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Pulsed Ho:YAG laser meniscectomy: Effect of pulsewidth on tissue penetration rate and lateral thermal damage
Author(s) -
Vangsness C. Thomas,
Watson Troy,
Saadatmanesh Vahid,
Moran Kevin
Publication year - 1995
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.1900160108
Subject(s) - holmium , penetration (warfare) , laser , materials science , microsecond , penetration depth , ablation , wavelength , pulse duration , biomedical engineering , thermal , optics , medicine , optoelectronics , physics , operations research , meteorology , engineering
Background and Objective : Studies need to define the optimal parameters under which the holmium laser should operate for arthroscopic meniscectomy. This study was designed to analyze the effect of various Holmium wavelength pulsewidths on human meniscal tissue penetration rates and lateral thermal injury. Study Design/Materials and Methods : Using a pulsed Holmium: YAG laser at a wavelength of 2.1μm, the effect of various pulsewidths on tissue penetration rates as well as the degree of accompanying thermal damage in human meniscal tissue was evaluated in a specially designed jig. Holding the energy constant at 500 mJ per pulse, the pulsewidth was varied between 100 and 600 microseconds. Results : Fiber penetration of meniscal tissue was found to be fastest at a pulsewidth of 250 microseconds. As the pulsewidth was increased or decreased around this number, the observed penetration time decreased, although no statistical difference was found. The size of the hole created was inversely related to the penetration time. Microscopic examination revealed zones of lateral thermal effect extending 800 μm from the ablation site. Conclusion : No relationship between the pulsewidth and the lateral thermal effect could be found. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.