Use of an infrared temperature monitoring system to determine optimal temperature for laser-solder tissue repair.
Thermal damage of tissue is a major concern for all laser tissue repair techniques where the resulting strength of a repair is sensitive to slight alterations in tissue temperature as well as changes in the duration of exposure of the tissue to the laser beam. Too low of a temperature will prevent proper bonding between the surfaces while prolonged exposure of the tissue to the laser beam results in collateral thermal damage and decreased flexibility and strength of the repair. Temperature feedback systems that monitor the surface temperature of the repair site and adjust the laser irradiance accordingly increase the success rate of the technique. Knowledge of an optimal temperature for tissue soldering will also increase the reliability of the technique. The choice of solder material has been another challenge to the reproducibility of strong repairs. The emerging use of solder-doped polymer membranes as surgical adhesives offers numerous advantages over more traditional liquid and solid solders. Poly (L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), when used as a polymer scaffold, is porous enough to absorb serum albumin and can also be doped with various hemostatic and thrombogenic agents to aid tissue healing. An in vitro study was performed to correlate tissue temperature with the tensile strength of repairs formed using the solder-doped polymer membranes. Previous studies by our group indicate that a solder/tissue interface temperature of 65 degrees C is optimal. Using this parameter as a bench mark, laser irradiance was varied and the solder surface and solder/tissue interface temperatures were monitored by an IR temperature monitoring system, designed by the researchers, and a type K thermocouple, respectively.
Soller
Eric C
EC
Biomedical Engineering Program, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, IN 47803, USA.
Hoffman
Grant T
GT
McNally-Heintzelman
Karen M
KM
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; D013552:Swine; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013821:Thermometers
D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers