Erbium:YAG laser lithotripsy using hybrid germanium/silica optical fibers.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have demonstrated that the erbium:YAG laser is two to three times more efficient for laser lithotripsy than the holmium:YAG laser. However, the lack of a suitable optical fiber delivery system remains a major obstacle to clinical application of Er:YAG laser lithotripsy. This paper describes the initial testing of a hybrid germanium oxide/silica optical fiber for potential endoscopic use with the Er:YAG laser.


METHODS
Er:YAG laser radiation with a wavelength of 2.94 microm, a pulse energy of 10 to 600 mJ, a pulse length of 220 microsec, and pulse-repetition rates of 3 to 10 Hz was focused into either 350- or 425- microm-core hybrid germanium/silica fibers in contact with human uric acid or calcium oxalate monohydrate stones.


RESULTS
Average Er:YAG pulse energies of 157 +/- 46 mJ (66 J/cm(2)) (N = 8) were delivered at 10 Hz through the 425-microm hybrid fibers in contact with urinary stones before fiber damage was observed. A maximum pulse energy of 233 mJ (98 J/cm(2)) was also measured through the hybrid fiber in contact with the stones. These values are significantly greater than the stone ablation thresholds of 15 to 23 mJ (6-10 J/cm(2)) and the fiber damage thresholds measured for germanium oxide, 18 +/- 1 mJ (13 J/cm(2)), and sapphire, 73 mJ (51 J/cm(2)), optical fibers during Er:YAG laser lithotripsy (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
A prototype hybrid germanium/silica optical fiber demonstrated better performance than both germanium oxide and sapphire fibers for transmission of Er:YAG laser radiation during in vitro lithotripsy.
Yang
Yubing
Y
Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins Medical School, JH Bayvuew Medical Center, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Chaney
Charles A
CA
Fried
Nathaniel M
NM
D000537:Aluminum Oxide; D004871:Erbium; D005336:Fiber Optic Technology; D005857:Germanium; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017602:Lithotripsy, Laser / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055100:Optical Fibers; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D014545:Urinary Calculi / Q000628:therapy
D005857:Germanium; C040516:germanium oxide; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D004871:Erbium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide