Temperature distribution in biological tissues under impeded cooling during laser therapy

Introduction: Laser treatment of biological tissue generates significant heat, which can lead to thermal damage if not properly controlled. Cooling systems play a critical role in minimizing this risk. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the temperature distribution in biological tissue during laser treatment and to analyze the effectiveness of an air-cooled heat exchanger in controlling excessive heating. Methodology: A transient thermal analysis was carried out to simulate the combined process of laser irradiation and air-cooling. In parallel, experimental tests were conducted to validate the numerical predictions. Results: The findings indicated that, in the absence of cooling, the tissue surface temperature exceeded 85 °C, creating a risk of thermal injury. With the integration of the air-cooled heat exchanger, the maximum surface temperature was reduced to 72.4 °C, while the temperature at a 2 mm depth was maintained at 58.2 °C. The cooling system promoted a rapid post-exposure temperature drop and limited the temperature gradient between surface and deeper layers to 8–12 °C. Discussion: The results demonstrated consistency with existing literature on the importance of cooling techniques in medical laser applications. The cooling mechanism not only improved heat dissipation but also reduced the risk of overheating compared with previously reported systems. Conclusions: This study confirmed that precise thermal management is essential for safe and efficient laser treatment. The integration of an air-cooled heat exchanger enhances treatment efficiency and minimizes tissue damage.