Abstract
Our laboratory is currently studying the Thulium fiber laser (TFL) as a potential alternative laser lithotripter to the standard clinical Holmium:YAG laser. We have previously demonstrated efficient coupling of TFL energy into fibers as small as 100-μm-core-diameter without damage to the proximal end. Although smaller fibers have greater tendency to degrade at the distal tip during lithotripsy, fiber diameters (≤ 200 μm) have been shown to increase saline irrigation rates through the working channel of a flexible ureteroscope, maximize ureteroscope deflection, and reduce stone retropulsion during laser lithotripsy. In this study, a 50-μm-core-diameter, 85-μm-outer-diameter fiber is characterized for TFL ablation of human calcium oxalate monohydrate urinary stones, ex vivo. The stone ablation rate was measured to be 70 ± 22 μg/s for 35-mJ-pulse-energy, 500-μs-pulse-duration, and 50-Hz-pulse-rate. The ureteroscope working channel flow rate including the 50-μm fiber decreased by only 10% with no impairment of ureteroscope deflection. The fiber delivered up to 15.4 ± 5.9 W under extreme bending (5-mm-radius) conditions. Stone retropulsion and fiber burn-back averaged 201 ± 336 and 3000 ± 2600 μm, respectively, after 2 minutes. With further development, Thulium fiber laser lithotripsy using ultra-small, 50-μm-core fibers may introduce new integration and miniaturization possibilities and potentially provide an alternatiμe to conventional Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy using larger fibers.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE |
Publisher | SPIE |
Volume | 8926 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780819498397 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2014 |
Event | Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics X - San Francisco, CA, United States Duration: Feb 1 2014 → Feb 2 2014 |
Other
Other | Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics X |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | San Francisco, CA |
Period | 2/1/14 → 2/2/14 |
Keywords
- 50-μm-core fiber
- Ablation
- Burnback
- Lithotripsy
- Retropulsion
- Thulium
- Urinary stones
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Biomaterials
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging