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Measurement and modeling of thermal transients during Er:YAG laser irradiation of vitreous
Author(s) -
Berger Jeffrey W.,
Bochow Thomas W.,
Talamo Jonathan H.,
D'Amico Donald J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1996)19:4<388::aid-lsm2>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - laser , er:yag laser , thermocouple , materials science , irradiation , optics , thermal , laser safety , laser power scaling , composite material , thermodynamics , physics , nuclear physics
Background and Objective We investigated the transient thermal behavior of vitreous in order to understand the local thermal effects of laser output, and to predict the potential for unintentional injury during Er:YAG laser vitreoretinal surgery. Study Design/Materials and Methods The output of a free‐running Er:YAG laser (2.94 μm, 300 μs FWHM) was delivered through a fiberoptic and applied to en bloc samples of bovine vitreous. Temperature was measured with ultrafine thermocouples. Results For 6 mJ pulse energy at 10 Hz, a temperature rise of 20°C is measured 500 μm from the laser tip. The temperature rise is localized with a rapid fall‐off greater than 1 mm from the energy source. At constant time‐averaged laser power, the temperature profile is independent of repetition rate. Our finite‐difference model generates results qualitatively consistent with measured data and allows for investigation of the influence of thermophysical parameters on heat transfer. Conclusion Thermal injury to ocular structures should be limited during intravitreal application of Er:YAG laser energy. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.