Femtosecond Laser Cutting of Human Crystalline Lens Capsule and Decellularization for Corneal Endothelial Bioengineering.

The bioengineering of corneal endothelial grafts consists of seeding in vitro cultured corneal endothelial cells onto a thin, transparent, biocompatible, and sufficiently robust carrier which can withstand surgical manipulations. This is one of the most realistic alternatives to donor corneas, which are in chronic global shortage. The anterior capsule of the crystalline lens has already been identified as one of the best possible carriers, but its challenging manual preparation has limited its use.

Nondestructive inspection of surface nanostructuring using label-free optical super-resolution imaging.

Ultrafast laser processing can induce surface nanostructurating (SNS) in most materials with dimensions close to the irradiation laser wavelength. In-situ SNS characterization could be key for laser parameter's fine-tuning, essential for the generation of complex and/or hybrid nanostructures. Laser Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS) created in the ultra-violet (UV) range generate the most fascinating effects.

Ultrafast Laser Patterning of Metals Commonly Used in Medical Industry: Surface Roughness Control with Energy Gradient Pulse Sequences.

Ultrafast laser ablation is widely used as a versatile method for accurate micro-machining of polymers, glasses and metals for a variety of industrial and biomedical applications. We report on the use of a novel process parameter, the modulation of the laser pulse energy during the multi-scan texturing of surfaces. We show that this new and straightforward control method allows us to attain higher and lower roughness (Ra) values than the conventional constant pulse energy irradiation sequence.

Characterization of Femtosecond Laser and Porcine Crystalline Lens Interactions by Optical Microscopy.

The use of ultrafast laser pulses for eye anterior segment surgery has seen a tremendous growth of interest as the technique has revolutionized the field, from the treatment of myopia, hyperopia, and presbyopia in the cornea to laser-assisted cataract surgery of the crystalline lens. For the latter, a comprehensive understanding of the laser-tissue interaction has yet to be achieved, mainly because of the challenge of observing the interaction zone in situ with sufficient spatial and temporal resolution in the complex and multi-layered tissue of the crystalline lens. We report here on the dedicated characterization results of the laser-tissue interaction zone in the ex vivo porcine lens using three different methods: in situ and real-time microscopy, wide-field optical imaging, and phase-contrast microscopy of the histological cross sections.

Super-efficient drilling of metals with ultrafast non diffractive laser beams.

A highly efficient drilling process is found in non-transparent metallic materials enabled by the use of non-diffractive ultrafast Bessel beams. Applied for deep drilling through a 200 μm-thick steel plate, the Bessel beam demonstrates twofold higher drilling efficiency compared to a Gaussian beam of similar fluence and spot size. Notwithstanding that surface ablation occurs with the same efficiency for both beams, the drilling booster results from a self-replication and reconstruction of the beam along the axis, driven by internal reflections within the crater at quasi-grazing incidence, bypassing potential obstacles.