Femtosecond laser effects on osseous tissues

Abstract

We have investigated the effects of femtosecond (fs) laser irradiation on bone samples in in vitro and on ex vivo living bone samples. Ablation threshold, material removed per pulse and plasma shielding were examined using in vitro samples. Ablation threshold was found to be 0.9J/cm2 at 775nm and 0.3J/cm2 at 367nm using 200fs pulses. Material removal was found to vary non-linearly with pulse energy. Using in vivo samples we have demonstrated intact enzymatic activity on the surface of cells immediately adjacent to cells removed by fs laser irradiation suggesting no thermal damage.