[Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty in peripheral arterial occlusive disease--development of a new laser...

Percutaneous laser angioplasty in arterial occlusive disease has lately been performed clinically for the first time. Perforation of the arterial wall and formation of aneurysms are serious risks. Two novel laser catheters for laser angioplasty with minimized perforation risk are presented. Catheter I (5F) and II (6.3F) are designed in the same manner. The distal tip of these catheters is ovally formed and marked by a small X-ray dense metal ring. The silica fiber has a core diameter of 400 micron (I) respectively 600 micron (II). Its tip is also marked X-ray densely and therefore the position of the fiber tip can be controlled exactly during laser angioplasty. Using a guide wire and applicating short laser pulses the perforation risk can be minimized. In a total of 132 atherosclerotic stenosed or obstructed human arteries laser angioplasty was performed in vitro using a Nd:YAG laser. There were two perforations (1.5%). The degree of stenosis was reduced from 87 (90)% to 54 (52)%. Using the 600-micron-fiber (catheter II) the velocity of laser angioplasty was increased 2.5 times compared to laser angioplasty using the 400-micron-fiber.