Dynamics of ArF excimer laser-induced cavitation bubbles in gel surrounded by a liquid medium.
OBJECTIVE
Cavitation bubbles have been shown to be the driving force of tissue cutting in 193 nm ArF excimer laser-based vitreoretinal microsurgery. In the present work we investigate the dynamics of cavitation bubbles inside a gelatin gel in a saline environment using fast flash microphotography.


METHODS
The screening influence of the saline medium was found to restrict the maximal distance between the tip and the tissue at which cavitation bubbles are created to < 100 microns at an energy fluence up to 0.3 J/cm2/pulse (the maximal energy fluence applied in vitreoretinal surgery).


CONCLUSIONS
Single laser pulses did not cause disruption of gelatin at an energy fluence of up to 0.4 J/cm2/pulse. During the application of repetitive pulses small insoluble gas-containing bubbles were produced and often trapped between the tip and the tissue. They completely changed the shape of the subsequent cavitation bubbles and caused deep crater formation in the gel.
Palanker
D
D
Laser Center, Hadassah Medical Organization and NanoMed, Jerusalem, Israel.
Turovets
I
I
Lewis
A
A
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004867:Equipment Design; D005740:Gases; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
D005740:Gases; D005780:Gelatin