title: Experimental studies on the development and propagation of shock waves created by the interaction of short Nd:YAG laser pulses with a titanium target. Possible implications for Nd:YAG laser phacolysis of the cataractous human lens.
abstract: The formation and propagation of shock waves created by the interaction of high powered Nd:YAG laser pulses with a titanium target are photographed and analyzed. The titanium target is located at the distal end of a probe, similar to an irrigation/aspiration probe used in cataract surgery, and the Nd:YAG laser is delivered by a cladded 300 microns quartz fiber. This device, and the results of this study, are being applied to develop a device for fragmenting nuclear material for cataract extraction.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dodick
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Christiansen
mesh_terms: D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D053685:Laser Therapy; D010781:Photography; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation; D014025:Titanium; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D014025:Titanium