Finesse of transparent tissue cutting by ultrafast lasers at various wavelengths

Jenny Wang; Georg Schuele; Daniel V. Palanker

doi:10.1117/1.JBO.20.12.125004

18 December 2015 Finesse of transparent tissue cutting by ultrafast lasers at various wavelengths

Jenny Wang, Georg Schuele, Daniel V. Palanker

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Journal of Biomedical Optics, Vol. 20, Issue 12, 125004 (December 2015). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.20.12.125004

Abstract

Transparent ocular tissues, such as the cornea and crystalline lens, can be ablated or dissected using short-pulse lasers. In refractive and cataract surgeries, the cornea, lens, and lens capsule can be cut by producing dielectric breakdown in the focus of a near-infrared (IR) femtosecond laser, which results in explosive vaporization of the interstitial water, causing mechanical rupture of the surrounding tissue. Here, we compare the texture of edges of lens capsule cut by femtosecond lasers with IR and ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths and explore differences in interactions of these lasers with biological molecules. Scanning electron microscopy indicates that a 400-nm laser is capable of producing very smooth cut edges compared to 800 or 1030 nm at a similar focusing angle. Using gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, we observe laser-induced nonlinear breakdown of proteins and polypeptides by 400-nm femtosecond pulses above and below the dielectric breakdown threshold. On the other hand, 800-nm femtosecond lasers do not produce significant dissociation even above the threshold of dielectric breakdown. However, despite this additional interaction of UV femtosecond laser with proteins, we determine that efficient cutting requires plasma-mediated bubble formation and that remarkably smooth edges are the result of reduced thresholds and smaller focal volume.

CC BY: © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

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Jenny Wang, Georg Schuele, and Daniel V. Palanker "Finesse of transparent tissue cutting by ultrafast lasers at various wavelengths," Journal of Biomedical Optics 20(12), 125004 (18 December 2015). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JBO.20.12.125004

Published: 18 December 2015

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