Thermal model for optimization of vascular laser tissue soldering

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Technology
• Biophysics

Background:

• Laser tissue soldering (LTS) utilizes protein denaturation for tissue fusion.
• Minimizing thermal damage, especially to the endothelium in arterial LTS, is critical to prevent thrombosis.
• Accurate temperature distribution data is essential for safe and effective LTS procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a finite element model (FEM) for simulating temperature distribution during LTS of blood vessels.
• To investigate the impact of various parameters on temperature profiles within the solder joint.
• To identify optimal LTS parameters for minimizing thermal damage and reducing animal testing.

Main Methods:

• Development of a finite element model (FEM) to simulate temperature changes in blood vessels during LTS.
• Experimental temperature measurements for model verification and calibration.
• Systematic analysis of parameters including laser power, solder properties, cooling, and energy delivery modes (continuous vs. pulsed).

Main Results:

• The FEM accurately simulated temperature distribution, validated by experimental measurements.
• Pulsed laser irradiation with high power and a highly absorbing solder demonstrated the most favorable temperature profiles.
• Parameter variations significantly influenced the thermal distribution within the laser-soldered joint.

Conclusions:

• The developed FEM is a valuable tool for optimizing LTS parameters and minimizing thermal injury.
• Pulsed laser irradiation with specific solder characteristics offers a promising approach for safer arterial LTS.
• This modeling approach can reduce the need for extensive animal experimentation in LTS research.