Laser-tissue interactions: fundamentals and applications

Laser-Tissue Interactions by Prof. Dr. Markolf H. Niemz (Heidelberg University) has become the standard reference book in this fast growing field. It addresses basic concepts such as optical and thermal tissue properties, hard and soft tissue ablation, and photobiomodulation. Clinical applications are reviewed according to the latest references. The last chapter covers today's standards of laser safety with a careful selection of essential guidelines published by the Laser Institute of America. This fourth edition has been completely revised and updated. Color illustrations, summaries, and questionnaires with solutions transform this book into a useful guide for graduate students, scientists, and medical practitioners. OPHTHALMOLOGY DENTISTRY GYNECOLOGY UROLOGY NEUROSURGERY ANGIOPLASTY AND CARDIOLOGY ORTHOPEDICS DERMATOLOGY AND COSMETICS GASTROENTEROLOGY OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY “An extremely useful reference companion.” LASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE

Laser-induced generation of pure tensile stresses

While short compressive stresses can readily be produced by laser ablation, the generation of pure tensile stresses is more difficult. We demonstrate that a 90° prism made of polyethylene can serve to produce short and pure tensile stresses. A compressive wave is generated by ablating a thin layer of strongly absorbing ink on one surface of the prism with a Q-switched frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. The compressive wave driven into the prism is reflected as a tensile wave by the polyethylene-air interface at its long surface. The low acoustic impedance of polyethylene makes it ideal for coupling tensile stresses into liquids. In water, tensile stresses up to −200 bars with a rise time of the order of 20 ns and a duration of 100 ns are achieved. The tensile strength of water is determined for pure tensile stresses lasting for 100 ns only. The technique has potential application in studying the initiation of cavitation in liquids and in comparing the effect of compressive and tensile stress transients on biological medi

Laser in Pediatric Dentistry

Laser technology has different applications in dentistry, and, particularly, in Paediatric Dentistry. Depending on laser wavelengths and the physical properties of the tissue which is to be targeted; it is possible obtain different results in three main dental fields: Diagnosis, Prevention and Operative Therapy. Conventional treatments can sometimes be replaced by laser treatments and better results may be achieved. Laser treatments offer new treatment opportunities in the dental field that were unknown in the past. This chapter aims to outline the clinical protocols and possible applications of different laser systems in Paediatric Dentistry