A Route to Laser Angioplasty in the Presence of Fluoroscopy Contrast Media, Using a Nanosecond-Pulsed 355-nm Laser

We examine the efficacy of flushing the fluoroscopy contrast media during laser-angioplasty prior to the laser operation, when using nanosecond pulses at a wavelength of 355 nm, guided in an optical fiber. We investigate the acoustic transients of the ablation in blood, saline, and contrast media in relation to the absorption spectra of the three. Ex vivo results of ablation in porcine aorta samples showed only minor disruption effects in samples which were immersed in contrast media, and none when immersed in saline. These results are in contrast to the severe disruption effects witnessed in previous reports, using an excimer laser at a wavelength of 308 nm within contrast media. Numerical simulations based on the finite-elements method analyzed the pressure and temperature distributions, and supported the experimental findings. Our study indicates a feasibility of using nanosecond-pulsed laser sources at 355 nm in percutaneous vascular laser interventions that include fluoroscopy contrast media.