THERMAL-PROCESSES TAKING PLACE IN THE BONE DURING CO2-LASER IRRADIATION

The present study examines the drilling and heating of a bone due to p ulsed CO2 laser irradiation. To obtain temperature profiles inside and at the surface of the bone, electron-kinetic and Fourier theories are used. The study is extended to include an experimental investigation into the measurement of the penetration speed. This is achieved using a fibre-optic system. In order to reduce the degree of burning around the hole side, helium was used as the assisting gas during drilling. I t is found that the penetration speeds predicted from the theory are i n good agreement with the experimentally obtained values. Copyright (C ) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.