Abstract

Photothermal effects following laser irradiation of cartilage were investigated using an infrared focal plane array camera and a Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectrometer. The results indicate that in response to Ho:YAG laser irradiation (λ=2.1 μm) infrared absorption peaks of water and macromolecules decrease, respectively, due to dehydration and thermal denaturation. The methodology may be useful for quantitative investigation of the relationship between the clinically important phenomenon of accelerated stress relaxation and the kinetics of macromolecular denaturation.

© 2002 Optical Society of America