Apparatus for Minimizing Sample Damage During the Ablation of Biological Tissue Using a Focused Ultrashort Pulsed Laser Beam Wherein the Slope of Fluence Breakdown is a Function of the Pulse Width

A method of removal of a first biological tissue from the surface of a second biological tissue using laser induced breakdown (LIB) of a tissue with a pulsed laser beam, the tissue being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a rapid and distinct change in slope at a predetermined laser pulse width where the onset of plasma induced breakdown occurs, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said predetermined laser pulse width;
• and b. focusing said beam to a point above the surface of the first biological tissue material so that the laser beam defines a spot and has a lateral gaussian profile characterized in that fluence at or near the center of the beam spot is greater than the threshold fluence whereby the laser induced breakdown is ablation of an area within the spot.

A method for laser induced breakdown (LIB) of a tissue with a pulsed laser beam, the tissue being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a rapid and distinct change in slope at a predetermined laser pulse width where the onset of plasma induced breakdown occurs, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said predetermined laser pulse width;
• and b. focusing said beam to a point above the surface of the tissue which is biological tissue, the pulse width is 10 to 10,000 femtoseconds and the beam has an energy of 10 nanojoules to 1 millijoule.

A method far laser induced breakdown (LIB) of a first biological tissue on a second biological tissue with a pulsed laser beam, the tissue being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a rapid and distinct change in slope at a characteristic laser pulse width, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said characteristic laser pulse width;
• and b. focusing said beam to a point above the surface of the first biological tissue.

A method for laser induced breakdown of a first biological tissue on a second biological tissue which comprises:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than a pulse width value corresponding to a change in slope of a curve of fluence breakdown threshold (Fth) as a function of laser pulse width (T), said change occurring at a point between first and second portions of said curve, said first portion spanning a range of relatively long pulse width where Fth varies with the square root of pulse width (T1/2) and said second portion spanning a range of short pulse width relative to said first portion with a Fth versus T slope which differs from that of said first portion;
• and b. focusing said one or more pulses of said beam to a region of least confusion above the surface of the first biological tissue.

A method for laser induced breakdown (LIB) of a first biological tissue on a second biological tissue with a pulsed laser bears the tissue being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a rapid and distinct change in slope at a predetermined laser pulse width where the onset of plasma induced breakdown occurs, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said predetermined laser pulse width;
• and b. focusing said beam to, a region of least confusion above the surface of the first biological tissue so that the laser beam defines a spot and has a lateral gaussian profile characterized in that fluence at or near the center of the beam spot is greater than the threshold fluence whereby the laser induced breakdown is ablation of an area within the spot.

A method for laser induced breakdown (LIB) of a first biological tissue with a pulsed laser beam, the first biological tissue being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a rapid and distinct change in slope at a predetermined laser pulse width where the onset of plasma induced breakdown occurs, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said predetermined laser pulse width;
• and b. focusing said beam to a region of east confusion above the surface of the first biological tissue which is biological tissue, the pulse width is 10 to 10,000 femtoseconds and the beam has an energy of 10 nanojoules to 1 millijoule.

A method for laser induced breakdown (LIB) of a first biological tissue on a second biological tissue by plasma formation with a pulsed laser beam, the first biological tissue being characterized by a relationship of fluence breakdown threshold versus laser pulse width that exhibits a distinct change in slope at a characteristic laser pulse width, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. generating a beam of one or more laser pulses in which each pulse has a pulse width equal to or less than said characteristic laser pulse width, said characteristic pulse width being defined by the ablation (LIB) threshold of the tissue as a function of pulse width where the ablation (LIB) threshold function is no longer proportional to the square root of pulse width;
• and b. focusing said beam to a region of least contusion above the surface of the first biological tissue and inducing breakdown by plasma formation in the first biological tissue.