title: Maxwell's equations-based dynamic laser-tissue interaction model.
abstract: Since its invention in the early 1960s, the laser has been used as a tool for surgical, therapeutic, and diagnostic purposes. To achieve maximum effectiveness with the greatest margin of safety it is important to understand the mechanisms of light propagation through tissue and how that light affects living cells. Lasers with novel output characteristics for medical and military applications are too often implemented prior to proper evaluation with respect to tissue optical properties and human safety. Therefore, advances in computational models that describe light propagation and the cellular responses to laser exposure, without the use of animal models, are of considerable interest. Here, a physics-based laser-tissue interaction model was developed to predict the dynamic changes in the spatial and temporal temperature rise during laser exposure to biological tissues. Unlike conventional models, the new approach is grounded on the rigorous electromagnetic theory that accounts for wave interference, polarization, and nonlinearity in propagation using a Maxwell's equations-based technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; TASC Inc., 4141 Petroleum Road, Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234-2644, USA.
authors.forename: Elharith M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.forename: Edward A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Early
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Denton
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Dhiraj K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Sardar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008954:Models, Biological; D012867:Skin
keywords: Finite element; Laser damage; Laser–tissue interaction; Photoacoustic