Hybrid germanium/silica optical fibers for endoscopic delivery of erbium:YAG laser radiation

✍ Scribed by Charles A. Chaney; Yubing Yang; Nathaniel M. Fried

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2004
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 197 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0196-8092
• DOI: 10.1002/lsm.10249

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Background and Objectives

Endoscopic applications of the erbium (Er):YAG laser have been limited due to the lack of an optical fiber delivery system that is robust, flexible, and biocompatible. This study reports the testing of a hybrid germanium/silica fiber capable of delivering Er:YAG laser radiation through a flexible endoscope.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

Hybrid optical fibers were assembled from 1‐cm length, 550‐μm core, silica fiber tips attached to either 350‐ or 425‐μm germanium oxide “trunk” fibers. Er:YAG laser radiation (λ = 2.94 μm) with laser pulse lengths of 70 and 220 microseconds, pulse repetition rates of 3–10 Hz, and laser output energies of up to 300 mJ was delivered through the fibers for testing.

Results

Maximum fiber output energies measured 180±30 and 82±20 mJ (n = 10) under straight and tight bending configurations, respectively, before fiber interface damage occurred. By comparison, the damage threshold for the germanium fibers without silica tips during contact soft tissue ablation was only 9 mJ (n = 3). Studies using the hybrid fibers for lithotripsy also resulted in fiber damage thresholds (55–114 mJ) above the stone ablation threshold (15–23 mJ).

Conclusions

Hybrid germanium/silica fibers represent a robust, flexible, and biocompatible method of delivering Er:YAG laser radiation during contact soft tissue ablation. However, significant improvement in the hybrid fibers will be necessary before they can be used for efficient Er:YAG laser lithotripsy. Lasers Surg. Med. 34:5–11, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.