Ct. Vangsness et al., A SPECTROPHOTOMETER ANALYSIS OF LIGHT-ABSORPTION IN THE HUMAN MENISCUS, Clinical orthopaedics and related research, (310), 1995, pp. 27-29
The spectrophotometer analysis of light absorption curves in human men
iscal tissue showed a reproducible series of graphs for varying tissue
thickness, age, zone, and sectioning plane. These data show water as
the essential reason for light absorption in the infrared portion of t
he light spectrum, The excimer laser in the ultraviolet region, and wa
velengths around 2000 nm in the infrared region, appeared to provide t
he best wavelength match for laser energy transfer and the cutting or
ablating of meniscal tissue, Ongoing research into clinical applicatio
ns should focus on these wavelengths.