title: Laser thermal ablation.
abstract: Continuous wave and pulsed laser ablation of tissue is described as an explosive event. A subsurface temperature maximum and superheated tissue produce high pressures that eject fragments from the tissue. Decreased water content due to dehydration and vaporization decreases thermal conductivity which reduces heat conduction. Also, a decrease in water content dramatically alters the local rate of heat generation of laser radiation above 1.3 microns since water is the primary absorber. In contrast, at UV wavelengths protein and DNA are the primary absorbers so destruction of tissue bonds is due to direct absorption of the laser light rather than heat transfer from water.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Texas, Austin 78712-1084.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Welch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motamedi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rastegar
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: LeCarpentier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jansen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D053685:Laser Therapy; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D004247:DNA