Ultrashort pulse laser osteotomy

Laser treatment of bone tissue has already been the subject of many studies to find substitutes for mechanical instruments that are nowadays used in implantology and orthopaedics. Mainly lasers with pulse durations in the mu s region have been tested leaving surface features that are not always satisfactory. Therefore, in the present study laser osteotomy has been performed with a 330 fs Yb:glass laser, lambda = 1040 nm, at a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz. For bovine spongiosa, compacta, and cartilage, the ablation thresholds as well as the ablation rates for various pulse energies have been determined. Additionally, quadratic areas have been ablated in bone tissue. The remaining morphology has been analyzed via scanning electron microscopy. Laser ablation has also been performed with an Er, Cr:YSGG laser, lambda = 2780 nm, PRR = 20 Hz, tau similar to 50 mu s. The results of USPL and Erbium laser ablation are compared.