Laser-assisted machining (LAM) of hard tissues and bones

An apparatus and method for laser-assisted machining (LAM) of bone without raising the temperature of the surrounding bone is discussed. The method of LAM of bone involves determining a target bone needing to be machined an then scanning a high power density laser beam along the bone at a machining rate that produces low-heat affected zones (HAZ) on the target bone. The process and apparatus is advantageous over conventional technologies because it provides a chemically clean, coherent, and monochromatic beam to the region to be machined.