RESUMEN
During ablation of tissue with laser pulses rapid sublimation of matter occurs and high pressures are exerted within the tissue, resulting in steam. smoke and particles being expelled. In this paper we report the speed of particles ejected from animal tissue exposed to CO2 laser pulses measured directly by laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV). Speeds recorded just above animal skin were in the range of 9 to 18 m s(-1) for laser pulses of 128 to 384 J cm(-2) respectively. Aerodynamic turbulence slowed the particles down to a critical speed Vc of 4 m s(-1) within a few millimetres above the laser ablation site. Once the particles reach this minimum speed, if no collisions occur, they will only decelerate by gravitational action and the residual kinetic energy will send the particles up to about 0.87 m from the skin surface. Since ejected particles may carry viable cells, acting as disease vectors during laser surgery, our results suggest that the LDV technique should be used to measure the speed of particles ejected from healthy or pathological human tissues, helping to establish safe conditions during laser surgery.