area of the nerve a temperature range is specified in advance such that if the nerve temperature drops below the stimulation threshold then the laser is automatically turned on and if the temperature rises too high then the laser is automatically turned off in conclusion the preservation of the cns which are responsible for sexual function has proven challenging during prostate cancer surgery and the like due to the close proximity of the cns to the prostate surface their microscopic nature also makes it difficult to predict the location and path of these nerves from one patient to another the implementation of new technologies which are capable of improved identification and detection of the cns during surgery would aid in the preservation of the cns and result in improved post operative sexual function and patient quality of life ons has recently been studied as an alternative to ens although the exact mechanism of ons using near ir lasers is not yet known previous studies have concluded that it is based primarily on a photothermal mechanism due to the ir wavelengths used and the long pulse and cw mode of stimulation other photochemical and photomechanical laser tissue interactions have been ruled out as possible mechanisms for ons during our previous studies we have also noticed a strong dependence of ons on the temperature of the cn the transformation of absorbed optical energy into sufficient heat deposited in the cn generates an increase in the nerve temperature above a threshold value of about 42 45 degrees c for nerve activation and an increase in the icp a similar temperature range has previously.