Laser Angioplasty using Continuous Wave Uv Ar Laser: Ablation Characteristics of Atheromatous Aorta in Saline In Vitro

Abstract

An applicability of an continuous-wave uv Ar laser for the laser coronary angioplasty was studied. A delivery by a thin silica glass fiber of this continuous wave laser was studied. The thin silica fiber with 100μm in core diameter could delivered over 3W power of this laser beam with 38kW/cm2 in intensity at the end of the fiber. We could not investigate the damage threshold of this delivery due to a limitation of the laser power. An ablation characteristics of the continuous-wave uv Ar laser irradiation in saline was also investigated. The results showed that this ablation had a sufficient ablation speed with a good selectivity for atheromatous lesions. Comparing these characteristics with excimer laser performances, we conclude that this laser would be one of the most suitable treatment laser for the laser coronary angioplasty.