<title>Visualization of the effects of pulsed lasers using an atherosclerotic arterial wall model</title>

Abstract

Despite recent technological advances in laser catheter technology and the use of guidewire guidance, clinical studies still reveal an important number of arterial wall dissections and less commonly perforations following coronary laser angioplasty. The aim of the study was to establish a simple model of atherosclerotic arterial wall and to assess the mechanical effects induced by holmium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho-YAG) laser and XeCl excimer laser (Ex). Empirical relationship between laser energy and maximal expansion distance of the targets may be established with Ho-YAG laser. Our data suggest that the excimer laser ablates tissue with less traumatic effect than Ho-YAG laser.