Combined Nd:YAG and Er:YAG lasers for real-time closed-loop tissue-specific laser osteotomy

Journal article (2020)

Authors

H. Abbasi University of Basel
L. Beltrán University of Basel
Arsham Hamidi University of Basel
Antoine Droneau Université Grenoble Alpes, University of Basel
Ferda Canbaz University of Basel
Raphael Guzman University Hospital Basel
Steven L. Jacques University of Washington
P. Cattin University of Basel
A. Zam University of Basel
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Published Date

2020

Language

English

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Abstract

A novel real-time and non-destructive method for differentiating soft from hard tissue in laser osteotomy has been introduced and tested in a closed-loop fashion. Two laser beams were combined: a low energy frequency-doubled nanosecond Nd:YAG for detecting the type of tissue, and a high energy microsecond Er:YAG for ablating bone. The working principle is based on adjusting the energy of the Nd:YAG laser until it is low enough to create a microplasma in the hard tissue only (different energies are required to create plasma in different tissue types). Analyzing the light emitted from the generated microplasma enables real-time feedback to a shutter that prevents the Er:YAG laser from ablating the soft tissue.