The New laser-irradiating fiberscope system for hemostasis in the treatment of intracranial lesions

Oka, Kiyoshi; Seki, Takeshi; Akatsu, Tomohiro; Akutsu, Hiroyoshi*; Yamamoto, Tetsuya*; Ihara, Satoshi*; Watanabe, Shinya*; Matsumura, Akira*; Kikuta, Kenichiro*

For the neuroendoscopic surgery, we are developing a new laser-irradiating fiberscope system. In this system, we use a composite-type optical fiberscope (COF) with 1 mm in outer diameter, which can transmit both laser energy and images for observation simultaneously. The diameter of the cautery laser fiber is 0.1 mm, which is located in the center of the imaging fibers. In this animal experimental study, we conducted the laser-irradiation on the femoral artery and vein of a rat using a usual single core fiber of 0.1 mm in outer diameter and the COF in order to assess the availability of this system. As a result, the blood flow decreased to 1/2 or 1/3 after a cauterization with the single core fiber. Furthermore, in the laser irradiation with the COF, the contraction of the artery with minimal heat damage of adjacent tissue was confirmed. Under direct observation with optical fiberscope, the obliteration of arteries was safely and successfully performed.