Evaluation of four different laser systems for a minimally invasive scoliosis treatment

Author

Rumpf, Christian ; Lang, Robert D. ; Götz, Marcus H.

Author_Institution

Inst. fur Angewandte Phys., Ruprecht-Karls-Univ., Heidelberg, Germany

Volume

5

Issue

4

fYear

1999

Firstpage

1067

Lastpage

1071

Abstract

Today most surgical treatment of spinal deformations is concentrated on invasive techniques with long operation times and major effects on the patient´s mobility. The proposed minimally invasive technique using laser light for tissue ablation offers a possibility of gentle scoliosis treatment. Four different laser systems including argon, Nd:YAG (Q-switched), Nd:YAG (CW) and Ho:YAG were compared with respect to thermal damage to adjacent tissue, ablation rates, efficiency and laser handling. For in vitro investigation, fresh lamb spine was used. Comparison showed that the Ho:YAG laser is the most appropriate laser for the given goal, however, heating of adjacent tissue had to be minimized by intermediate laser action and irrigation

Keywords

bone; laser ablation; laser applications in medicine; radiation therapy; Ar; Ar laser; Ho:YAG laser; Nd:YAG; Q-switched; YAG:Ho; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Ho; YAl5O12:Nd; ablation rates; adjacent tissue; fresh lamb spine; gentle scoliosis treatment; in vitro investigation; intermediate laser action; invasive techniques; irrigation; laser handling; laser light; laser systems; long operation times; minimally invasive scoliosis treatment; minimally invasive technique; patient´s mobility; spinal deformations; surgical treatment; thermal damage; tissue ablation; Argon; Heating; Irrigation; Laser ablation; Laser beams; Laser modes; Laser surgery; Medical treatment; Minimally invasive surgery; Spine;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1077-260X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/2944.796331

Filename

796331