Preliminary study of laser welding for aortic dissection in a porcine model using a diode laser with indocyanine green.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine whether a dissected aorta could be welded by a diode laser with a solder using an in vitro porcine aortic dissection model.


METHODS
Porcine aortic strips were dissected into two flaps and the dissected faces were immersed in a solution of indocyanine green. The two flaps were pressed at 0.2 kg/cm2 with contact between the two immersed faces. The pressed flaps were irradiated with a diode laser (810 nm) at intensities of 170-425 W/cm2 for 8 seconds. The welded flaps were studied by light microscopy and the adhesive strengths were measured.


RESULTS
The irradiated flaps were successfully welded. The breaking stress, the maximum stress recorded in a stress-strain curve, increased with increase in irradiation intensity up to 396 W/cm2 (2.7 x 10(2) mmHg) and decreased when the intensity reached 425 W/cm2. In the specimen irradiated at 396 W/cm2, the welded faces showed continuous fusion of elastin layers, while some voids were seen between the welded faces in the specimen irradiated at 425 W/cm2.


CONCLUSIONS
The dissected porcine aortas were successfully welded using a laser with solder. The results suggest that the welded aorta can bear physiological blood pressure.
Fujita
Masanori
M
Department of Medical Engineering, National Defense Medical College, Japan. BXB01424@nifty.ne.jp
Morimoto
Yuji
Y
Ohmori
Sayaka
S
Usami
Noriko
N
Arai
Tsunenori
T
Maehara
Tadaaki
T
Kikuchi
Makoto
M
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007208:Indocyanine Green / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D013552:Swine; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D007208:Indocyanine Green