Laser thermal ablation

Continuous wave and pulsed laser ablation of tissue is described as an explosive event. A subsurface temperature maximum and superheated tissue produce high pressures that eject fragments from the tissue. Decreased water content due to dehydration and vaporization decreases thermal conductivity which reduces heat conduction. Also, a decrease in water content dramatically alters the local rate of heat generation of laser radiation above 1.3 microns since water is the primary absorber. In contrast, at UV wavelengths protein and DNA are the primary absorbers so destruction of tissue bonds is due to direct absorption of the laser light rather than heat transfer from water.