Laser irradiative tissue probed in situ by collagen 380-nm fluorescence imaging.

Abstract

There is no ideal method to detect molecular changes in situ of laser-irradiated tissue without removing a section of tissue for histologic examination. A new method is reported to evaluate laser-induced thermal tissue damage in situ by using 380-nm native fluorescence imaging under 340-nm excitation. Native fluorescence imaging was performed on laser irradiated bovine tendon tissue and compared with light illuminated photography and histology with picrosirius red F3BA stain. The results indicate that a decrease in collagen fluorescence at 380 nm was observed in laser-induced thermally damaged tissues. The injured region of tissue defined by its fluorescence image coincided with an area defined by photography and histology.