Giglio NC, Hutchens TC, South AA, Fried NM. Dynamic properties of surfactant-enhanced laser-induced vapor bubbles for lithotripsy applications.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2021;
26:JBO-200350R. [PMID:
33515219 PMCID:
PMC7846116 DOI:
10.1117/1.jbo.26.1.018001]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE
Water is a primary absorber of infrared (IR) laser energy, and urinary stones are immersed in fluid in the urinary tract and irrigated with saline during IR laser lithotripsy. Laser-induced vapor bubbles, formed during lithotripsy, contribute to the stone ablation mechanism and stone retropulsion effects.
AIM
Introduction of a surfactant may enable manipulation of vapor bubble dimensions and duration, potentially for more efficient laser lithotripsy.
APPROACH
A surfactant with concentrations of 0%, 5%, and 10% was tested. A single pulse from a thulium fiber laser with wavelength of 1940 nm was delivered to the surfactant through a 200-μm-core optical fiber, using a wide range of laser parameters, including energies of 0.05 to 0.5 J and pulse durations of 250 to 2500 μs.
RESULTS
Bubble length, width, and duration with surfactant increased on average by 29%, 17%, and 120%, compared with water only.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrated successful manipulation of laser-induced vapor bubble dimensions and duration using a biocompatible and commercially available surfactant. With further study, use of a surfactant may potentially improve the "popcorn" technique of laser lithotripsy within the confined space of the kidney, enable non-contact laser lithotripsy at longer working distances, and provide more efficient laser lithotripsy.
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