TY - JOUR
T1 - Erbium
T2 - YAG laser lithotripsy using hybrid germanium/silica optical fibers
AU - Yang, Yubing
AU - Chaney, Charles A.
AU - Fried, Nathaniel M.
PY - 2004/11
Y1 - 2004/11
N2 - Background and Purpose: 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. Materials and Methods: Er:YAG laser radiation with a wavelength of 2.94 μm, a pulse energy of 10 to 600 mJ, a pulse length of 220 μsec, and pulse-repetition rates of 3 to 10 Hz was focused into either 350- or 425-μm-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/cm2) (N = 8) were delivered at 10 Hz through the 425-μm hybrid fibers in contact with urinary stones before fiber damage was observed. A maximum pulse energy of 233 mJ (98 J/cm2) 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/cm2) and the fiber damage thresholds measured for germanium oxide, 18 ± 1 mJ (13 J/cm2), 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.
AB - Background and Purpose: 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. Materials and Methods: Er:YAG laser radiation with a wavelength of 2.94 μm, a pulse energy of 10 to 600 mJ, a pulse length of 220 μsec, and pulse-repetition rates of 3 to 10 Hz was focused into either 350- or 425-μm-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/cm2) (N = 8) were delivered at 10 Hz through the 425-μm hybrid fibers in contact with urinary stones before fiber damage was observed. A maximum pulse energy of 233 mJ (98 J/cm2) 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/cm2) and the fiber damage thresholds measured for germanium oxide, 18 ± 1 mJ (13 J/cm2), 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.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 15659913
AN - SCOPUS:10344225690
SN - 0892-7790
VL - 18
SP - 830
EP - 835
JO - Journal of Endourology
JF - Journal of Endourology
IS - 9
ER -