Calculation of crater shape in pulsed laser ablation of hard tissues

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: An expression describing the ablation crater shape as a function of lateral fluence distribution has been derived in a recent paper by Ostertag et al. [Lasers Surg Med 1997; 21:384-394]. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ablation model presented therein is improved by taking into account the influence of the ablation front inclination on the ablation dynamics. RESULTS: The resulting crater profiles deviate from the previously predicted ones (which reflect the Gaussian fluence distribution of the impinging laser beam) progressively with increasing pulse fluence. CONCLUSION: The ablation front inclination must be taken into account to predict the ablation crater shapes and volumes correctly.