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In vitro laser welding of amniotic membranes
Author(s) -
Mendoza Gustavo A.,
Acuña Edgar,
Allen Mary,
Arroyo Jorge,
Quintero Rubén A.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1999)24:5<315::aid-lsm1>3.0.co;2-1
Subject(s) - in vitro , membrane , amniotic fluid , laser , amnion , andrology , materials science , chemistry , medicine , biology , pregnancy , fetus , optics , biochemistry , physics , genetics
Objective To test in vitro the feasibility of welding amniotic membranes using Nd:YAG laser energy. Study design Fresh fetal membranes from term pregnancies were washed and cut into 1 cm 2 pieces. Pooled cryoprecipitate (CPT), 50% albumin (Alb), or polytetrafluoroethilene (e‐PTFE) were used as solder medium. The optimal settings of the laser were determined. Results were assessed quantitatively and semi‐quantitatively using Pearson Chi‐square analysis. Results Laser welding of amniotic membranes was successful in 82.6% of experiments with e‐PTFE and in 10.7% of experiments with CPT ( P < 0.001). The strength of the welding was also significantly better with e‐PTFE ( P < 0.001). Optimal results were obtained using 1–7 Watts and 0.1–1 seconds. Laser welding was unsuccessful in 100% of experiments with Alb. Conclusions Laser welding of fetal membranes can be accomplished with e‐PTFE and to a lesser degree with the CPT using Nd:YAG energy under low wattage‐high exposure settings. Further studies are underway to test other grafting or soldering materials. Lasers Surg. Med. 24:315–318, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.