To diagnose vascular tissues to prevent a perforation during infrared laser angioplasty, we studied the Pulsed Photo-Thermal Radiometry (PPTR) technique. A recent advance of infrared fibers makes it possible to apply this PPTR technique to in vivo analysis.
The segments of human abdominal aorta were used as specimens. Using chopped 5.4μm CO laser as an excitation beam, the calcified plaques were easily discriminated by the analysis of the PPTR signals.
PPTR technique may be useful for the analysis of an ablated surface during laser angioplasty.
