Plasma-mediated ablation: an optical tool for submicrometer surgery on neuronal and vascular systems

Philbert S. Tsai*, Pablo Blinder, Benjamin J. Migliori, Joseph Neev, Yishi Jin, Jeffrey A. Squier, David Kleinfeld

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Plasma-mediated ablation makes use of high energy laser pulses to ionize molecules within the first few femtoseconds of the pulse. This process leads to a submicrometer-sized bubble of plasma that can ablate tissue with negligible heat transfer and collateral damage to neighboring tissue. We review the physics of plasma-mediated ablation and its use as a tool to generate targeted insults at the subcellular level to neurons and blood vessels deep within nervous tissue. Illustrative examples from axon regeneration and microvascular research highlight the utility of this tool. We further discuss the use of ablation as an integral part of automated histology.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)90-99
Number of pages10
JournalCurrent Opinion in Biotechnology
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeR21NS059832

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