ACOUSTIC MONITORING OF LASER DAMAGE OF HARD BIOLOGICAL TISSUES

This paper discusses aspects of the formation of an acoustic wave acco mpanying laser breakdown of hard biological tissues (enamel and dentin e of the tooth, kidney, gall, and urate stones). The mechanism of lase r breakdown of hard biological tissues is considered. Results of the a nalytical modeling of the laser-destruction process are presented. The information capacity and the possibility of identifying the type of t issue and its state is analyzed on the basis of the parameters of a la ser-induced acoustic wave. (C) 1998 The Optical Society of America. [S 1070-9762(98)02210-6].