Implementation of a thermomechanical model to simulate laser heating in shrinkage tissue (effects of wavelength, laser irradiation intensity, and irradiation beam area)

Advancements in the use of laser technology in the medical field have motivated the widespread use of thermal energy to treat a wide variety of diseases and injuries. During laser-induced thermotherapy, the tissue gains heat from laser irradiation and its shape is deformed due to non-uniform temperature distribution. To describe the phenomenon adequately, the mathematical model that considers both heat transfer and mechanical deformation is needed. In this study, the formulation of mathematical model describing coupled heat transfer and mechanical deformation of tissue subjected to laser-induced thermotherapy is numerically implemented. The effects of laser irradiation time, wavelength, laser intensity, laser beam radius and blood perfusion rate on temperature distribution, Von Mises stress distribution, and displacement of the layered skin during laser irradiation are systematically investigated. The values obtained provide an indication of limitations that must be considered in administering laser-induced thermotherapy.