title: Flexible waveguides for IR laser radiation and surgery applications.
abstract: Flexible plastic waveguides were developed to deliver IR radiation, especially at 10.6 microns, which is the CO2 laser radiation wavelength. The waveguide is made from teflon tube with the inner wall coated with a metal layer and a dielectric overlayer. The internal diameter (ID) is 1.0 mm, length 1.0-1.2 m, and the distal tip decreases moderately to ID approximately 0.6 mm. The distal part on the last 10 centimeters is coated externally with a metal layer. Maximum power that can be delivered at the outlet is approximately 30 W and 10.6 x 10(3) W/cm2. This type of waveguide was used in several medical operations to evaluate its cutting characteristics and the resistances to heat reflection from the tissue while operating in orifices containing liquid substances.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gannot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dror
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Calderon
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Croitoru
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005882:Gingival Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D006101:Granuloma, Giant Cell / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007259:Infrared Rays; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide