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Measurement of the optical and thermal properties of biliary calculi using pulsed photothermal radiometry
Author(s) -
Long Frederick H.,
Nishioka Norman S.,
Deutsch Thomas F.
Publication year - 1987
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/lsm.1900070604
Subject(s) - photothermal therapy , radiometry , laser , absorption (acoustics) , photothermal spectroscopy , optics , thermal , wavelength , materials science , chemistry , optoelectronics , thermodynamics , physics
The optical absorption coefficients for biliary calculi are important in understanding the mechanism of laser‐induced stone fragmentation. However, the heterogeneous composition of calculi and difficulties in producing optically thin samples prevent conventional spectrophotometric measurement techniqus from being used. To overcome these limitations, we used a pulsed photothermal radiometry system to measure the optical absorption coefficients and thermal diffusivities of various biliary calculi. In the wavelength range examined (350–1,060 nm), there was strong optical absorption which was greater for pigment stones than for cholesterol stones. The data support the theory that the initiation of the plasma accompanying laser fragmentation of calculi is a thermal process.