CO Laser Angioplasty: Deveiopment of Artificial Blood Vessel Model for Estimation of Laser Angioplasty System Performance and Effectiveness of Tip Manipulatability for Large Volume Laser Ablation

Abstract

A new model device to simulate human artery network was developed to evaluate performance of newly developed CO laser coronary angioplasty system. The effectiveness of tip manipulatability of our laser angioscope catheter for large volume ablation of atheromatous plaque was studied using the new model device. Since the model device was simulate pathway of human femoral approach catheterization, we precisely evaluate manipulatability of the catheter tip. A 90% model stenosis which was consisted of human atheromatous artery wall was installed in segment #7 on left coronary artery of the model. The repetitive CO laser irradiations were irradiated to model stenosis. The model stenosis was clearly improved from 90% to 70% in stenosis rate. The effectiveness of tip manipulatability for large volume ablation was successfully demonstrated.