3D finite difference computerized model was developed to simulate the thermal behavior of biological tissue irradiated with a CO₂ laser beam. The model uses standard thermal processes and in addition takes into consideration water evaporation and the corresponding changes in the thermal properties of the tissue. The results contain a temperature and biological damage map of the irradiated tissue. Experimental results of test made on Lucite irradiated with CO₂ laser fit very well the theoretical predictions. The model was then used for simulations of tissue welding and the results indicate that an improved method could be used for CO₂ laser welding.

Date Published: 3 December 1996
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 2922, Laser Applications in Medicine and Dentistry, (3 December 1996); doi: 10.1117/12.260708

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2922:
Laser Applications in Medicine and Dentistry
Gregory B. Altshuler; Fausto Chiesa; Herbert J. Geschwind M.D.; Raimund Hibst; Neville Krasner M.D.; Frederic Laffitte; Giulio Maira; Reinhard Neumann; Roberto Pini; Hans-Dieter Reidenbach; Andre Roggan; Montserrat Serra I Mila, Editor(s)