Working theory and experiments on photomechanical disruption of melanosomes to explain the threshold for minimal visible retinal lesions for sub-ns laser pulses

Steven L. Jacques; Alexander A. Oraevsky; Charles R. Thompson; Bernard S. Gerstman

doi:10.1117/12.182967

17 August 1994 Working theory and experiments on photomechanical disruption of melanosomes to explain the threshold for minimal visible retinal lesions for sub-ns laser pulses

Steven L. Jacques, Alexander A. Oraevsky, Charles R. Thompson, Bernard S. Gerstman

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2134, Laser-Tissue Interaction V; and Ultraviolet Radiation Hazards; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.182967
Event: OE/LASE '94, 1994, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

The threshold radiant exposure [H_th (J/cm²)] at the retina which produces a minimal visible lesion (MVL) has been investigated as a function of the laser pulse duration (t_p). By considering the optical absorption coefficient of the melanosomal interior, (mu) _a.melanosome, one can calculate the threshold deposited energy, Q_th equals (mu) _a.melanosomeH_th (J/cm³), for the MVL. The t_p-dependence of Q_th is adequately explained for t_p > 16 microsecond(s) by the thermal relaxation of heated melanosomes in the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). However, at very short pulses (< 100 ps), there is an apparent on the order of 10-fold drop in the Q_th which is possibly due to the onset of a photomechanical mechanism of damage. Thermoelastic expansion of the laser-heated melanin granules (approximately 10 nm in size) within the 1.5-micrometers melanosome is induced by laser pulses less than 50 ps in duration. This expansion occurs faster than the induced pressure can dissipate from the granules at the speed of sound. The stress relaxation time of a 10-nm melanin granule is about 7 ps. As the accumulated pressure attempts to propagate out of the granule as a pressure wave, the pressure wave suffers reflectance at the granule surface boundary due to the difference in acoustic impedances of the granule and surrounding intramelanosomal matrix. About 12% of the acoustic energy is estimated to be reflected back into the granule as a negative (tensile) pressure wave. This negative stress is hypothesized to elicit cavitation within the melanin granule. This mechanism of intragranule cavitation is a working hypothesis for the mechanism of the MVL in the sub- 50-ps regime. An experimental test of feasibility was conducted using a Q-switched laser and a liver/saline interface. A negative reflectance of about -22% was demonstrated at the liver/saline interface, indicating the ease with which negative stress can be generated at interfaces with mismatched acoustic impedances.

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Steven L. Jacques, Alexander A. Oraevsky, Charles R. Thompson, and Bernard S. Gerstman "Working theory and experiments on photomechanical disruption of melanosomes to explain the threshold for minimal visible retinal lesions for sub-ns laser pulses", Proc. SPIE 2134, Laser-Tissue Interaction V; and Ultraviolet Radiation Hazards, (17 August 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.182967

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