title: Real time assessment of RF cardiac tissue ablation with optical spectroscopy.
abstract: An optical spectroscopy approach is demonstrated allowing for critical parameters during RF ablation of cardiac tissue to be evaluated in real time. The method is based on incorporating in a typical ablation catheter transmitting and receiving fibers that terminate at the tip of the catheter. By analyzing the spectral characteristics of the NIR diffusely reflected light, information is obtained on such parameters as, contact of catheter with the tissue, lesion formation, depth of penetration of the lesion, formation of char and coagulum during the ablation.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Davis, Center for Biophotonics, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. Demos1@llnl.gov
authors.forename: Stavros G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Demos
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharareh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D003199:Computer Systems; D006801:Humans; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods*; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*