A spectrophotometer analysis of light absorption in the human meniscus.

The spectrophotometer analysis of light absorption curves in human meniscal tissue showed a reproducible series of graphs for varying tissue thickness, age, zone, and sectioning plane. These data show water as the essential reason for light absorption in the infrared portion of the light spectrum. The excimer laser in the ultraviolet region, and wavelengths around 2000 nm in the infrared region, appeared to provide the best wavelength match for laser energy transfer and the cutting or ablating of meniscal tissue. On-going research into clinical applications should focus on these wavelengths.