title: In vitro comparison of radiofrequency-heated and laser-heated metal probes for angioplasty.
abstract: The effects of a metal probe catheter on tissue using radiofrequency (RF) as its energy source is evaluated. The energy dissipation and the temperature increase of this probe was compared with a laser-heated probe. After 15 seconds, the temperature rise of the RF-heated probe at a maximum power setting was 68 degrees C in water and 106 degrees C in plasma. In contrast, the temperature rise of the Nd:YAG laser-heated probe after 10 seconds, 10 watt (W), was 80 degrees C in water and 595 degrees C in plasma. Calorimetric experiments showed that in a 7 to 30 W range of the power setting for the RF generator, only 3.5 to 4.5 W was dissipated at the RF catheter tip. Using axial forces equivalent to 100 g in fatty tissue, the penetration velocity of the RF-heated probe was 0.015 mm/s, with a temperature rise of the tip of 180 degrees C; whereas the velocity of the laser-heated probe was 3.4 mm/s with a temperature rise of the tip of 300 degrees C. These in vitro results suggest that during clinical application, tissue in contact with the front surface of the RF-heated angioplasty probe will be remodeled, whereas with the laser-heated probe tissue will be vaporized circumferentially. The RF-heated probe's risk of vessel wall perforation is probably small.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Heart-Lung Institute, University Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Verdaasdonk
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Holstege
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Borst
mesh_terms: D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008028:Light Coagulation / Q000295:instrumentation*