Laser Surgery: Alternatives To CO2 Ablation

Myron L. Wolbarsht

doi:10.1117/12.976144

20 November 1985 Laser Surgery: Alternatives To CO2 Ablation

Myron L. Wolbarsht

Proceedings Volume 0540, Southwest Conf on Optics '85; (1985) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.976144
Event: 1985 Albuquerque Conferences on Optics, 1985, Albuquerque, United States

Abstract

Laser surgery may be improved by modifications based on similar processes in industrial applications. A major problem in materials processing is minimizing heat diffusion from the site of laser exposure. The same problem exists in tne surgery of tissue with a CO2 laser. A model is described which indicates that radiation at 2.9 μm (HF laser) in short duration pulses, shorter than the thermal relaxation time (1.7 ps) of its 2 um thick absorption depth in water, will minimize thermal diffusion, and also take advantage of the large amount of heat removed by the phase change of water into steam. This model suggests that, for deep cuts, many short pulses are preferable to a single long duration exposure and that more delicate surgery may be possible with such short pulse, shallow absorption depth types of energy delivery. For coagulation (nemostasis control) as well as ablation, two simultaneous wavelengths are required, 2.9 μm for cutting, and another, with less absorption, (such as 1.06 μm from Nu:YAG or 466-J14 nm from Argon lasers) for more penetration and heating of upper layers and blood vessels. Among the secondary benefits of the use of the HF laser at 2.9 μm is ready availability of flexible optical fibers for a delivery system.

Citation Download Citation

Myron L. Wolbarsht "Laser Surgery: Alternatives To CO2 Ablation", Proc. SPIE 0540, Southwest Conf on Optics '85, (20 November 1985); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.976144

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
7 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Absorption

Laser therapeutics

Surgery

Tissues

Laser tissue interaction

Gas lasers

Laser vision correction

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years