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Subsurface tissue lesions created using an Nd:YAG laser and a sapphire contact cooling probe
Author(s) -
Ramli Rahayu,
Chung ChiaChun,
Fried Nathaniel M.,
Franco Nicholas,
Hayman Michael H.
Publication year - 2004
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/lsm.20112
Subject(s) - sapphire , laser , materials science , optics , optoelectronics , physics
Background and Objectives This study investigates deep laser coagulation of tissue in combination with contact cooling of the tissue surface for potential use in noninvasive procedures in urology. Study Design/Materials and Methods A laser probe was designed and tested for simultaneous Nd:YAG laser irradiation and sapphire contact cooling of liver and skin tissue samples, ex vivo. Gross and histologic examination was used to quantify thermal lesion dimensions. Results Liver lesions measured 5.5 ± 0.3 mm in diameter, while preserving the tissue surface to a depth of 2.1 ± 0.2 mm (n = 5). Skin lesions measured 4.3 ± 0.9 mm in diameter, while preserving the skin surface to a depth of 1.1 ± 0.2 mm (n = 6). There were no statistical differences in lesion diameter and layer of preserved tissue between contact (sapphire) cooling and prior non‐contact (cryogen spray) cooling results for a given tissue type ( P > 0.05). Conclusions Noninvasive laser procedures targeting tissue structures for thermal coagulation within a few millimeters of the tissue surface are feasible and may expand the use of combined laser/cooling techniques for applications in urology and general surgery. In vivo animal studies are currently in development to optimize the laser and cooling parameters for potential clinical applications. Lasers Surg. Med. 35:392–396, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.