Penetration and mass loss rates with different energy levels in the human meniscus for the holmium:YAG laser

摘要

Abstract: Using a pulsed Holmium:YAG laser, wavelength 2.1 $mu@m, the ablation rate and thermal effect were measured on human meniscal cartilage. Holding the pulsewidth and repetition rate constant, fluences per pulse were varied between 167 - 927 J/cm$+2$//pulse for the penetration rate and between 1.7 - 100 J/cm$+2$//pulse for the mass loss rate. The fastest ablation rate was found at 927 J/cm$+2$//pulse for the penetration rate and at 100 J/cm$+2$//pulse for the mass loss rate. The thresholds were 53 J/cm$+2$//pulse and 1.36 J/cm$+2$//pulse, respectively. The increases in ablation rate were directly proportional to increases in fluences for both methods. Histological examination showed the average lateral thermal change to be 400 - 500 $mu@m and 400 - 460 $mu@m, respectively, with no relation to level of fluence. !0