Disclosed herein are physiological phantoms incorporating properties of tissue that respond to laser ablation to replicate a real laser ablation procedure. The materials include waxes, polymers, thermochromic polymer blends or hydrogels, temperature sensitive hydrogels, and photodegradable hydrogels. The materials may mimic tissue as part of the tissue phantom not only in their feel and movement but also in any one or combination of their chemical, physical, mechanical, optical response to a laser ablation application. They may mimic the directionality, density, optical absorption, heat transmittance, heat conductance properties, electrochemical properties, thermochemical properties, and elasticity of the anatomical tissues they may be replicating. The laser ablation responsive materials may change properties such that they provide a measure of the success of a medical procedure.
