Er:YAG laser ablation of tissue: effect of pulse duration and tissue type on thermal damage.
The thermal damage caused by 2.94-micron Er:YAG laser ablation of skin, cornea, aorta, and bone was quantified. The zone of residual thermal damage produced by normal-spiking-mode pulses (pulse duration approximately 200 microseconds) and Q-switched pulses (pulse duration approximately 90 ns) was compared. Normal-spiking-mode pulses typically leave 10-50 microns of collagen damage at the smooth wall of the incisions; however, at the highest fluences (approximately 80J/cm2) tears were produced in cornea and aorta and as much as 100 microns of damaged collagen is found at the incision edge. Q-switched pulses caused less thermal damage, typically 5-10 microns of damage in all tissues.
Wellman Laboratories, Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
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Deutsch
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000293:injuries*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D002417:Cattle; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004871:Erbium; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007834:Lasers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*
D004871:Erbium