Method and apparatus for infrared tissue ablation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for ablating material. The material is preferably a heterogenous or composite material, such as animal tissue. A table top laser system can be employed in the invention. Alternatively, a larger laser, such as a free electron laser can be employed.

1 . A method of ablating a material, the method comprising:
 (a) directing laser radiation at a target material to be ablated; and   (b) irradiating the target material with:
 i) one or more pulses of laser radiation having a duration ranging from about 1 nanosecond to about 10 microseconds; 
 ii) an energy per pulse greater than about 45 microjoules; 
 iii) an average power greater than about 100 mW; and 
 iv) an incident intensity less than about 10 14  W/m 2 . 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein irradiating the target material comprises irradiating the target material with an incident intensity less than about 10 11  W/m 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target material is a heterogenous material. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the heterogenous material is tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the tissue is one of human and animal tissue. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the heterogenous material is a polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser radiation is emitted by a FEL. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser radiation is emitted by a table top laser. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the laser radiation is infrared laser radiation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the average power is greater than about 1 W. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pulses comprise two or more micropulses having a duration of between about 1 picosecond and about 1 nanosecond. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pulses are of a predetermined wavelength. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for ablating a material, the apparatus comprising a laser for generating one or more pulses of laser radiation having:
 (a) a duration ranging from about 1 nanosecond to about 10 microseconds;   (b) an energy per pulse greater than about 45 microjoules;   (c) an average power greater than about 100 mW; and   (d) an incident intensity less than about 10 14  W/m 2 .   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the incident intensity is less than about 10 11  W/m 2 . 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the laser radiation is emitted by a FEL. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the laser is a table top laser. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the laser radiation is infrared laser radiation. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the average power is greater than about 1 W. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for tissue ablation, the apparatus comprising a laser for generating one or more pulses of laser radiation having:
 (a) a duration ranging from about 1 nanosecond to about 10 microseconds;   (b) an energy per pulse greater than about 45 microjoules;   (c) an average power greater than about 100 mW; and   (d) an incident intensity less than about 10 14  W/m 2 ;   whereby the target tissue can be ablated with the apparatus with minimum collateral damage to tissue surrounding the target tissue.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the incident intensity is less than about 10 11  W/m 2 .