Quantitative near infrared spectroscopic analysis of Q-Switched Nd:YAG treatment of generalized argyria

Porcine skin damage thresholds and histological damage characteristics from 1319-nm laser radiation

There is an increasing use of near-infrared lasers in biomedical applications operating in the spectrum between 1300 and 1400 nm. To corroborate and expand the existing safety data for skin exposure to lasers in this wavelength region, the in-vivo ED50 damage thresholds were determined in Guizhou miniature pigs for 1319-nm laser radiation. Exposure durations of 0.4, 1.0, and 3.0 s and 1  /  e2 beam diameters of 0.98 and 1.96 cm were employed. Damage lesion determinations were performed at 1- and 24 h post exposure. The Bliss probit analysis was employed to establish the ED50 damage thresholds. Histopathological studies of skin damage were performed at 48 h after irradiation to reveal the damage characteristics. The skin damage thresholds at 1 h post exposure, given in peak radiant exposure, were 35.5, 36.1, and 37.1  J  /  cm2 at exposure durations of 0.4, 1.0, and 3.0 s with the spot diameter of 0.98 cm, and 28.6  J  /  cm2 at exposure duration of 3.0 s with the spot diameter of 1.96 cm. At 24 h post exposure, the ED50s increased slightly. Histologically, the thermal damage characteristics at the near-threshold level included gathering of the nuclear chromatin and cell vacuolation in the epidermis and deposition of blood cells in the capillary vessels. However, at the apparently above-threshold level, the damage characteristics included obvious stretching of the nuclear chromatin in the epidermis, closing of the capillary lumen, structural change of collagen fibers, and coagulative necrosis of the hair follicle cells. The damage induced by this laser could go deep into the fatty tissue. The obtained results may contribute to the knowledge base for the damage mechanisms and expand the database for the refinement of laser safety standards in the wavelength range of 1300 to 1400 nm.

Wavelength dependence of photon-induced photoacoustic streaming technique for root canal irrigation

Laser-enhanced irrigation of complex root canals appears to be a very promising technique to improve the outcome of root canal treatment. This applies, in particular, if the technique can be effective at very low laser energies in irrigating not only the main canal but also the small lateral canals. This is important in order to avoid potential undesirable effects at higher laser energies such as temperature increase, dentin ablation, or extrusion of irrigating solution beyond the apical foramen. An improved understanding of the role of laser parameters, such as laser wavelength and pulse duration, in irrigation of lateral canals is therefore desired in order to optimize treatment efficacy. The influence of laser wavelength and pulse duration on cavitation phenomena was studied using shadow photography and a method of measuring fluid flow in lateral canals based on tracking of movements of small air bubbles naturally forming in liquid as a result of laser agitation. A simulated model of a root canal including a narrow lateral canal designed to represent typical root canal morphology was used for the water flow measurements. The following three laser wavelengths with relatively high absorption in water were studied: Er:YAG (2.94  μm), Er,Cr:YSGG (2.73  μm), and Nd:YAP (1.34  μm). Among the three wavelengths studied, the Er:YAG laser wavelength was found to be the most effective in formation of cavitation bubbles and in generating fluid motions within narrow lateral canals. A comparison between the shadow photography and fluid motion data indicates that it is the bubble’s radius and not the bubble’s volume that predominantly influences the fluid motion within lateral canals. Based on the results of our study, it appears that effective minimally invasive laser-assisted irrigation can be performed with low Er:YAG laser pulse energies below 10 mJ.

Low-cost tissue simulating phantoms with adjustable wavelength-dependent scattering properties in the visible and infrared ranges

We present a method for low-cost fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) tissue simulating phantoms with tunable scattering spectra, spanning visible, and near-infrared regimes. These phantoms use optical polishing agents (aluminum oxide powders) at various grit sizes to approximate in vivo tissue scattering particles across multiple size distributions (range: 17 to 3  μm). This class of tunable scattering phantoms is used to mimic distinct changes in wavelength-dependent scattering properties observed in tissue pathologies such as partial thickness burns. Described by a power-law dependence on wavelength, the scattering magnitude of these phantoms scale linearly with particle concentration over a physiologic range [μs′=(0.5 to 2.0  mm−1)] whereas the scattering spectra, specific to each particle size distribution, correlate to distinct exponential coefficients (range: 0.007 to 0.32). Aluminum oxide powders used in this investigation did not detectably contribute to the absorption properties of these phantoms. The optical properties of these phantoms are verified through inverse adding-doubling methods and the tolerances of this fabrication method are discussed.