Precision machining of pig intestine using ultrafast laser pulses

Rainer J. Beck; Wojciech S. Góra; Richard M. Carter; Sonny Gunadi; David Jayne; Duncan P. Hand; Jonathan D. Shephard

doi:10.1117/12.2197930

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15 July 2015 Precision machining of pig intestine using ultrafast laser pulses

Rainer J. Beck, Wojciech S. Góra, Richard M. Carter, Sonny Gunadi, David Jayne, Duncan P. Hand, Jonathan D. Shephard

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Proceedings Volume 9542, Medical Laser Applications and Laser-Tissue Interactions VII; 95421B (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2197930
Event: European Conferences on Biomedical Optics, 2015, Munich, Germany

Abstract

Endoluminal surgery for the treatment of early stage colorectal cancer is typically based on electrocautery tools which imply restrictions on precision and the risk of harm through collateral thermal damage to the healthy tissue. As a potential alternative to mitigate these drawbacks we present laser machining of pig intestine by means of picosecond laser pulses. The high intensities of an ultrafast laser enable nonlinear absorption processes and a predominantly nonthermal ablation regime.

Laser ablation results of square cavities with comparable thickness to early stage colorectal cancers are presented for a wavelength of 1030 nm using an industrial picosecond laser. The corresponding histology sections exhibit only minimal collateral damage to the surrounding tissue. The depth of the ablation can be controlled precisely by means of the pulse energy. Overall, the application of ultrafast lasers to ablate pig intestine enables significantly improved precision and reduced thermal damage to the surrounding tissue compared to conventional techniques.

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Rainer J. Beck, Wojciech S. Góra, Richard M. Carter, Sonny Gunadi, David Jayne, Duncan P. Hand, and Jonathan D. Shephard "Precision machining of pig intestine using ultrafast laser pulses", Proc. SPIE 9542, Medical Laser Applications and Laser-Tissue Interactions VII, 95421B (15 July 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2197930

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