title: Selective ablation of atheromas using a flashlamp-excited dye laser at 465 nm.
abstract: Ablation of human atheromas with laser pulses that had only a small effect on normal artery tissue was shown in vitro in air and under saline using 1-mu sec pulses at 465 nm from a flashlamp-excited dye laser. At this wavelength, there is preferential absorption in atheromas due to carotenoids. The threshold fluence for ablation was 6.8 +/- 2.0 J/cm2 for atheromas and 15.9 +/- 2.2 J/cm2 for normal aorta tissue. At a fluence of 18 J/cm2 per pulse, the ablated mass per unit of energy ranged from 161 to 370 micrograms/J for atheromas and from 50 to 74 micrograms/J for normal aorta tissue. Ablation products consisted of cholesterol crystals, shredded collagen fibers, and small bits of calcific material. Most debris was less than 100 micron in diameter, but a few pieces were as large as 300 micron. High-speed photography of ablation in air suggested explosive ejection of debris, caused by vapor formation, at speeds on the scale of 300 m/sec. Histological analysis showed minimal thermal damage to residual tissue. These data indicate that selective laser ablation of atheromas is possible in vitro.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prince
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Deutsch
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Oseroff
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Parrish
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004691:Endarterectomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053685:Laser Therapy