Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy as a potential tool for autocarbonization detection in laserosteotomy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Laser Surgery
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Laser osteotomy aims to precisely cut bone tissue.
• Thermal damage, specifically carbonization, impairs ablation efficiency and healing.
• Current irrigation methods lack real-time feedback for optimal control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for detecting carbonization during laser osteotomy.
• To establish LIBS as a real-time monitoring tool for bone ablation.

Main Methods:

• Nanosecond pulse laser ablation of porcine bone samples.
• Generation and analysis of laser-induced plasma spectra.
• Monitoring specific emission line ratios to differentiate normal and carbonized bone.

Main Results:

• Carbonization was successfully detected by analyzing spectral variations.
• A specific pair of emission line ratios showed significant changes between normal and carbonized bone.
• Classification accuracy for distinguishing normal from carbonized bone exceeded 95%.

Conclusions:

• LIBS is a highly accurate method for real-time autocarbonization detection in laser osteotomy.
• This technique offers a feedback mechanism to optimize irrigation and prevent thermal damage.
• LIBS can enhance the safety and efficiency of laser bone surgery.