Prospect for feedback guided surgery with ultra-short pulsed laser light

The controlled cutting of tissue with laser light is a natural technology to combine with automated stereotaxic surgery. A central challenge is to cut hard tissue, such as bone, without inducing damage to juxtaposed soft tissue, such as nerve and dura. We review past work that demonstrates the feasibility of such control through the use of ultrafast laser light to both cut and generate optical feedback signals via second harmonic generation and laser induced plasma spectra.

► Realization of a cranial window for in vivo imaging in rodents is a rate-limiting step in the surgical preparation. ► Plasma mediated ablation by ultra-short laser pulses provides a means to automate surgical cutting. ► Guidance for positioning of the cut can utilize second harmonic generation. ► Feedback for tissue identification, that is, bone versus dura or brain, can utilize laser induced plasma spectroscopy.