@inproceedings{fe73098aaf0a436da8577b0d72100b95,
title = "High precision laser sclerostomy",
abstract = "Ultrafast lasers offer a possibility of removing soft ophthalmic tissue without introducing collateral damage at the ablation site or in the surrounding tissue. The potential for using ultrashort pico- and femtosecond pulse lasers for modification of ophthalmic tissue has been reported elsewhere and has resulted in the introduction of new, minimally invasive procedures into clinical practice. Our research aims to define the most efficient parameters to allow for the modification of scleral tissue without introducing collateral damage. Our experiments were carried out on hydrated porcine sclera in vitro. Porcine sclera, which has similar collagen organization, histology and water content (∼70%) to human tissue was used. Supporting this work we present a 2D finite element blow-off model which employs a one-step heating process. It is assumed that the incident laser radiation that is not reflected is absorbed in the tissue according to the Beer-Lambert law and transformed into heat energy. The experimental setup uses an industrial picosecond laser (TRUMPF TruMicro 5x50) with 5.9 ps pulses at 1030 nm, with pulse energies up to 125 i1/4J and a focused spot diameter of 35 i1/4m. Use of a beam steering scan head allows flexibility in designing complicated scanning patterns. In this study we have demonstrated that picosecond pulses are capable of removing scleral tissue without introducing any major thermal damage which offers a possible route for minimally invasive sclerostomy. In assessing this we have tested several different scanning patterns including single line ablation, square and circular cavity removal.",
keywords = "ablation, picosecond laser, plasma, porcine sclera, sclerostomy, simulation",
author = "G{\'o}ra, {Wojciech Stanis{\l}aw} and A. Urich and L. McIntosh and Carter, {R. M.} and Wilson, {C. G.} and B. Dhillon and Hand, {D. P.} and Shephard, {J. D.}",
year = "2015",
doi = "10.1117/12.2079146",
language = "English",
isbn = "9781628413977",
volume = "9307",
series = "SPIE Conference Proceedings ",
publisher = "SPIE",
booktitle = "Ophthalmic Technologies XXV",
address = "United States",
note = "25th Conference on Ophthalmic Technologies ; Conference date: 07-02-2015 Through 08-02-2015",
}