A novel modeling and simulation technique of photo-thermal interactions between lasers and living biological tissues undergoing multiple changes in phase

Knowledge of heat transfer in biological bodies has many therapeutic applications involving either raising or lowering of temperature, and often requires precise monitoring of the spatial distribution of thermal histories that are produced during a treatment protocol. Extremes of temperature into the freezing and burning ranges are useful in surgical procedures for selective killing and/or removal of target tissues. For example, the primary objective of hyperthermia is to raise the temperature of the diseased tissue to a therapeutic value, typically 41-44 degrees C, and then thermally destroy it. The present paper therefore aims to develop a mathematical model for effective simulation of photo-thermal interactions between laser rays and biological tissues. In particular, damage of biological tissues when subjected to single point laser diathermy is numerically investigated using a unique enthalpy-based approach for modeling multiple phase change, (namely, melting of fat and vaporization of water content of the tissues) and the associated release/absorption of latent heat in conjunction with unsteady state heat conduction mechanisms. The governing equations of bio-heat transfer coupled with initial and boundary conditions are solved using a finite volume approach in conjunction with line by a line tri-diagonal matrix algorithm (TDMA) solver. Temperature responses of tissues subject to laser heating are quantitatively investigated in detail using the present model, and the resultant solutions are expected to be immensely useful in a variety of Bio-thermal practices in medicine and surgery. (c)(c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.