Surgical Applications Of Heavy Metal Fluoride Glass Fibers

D C Tran; K H Levin; R Mossadegh; R F Bonner; M Leon

doi:10.1117/12.945859

18 July 1988 Surgical Applications Of Heavy Metal Fluoride Glass Fibers

D C Tran, K H Levin, R Mossadegh, R F Bonner, M Leon

Proceedings Volume 0929, Infrared Optical Materials IV; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.945859
Event: 1988 Technical Symposium on Optics, Electro-Optics, and Sensors, 1988, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Applications such as laser microsurgery and coronary angioplasty require precise removal of tissue without thermal narcrosis. This necessitates using a wavelength which is strongly absorbed by the tissue and is fiber deliverable. Although silica glass fibers can deliver the visible argon and near infrared Nd:Yag laser beam, these wavelengths are poorly absorbed by tissue and precise tissue removal is impossible due to the large penetration depth. The 10.6 micron wavelength of the CO₂ laser is highly absorbed by tissue, but fiber delivery is not possible especially because of the high peak power pulses necessary to eliminate charring. The ultraviolet excimer laser beam can precisely cut tissue, but fiber delivery is difficult, the radiation may be mutagenic, and the laser is large and difficult to adapt to the clinical setting since toxic halogen gases are used.

Citation Download Citation

D C Tran, K H Levin, R Mossadegh, R F Bonner, and M Leon "Surgical Applications Of Heavy Metal Fluoride Glass Fibers", Proc. SPIE 0929, Infrared Optical Materials IV, (18 July 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.945859

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