A tapered distal fiber tip for thulium fiber laser lithotripsy

Richard L. Blackmon, Pierce B. Irby, Nathaniel M. Fried

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The Thulium fiber laser has recently been tested as a potential alternative to the Holmium:YAG laser for lithotripsy. This study explores use of a short taper for expanding the Thulium fiber laser beam at the distal tip of a small-core fiber. Thulium fiber laser radiation with a wavelength of 1908 nm, 10 Hz pulse rate, 70 mJ pulse energy, and 1-ms pulse duration was delivered through a 2-m-length fiber with 150-μm-input-end, 300-μm-output-end, and 5-mmlength taper, in contact with human uric acid (UA) and calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) stones, ex vivo (n=10 each). Stone mass loss, stone crater depths, fiber transmission losses, fiber burn-back, irrigation rates, and deflection through a flexible ureteroscope were measured for the above tapered fiber and compared with conventional fibers. After delivery of 1800 pulses through the tapered fiber, mass loss measured 12.7 ± 2.6 mg for UA and 7.2 ± 0.8 mg COM stones, comparable to conventional 100-μm-core fibers (12.6 ± 2.5 mg for UA and 6.8 ± 1.7 mg for COM stones). No transmission losses or burn-back occurred for the tapered fiber after 36,000 pulses, while a conventional 150-μm fiber experienced significant tip degradation after only 1800 pulses. High irrigation rates were measured with the tapered fiber inserted through the working port of an ureteroscope, without hindering ureteroscope deflection, mimicking that of conventional 150 ìm fibers. The short tapered distal fiber tip allows expansion of the laser beam, resulting in decreased fiber tip damage compared to conventional small-core fibers, without compromising fiber bending, stone vaporization efficiency, or irrigation rates.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProgress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE
Volume7548
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010
EventPhotonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics VI - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: Jan 23 2010Jan 25 2010

Other

OtherPhotonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics VI
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period1/23/101/25/10

Keywords

  • lithotripsy
  • tapered fibers
  • Thulium
  • urinary stones

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Biomaterials
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging

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