Eric K. Chan

Use of an agent to reduce scattering in skin.

A method to increase light transport deeply into target areas of tissue would enhance both therapeutic and diagnostic laser applications. The effects of a hyperosmotic agent on the scattering properties of rat and hamster skin were investigated.

Effects of compression on soft tissue optical properties

Tissue optical properties are necessary parameters for prescribing light dosimetry in photomedicine. In many diagnostic or therapeutic applications where optical fiber probes are used, pressure is often applied to the tissue to reduce index mismatch and increase light transmittance. In this paper, we have measured in vitro optical properties as a function of pressure with a visible-IR spectrophotometer. A spectral range of 400-1800 mm with a spectral resolution of 5 nm was used for all measurements. Skin specimens of a Hispanic donor and two Caucasian donors were obtained from the tissue bank. Bovine aorta and sclera, and porcine sclera came from a local slaughter house. Each specimen, sandwiched between microscope slides, was compressed by a spring-loaded apparatus. Then diffuse reflectance and transmittance of each sample were measured at no load and at approximately 0.1, 1, and 2 kgf/cm/sup 2/. Under compression, tissue thicknesses were reduced up to 78%. Generally speaking, the reflectance decreased while the overall transmittance increased under compression. The absorption and reduced scattering coefficients were calculated using the inverse adding doubling method. Compared with the no-load controls, there was an increase in absorption and scattering coefficients among most of the compressed specimens.

Propagation of fluorescent light

In general, the remitted fluorescence spectrum is affected by the scattering and absorption properties of tissue. Other important factors are boundary conditions, geometry of the tissue sample, and the quantum yield of tissue fluorophores. Each of these factors is examined through a series of Monte Carlo simulations.

Optimal parameters for laser tissue soldering. Part I: Tensile strength and scanning electron microscopy analysis

The use of liquid and solid albumin protein solders to enhance laser tissue repairs has been shown to significantly improve postoperative results. The published results of laser‐solder tissue repair studies have, however, indicated inconsistent success rates. This can be attributed to variations in laser irradiance, exposure time, solder composition, chromophore type, and concentration. An in vitro study was performed using indocyanine green‐doped albumin protein solders in conjunction with an 808 nm diode laser to determine optimal laser and solder parameters for tissue repair in terms of tensile strength and stability during hydration.

A three-dimensional modular adaptable grid numerical model for light propagation during laser irradiation of skin tissue

Information regarding energy deposition during laser irradiation of structurally complex biological tissue is needed to understand and improve the results of clinical procedures. A modular adaptive geometry numerical model capable of simulating the propagation of laser light in a wide variety of multiple component tissues has been developed and tested. A material grid array is generated by assigning a value representing a tissue type to each of a large number of small voxels. The grid array is used to indicate optical properties in an existing variable step size, weighted-photon Monte Carlo algorithm that has been modified to account for voxels-to-voxels changes in optical properties. To test the model, simple geometric shapes and optical low coherence reflectometry images of rat skin have been used to create material grids consisting of epidermis, dermis, and blood. The model assumes 1-J/cm/sup 2/ irradiation of the tissue samples with a 1.0-mm diameter uniform beam at 585 nm. Computed results show good quantitative and qualitative agreement with published data. Various effects due to shading and scattering, similar to those suggested in the literature, are noted. This model provides a way to achieve more realistic representation of anatomical geometry as compared to other models, and produces accurate results.

Controlled temperature tissue fusion: Ho:YAG laser welding of rat intestine in vivo, Part Two

Temperature feedback control (TFC) during laser‐assisted tissue welding was implemented to eliminate exponential increases in the rate of denaturation associated with rapidly increasing temperatures. This study was undertaken to investigate and compare the weld strengths and healing responses of laser welded enterotomies with and without TFC using a cw Ho:YAG laser and to examine the effects of wavelength on weld strength and histology. The Ho:YAG experimental results were compared with a similar study using cw argon ion laser irradiation.

Optimal parameters for laser tissue soldering : II. Premixed versus separate dye-solder techniques

Laser tissue soldering by using an indocyanine green (ICG)‐doped protein solder applied topically to the tissue surface and denatured with a diode laser was investigated in Part I of this study. The depth of light absorption was predominantly determined by the concentration of the ICG dye added to the solder. This study builds on that work with an in vitro investigation of the effects of limiting the zone of heat generation to the solder‐tissue interface to determine whether more stable solder‐tissue fusion can be achieved.

Optimal parameters for laser tissue soldering

Variations in laser irradiance, exposure time, solder composition, chromophore type and concentration have led to inconsistencies in published results of laser-solder repair of tissue. To determine optimal parameters for laser tissue soldering, an in vitro study was performed using an 808-nm diode laser in conjunction with an indocyanine green (ICG)- doped albumin protein solder to weld bovine aorta specimens. Liquid and solid protein solders prepared from 25% and 60% bovine serum albumin (BSA), respectively, were compared. The effects of laser irradiance and exposure time on tensile strength of the weld and temperature rise as well as the effect of hydration on bond stability were investigated. Optimum irradiance and exposure times were identified for each solder type. Increasing the BSA concentration from 25% to 60% greatly increased the tensile strength of the weld. A reduction in dye concentration from 2.5 mg/ml to 0.25 mg/ml was also found to result in an increase in tensile strength. The strongest welds were produced with an irradiance of 6.4 W/cm2 for 50 s using a solid protein solder composed of 60% BSA and 0.25 mg/ml ICG. Steady-state solder surface temperatures were observed to reach 85 plus or minus 5 degrees Celsius with a temperature gradient across the solid protein solder strips of between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. Finally, tensile strength was observed to decrease significantly (20 to 25%) after the first hour of hydration in phosphate-buffered saline. No appreciable change was observed in the strength of the tissue bonds with further hydration.

Laser assisted soldering: Microdroplet accumulation with a microjet device

We investigated the feasibility of a microjet to dispense protein solder for laser assisted soldering.

Controlled temperature tissue fusion: Ho:YAG laser welding of rat intestine in vivo

The results of a closed loop thermal feedback controlled laser-assisted tissue welding study in vivo are reported. A series of experiments was carried out to study and compare the weld strength and healing response of sutured and laser welded rat enterotomies with and without temperature feedback control (TFC) using a cryogenically cooled Ho:YAG laser. Although assignment of animals to three groups (control sutured, laser welded with and without TFC) and four observation periods (1, 3, 7, and 21 days) was randomized, several laser welded enterotomies without TFC had complications resulting in death of the animals. Those experiments were repeated. From the failure rates encountered, it is shown that TFC improves the quality of laser-assisted enterotomy closures.