Ashley J. Welch & Martin J.C. van Gemert 
Optical-Thermal Response of Laser-Irradiated Tissue 

The second edition maintains the standard of excellence established in the first edition, while adjusting the content to reflect changes in tissue optics and medical applications since 1995. The material concerning light propagation now contains new chapters devoted to electromagnetic theory for coherent light. The material concerning thermal laser-tissue interactions contains a new chapter on pulse ablation of tissue. The medical applications section now includes several new chapters on Optical Coherent Tomography, acoustic imaging, molecular imaging, forensic optics and nerve stimulation. A detailed overview is provided of the optical and thermal response of tissue to laser irradiation along with diagnostic and therapeutic examples including fiber optics. Sufficient theory is included in the book so that it is suitable for a one or two semester graduate or for senior elective courses. Material covered includes (1) light propagation and diagnostic application; (2) the thermal response of tissue and therapeutic application; (3) denaturation; and (4) ablation. The theory and applications provide researchers with sufficient detail that this volume will become the primary reference for laser-tissue interactions and medical applications.

Table of Content

1. Overview of Optical and Thermal Laser-Tissue Interaction and Nomenclature; 2. Basic Interactions of Light with Tissue; 3. Definitions and Overview of Tissue Optics; 4. Polarized Light: Electrodynamic Fundamentals; 5. Monte Carlo Modeling of Light Transport in Tissue (Steady State and Time of Flight); 6. Diffusion Theory of Light Transport; 7. From Electrodynamics to Monte Carlo Simulations; 8. Measurement of Ex Vivo and In Vivo Tissue Optical Properties: Methods and Theories; 9. Dynamic Changes in Optical Properties; 10. Laser Generated Heat Transfer; 11. Temperature Measurements; 12. Tissue Thermal Properties and Perfusion; 13. Thermal Damage and Rate Processes in Biologic Tissues; 14. Pulsed Laser Ablation of Soft Biological Tissues; 15. Pulsed Laser Tissue Interaction; 16. Introduction to Medical Applications; 17. Optical Fiber Sensors for Biomedical Applications; 18. Optical Coherence Tomograpy; 19. Photoacoustic Tomography; 20. Steady State Fluorescence Spectroscopy for Medical Diagnosis; 21. Molecular Imaging using Fluorescence and Bioluminescence to Reveal Tissue Response to Laser-mediated Thermal Injury; 22. The Optics of Bruising; 23. Laser Treatment of Port Wine Stains;24. Infrared Nerve Stimulation: A Novel Therapeutic Laser Modality; 25. Summary and Future.