Dynamic cooling during laser skin welding

Nathaniel M. Fried; Joseph T. Walsh Jr.

doi:10.1117/12.350954

22 June 1999 Dynamic cooling during laser skin welding

Nathaniel M. Fried, Joseph T. Walsh Jr.

Proceedings Volume 3590, Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems IX; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.350954
Event: BiOS '99 International Biomedical Optics Symposium, 1999, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

Cryogen spray cooling of the tissue surface was investigated for laser welding applications. Benefits include reduced thermal damage to the papillary dermis and reduced operation time. Two-cm-long, full-thickness incisions were made on the backs of guinea pigs, in vivo. India ink was used as an absorber and clamps were used to appose the incision edges. Continuous-wave, 1.06-μm, Nd:YAG laser radiation was scanned over the incisions, producing ~100 ms pulses. A 4-mm-diameter laser spot was used with a constant power of 16 W. The total operation time was 60 or 120 s. Cryogen was delivered in spurt durations of 20, 60, or 100 ms, with 2 or 4 s between spurts. The working distance was approximately 12 cm, and the spray covered an area of about 5.0 x 5.0 cm. Control welds were irradiated for 20, 40, or 60 s. Total operation times were reduced from 10 min without dynamic cooling to 1 min with dynamic cooling. Optimal tensile strength was 1.7 ± 0.7 kg/cm², comparible to stengths of 2.1 ± 0.7 kg/cm² reported in previous studies without cryogen cooling (p>0.25). Thermal damage in the papillary dermis measured 320 ± 80 μm.

Citation Download Citation

Nathaniel M. Fried and Joseph T. Walsh Jr. "Dynamic cooling during laser skin welding", Proc. SPIE 3590, Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems IX, (22 June 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.350954

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