[Organic dyes in laser surgery of cartilaginous tissues]

Use of organic dyes for improvement of the efficiency and targeting accuracy of laser treatment of biological tissues is considered. It is shown that some organic materials provide effective protection of adjacent tissues by reducing the intensity of optical radiation outside the laser surgery site. They also can eliminate the detrimental effect of random reflections of intense laser radiation upon its passage through semitransparent cartilaginous tissue. Advantages of diphthalocyanine dyes (broad spectral region of radiation absorption, high resistance to heat and light, solubility in low-toxic organic dyes) are described.