Pulsed laser-induced thermal damage in whole blood.

An investigation of the effects of laser irradiation with a wavelength of 532 nm and pulse duration of 10 ms on whole blood was performed in vitro. Threshold radiant exposures for coagulation were quantified and transient radiometric temperatures were measured. The progression of effects with increasing radiant exposure--from evaporation to coagulation-induced light scattering to aggregated coagulum formation to ablation--is described. Results indicate that coagulation and ablation occur at temperatures significantly in excess of those assumed in previous theoretical studies. An Arrhenius rate process analysis based on hemoglobin data indicates good agreement with experimental results.