Thermal modification of cartilage and speckle-modulated images monitoring

Today non-destructive laser effect on tissue is used in many areas of medicine. By creating a laser-induced temperature field in the cartilage, one can achieve structural rearrangements, the formation of pores and even the shape changes due to the relaxation of mechanical stresses. In the process of laser exposure to cartilage, there is a change in the mechanical and optical properties of the tissue, which must be monitored to adjust the mode of exposure. This is conveniently done using the speckle interferometry method, the idea of which is to observe the interference pattern produced by the interaction of monochromatic coherent radiation with biological tissue. The paper presents the results of a study of the temporal and temperature dependences of the contrast function and cross-correlation. These dependencies can serve as a basis for monitoring laser exposure of tissue in real time.