Computer simulation of heat and mass transfer in tissue during high-intensity long-range laser irradiation.

Three-dimensional transient finite difference numerical model of the biological tissue irradiated by powerful laser beam is developed. It is used to simulate the thermal behavior of tissue assuming that radiation wavelength is chosen to give rise for volumetric heat sources. A three-dimensional seven-flow model is used to calculate radiation propagation. Evaporation and burn-out of tissue resulting in a through hole along the axis of the beam are taken into account. Besides the water boiling and corresponding changes of thermal and optical tissue properties the model takes into account one of the heat steam transfer mechanisms. Estimates are carried out for the effects of diffusion transfer and vaporization of water from the tissue surface. Kinetics of protein denaturation process are calculated by Arrenius equation. The problem is solved numerically using discrete grid technique and adaptive time-step control algorithm.