Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Theoretical limits to soft-tissue damage by Er:YAG and Ho:YAG lasers

  • Published:
Lasers in Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A significant advantage of Er:YAG and Ho:YAG laser radiation is that it can be transmitted efficiently by fibre, unlike that of the CO2 laser. The important characteristic of excisions made by these mid-infrared-beam lasers is the depth of coagulation beneath the excised surface. Intuitive physical arguments are developed to predict the coagulation depths, which are estimated to be 12μmand 650 μm for Er:YAG and Ho:YAG lesions respectively. These values are in agreement with derivations using more sophisticated physics by the same author elsewhere.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hall RR, Beach AD, Baker E and Morison PCA. Nature 232: 131–132

  2. McKenzie AL. Phys. Med. Biol. 31: 967–983

  3. McKenzie AL. Phys. Med. Biol. 28: 905–912

  4. Bayley JG, Kartha VB and Stevens WH. Infrared Phys. 3: 211–233

  5. McKenzie AL. Phys. Med. Biol. 34: in press

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Physics Department, Newcastle General Hospital, NE4 6BE, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Alan L. McKenzie

Authors
  1. Alan L. McKenzie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McKenzie, A.L. Theoretical limits to soft-tissue damage by Er:YAG and Ho:YAG lasers. Laser Med Sci 4 (Suppl 1), 25–30 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02276667

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02276667

Keywords

Search

Navigation