This article is cited in 4 papers

LASER BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE

Effect of repetitive laser pulses on the electrical conductivity of intervertebral disc tissue

A. I. Omel'chenko, È. N. Sobol'

Institute on Laser and Information Technologies, Russian Academy of Scienses, Troitsk

Abstract: The thermomechanical effect of 1.56-μm fibre laser pulses on intervertebral disc cartilage has been studied using ac conductivity measurements with coaxial electrodes integrated with an optical fibre for laser radiation delivery to the tissue. The observed time dependences of tissue conductivity can be interpreted in terms of hydraulic effects and thermomechanical changes in tissue structure. The laser-induced changes in the electrical parameters of the tissue are shown to correlate with the structural changes, which were visualised using shadowgraph imaging. Local ac conductivity measurements in the bulk of tissue can be used to develop a diagnostic/monitoring system for laser regeneration of intervertebral discs.

PACS: 42.62.Be, 42.55.Wd

Received: 18.06.2008
Revised: 09.09.2008

 English version: Quantum Electronics, 2009, 39:3, 279–282

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