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A new method for optimized laser treatment by laser focus navigation and distance visualization
Sebastian Stopp1, Daniel Svejdar, Herbert Deppe
1Department of Micro Technology and Medical Device Technology, TU München, Germany. sebastian.stopp@tum.de
Summary
Optimizing laser bone treatment with Er:YAG lasers requires precise focus control to prevent thermal damage. Experiments show focus distance significantly impacts bone carbonization and cavity depth, leading to a new navigation concept for enhanced precision.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Laser Physics
- Surgical Technology
Background:
- Minimizing thermal damage during laser bone treatment is crucial.
- Erbium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) lasers offer gentle bone ablation.
- Laser treatment efficacy is influenced by parameters and beam geometry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between laser focus position and bone treatment outcomes.
- To develop a method for optimizing laser bone treatment parameters.
- To introduce a navigation concept for precise laser focus targeting.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Er:YAG laser systems for bone treatment experiments.
- Performed experiments on pig compact bone (compacta).
- Developed and validated a navigation concept for real-time focus visualization.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a clear dependency between focus distance and bone cavity carbonization.
- Observed decreased cavity depth with increasing focus distance.
- Validated the influence of laser beam geometry on treatment results.
Conclusions:
- Precise control of laser focus is essential for effective and safe bone treatment.
- The developed navigation concept aids in visualizing laser focus relative to bone tissue.
- Optimized laser parameters and focus positioning enhance treatment outcomes and minimize collateral damage.
