title: Catheter for diagnosis and therapy with infrared evanescent waves.
abstract: We have developed an optical delivery device (catheter) capable of transmitting broadband infrared light (IR wavelengths from 2 to 10 microm) for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The catheter is 1.68 mm in outer diameter and 1 m in length. It consists of two hollow glass waveguides coupled to a high-refractive-index optic tip. The IR light interacts with the tissue at the optic-tissue interface to measure the spectral signatures and perform therapy on the tissue at this interface. Fourier-transform IR spectrophotometer light is used to obtain the spectral signatures, and an IR free-electron laser (FEL) is used to study the therapeutic interaction of evanescent waves with the tissue. We present our catheter design; preliminary IR spectroscopy of aorta, blood, fatty tissue, and muscle; and IR FEL therapy on atheroslerotic aorta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering and the Center for Emerging Cardiovascular Technologies, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0319, USA. brett.hooper@duke.edu
authors.forename: Brett A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hooper
authors.forename: Anjul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maheshwari
authors.forename: Adam C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Alter
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002404:Catheterization; D004867:Equipment Design; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation*