Abstract
A histological technique for the measurement of laser-induced thermal tissue damage is described using the stain picrosirius red F3BA. This stain enhances the birefringence of normal collagen when viewed in polarized light. Areas of (thermally) denatured collagen, however, have no optical activity and can be measured directly by optical micrometry. The technique has been applied to experimental studies on both laser angioplasty and laser vascular anastomosis.
The tissue ablation characteristics of various 2.2 mm diameter rounded sapphire laser angioplasty probes were compared by lasing (at 1064 nm) segments of porcine aorta under blood in vitro. A marked difference was observed between probes from different manufacturers, the Surgical Laser Technologies probe producing significantly greater forward tissue ablation with less associated lateral thermal damage.
The relative degree of thermal damage caused by argon (488/514 nm) and Nd-YAG lasers during in vitro arteriotomy repair was also investigated. No difference was seen between the two wavelengths. However, the use of absorption-enhancing chromophore dyes as an aid to laser welding significantly reduced damage, particularly for the argon laser.
In conclusion, we suggest that this histological technique is of considerable value in the investigation of the thermal effects of continuous-wave lasers.
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Brooks, S.G., Ashley, S., Wright, H. et al. The histological measurement of laser-induced thermal damage in vascular tissue using the stain picrosirius red F3BA. Laser Med Sci 6, 399–405 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042462
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042462