Fundamental experiments as to temperature of the arterial wall for laser angioplasty was carried out using Nd-YAG laser with a bare laser fiber and ceramic tipped probe.
40.4 J of the average energy was needed to cauterize the normal aortic walls, when a bare fiber was used in contact method.
In the case of ceramic tipped probe by pressure method the normal aortic walls were not burnt, and peripheral layers were not carbonized. However, the aortic walls can be heated locally up to about 100°C.
In both cases the rise of temperature is very slight at a point beyond 4mm from the lasing site, and Nd-YAG laser was effective in elevating the temperature only in the very limited area near the laser probe tip.
