Tissue ablation through water with erbium:YAG lasers.

ABSTRACT

We report the dynamics of vapor cavities generated by 200 microseconds long ErYAG laser pulses under water and in gelatin. Acoustic transients were detected at the beginning of the laser pulse and when the cavity collapsed. Cavity expansion and collapse, and the associated acoustic transients are possible ablation mechanisms with the ErYAG laser. Shortening of the pulse duration is suggested to minimize long range under water tissue damages.