Blood flow measurement system for fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of chorionic plate anastomosing vessels (FLPC)

Seki, Takeshi*; Oka, Kiyoshi; Naganawa, Akihiro*; Yamashita, Hiromasa*; Kim, K.*; Chiba, Toshio*

Fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of chorionic plate anastomosing vessels (FLPC) applies to the treatment of previable fetuses with severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). However, there has not been an established method to confirm that the blood flow is blocked. For this issue, we have developed a composite-type optical fiberscope (2.2 mm in diameter). This fiberscope enables transmission of 50 W Yb fiber laser which can be focused to 10 mm focal length using two lenses on the fiberscope tip. In this study, we combined the fiberscope and a laser blood-flow meter, and irradiated cautery laser to porcine mesenteric vein with measuring blood flow at the same time. From the experimental results, we could quantitatively measure the blood flow before and after laser irradiation, and confirm the blood flow blocking with our system.