Effects of simultaneous viewing and vaporization of plaques using the steerable, laser-heated metal cap in the atherosclerotic monkey model.
A steerable, fiberoptic catheter coupled to a laser light guide tipped with a metal cap was used. Four monkeys fed an atherogenic diet for 7-8 years were angiographed and were found to have extensive mural plaque in the iliac arteries. Plaque sites in these monkeys were vaporized using the laser-heated metal cap. Energies of 1.5-9 Joules were employed. Application of the energy was tangential of perpendicular to the plaque. Lased sites were examined histologically at 24 hr or at 3 months after treatment. No effect was seen at 1.5 Joules. Three to six Joules tangentially produced a superficial lesion that extended into the tunica intima. Six Joules perpendicularly produced a burn into the tunica adventitia, with damage to the vasavasorum. Nine Joules tangentially produced a burn into the tunica media. Three months after treatment, this lased site showed no stenosis or aneurysm formation.
School of Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
J H
JH
Theis
G
G
Lee
M C
MC
Chan
R M
RM
Ikeda
M H
MH
Lee
J L
JL
Rink
E P
EP
Steffey
W P
WP
Thomas
D T
DT
Mason
D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male