BONE ABLATION BY KRF EXCIMER-LASER IRRADIATION - ABLATION RATE AND HEAT EFFECT

In order to investigate the possibility of the use of a KrF excimer la ser as an incision tool for the bone surgery, the ablating rate and th e heating effects in bone ablation are experimentally examined. The ab lation of the bone tissue achieved when the fluence of the laser irrad iation exceeds 30mJ/mm2. The ablation depth of about 0.6mum per laser shot remains constant when the fluence is between 30mJ/mm2 and 60mJ/mm 2. The adjacent bone temperature rises in proportion to the laser irra diating fluence and the repetition frequency. The comparatively small thermal damage to the adjacent tissue suggests the possible applicatio n of the KrF excimer laser to the bone surgery, though the insufficien t incision speed must be improved.