophthalmologist, the laser light is directed onto the white of the eye and it effectively reduces the eye's ability to produce fluid. After a couple of 15 minute treatments, the eyes' internal pressure reverts back to normal and the glaucoma is arrested. While the diode laser has been developed with the glaucoma application in mind, the design is flexible and parameters such as wavelength, power etc, can easily be adapted for other customer applications.
Preclinical trials of the system focused on pig's eyes and human eyes rejected for cornea grafting (cadaver eyes). At the beginning of last year clinical trials started in earnest, these being undertaken by ophthalmologists in Pretoria and the Eastern Cape. The clinical trials are expected to last up to 18 months. Reports indicate that some 30 patients are being treated every three months with extensive follow-up and monitoring to see how they are responding to the treatment.
If the clinical trials are successful, the commercial launch of the system will take place in less than two years and the treatment of glaucoma in poorer countries will be changed forever. The system's cost will be less than half that of existing systems but the main advantage is the ease of operation and lower operating cost and the fact that even nurses could be trained to provide the therapy in remote rural and poor urban areas.
For a team to come out of a highly closeted research environment and create a commercial business based on the development of unique laser systems is a real success story and the dti can only be commended for its initial financial support of the start-up company.
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