Removal of brain tissue by Tm-fiber laser

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the thermal effects of the 1940-nm Tm-fiber laser on the dead brain tissue. 4–5 mm coronal sections were taken from lamb brains. Tm-fiber laser was applied at the back (cortical) and below the cortex (subcortical) of these slices with 0.5 mm distance. At the beginning of the research in order to find appropriate laser parameter to be compared for 1940-nm Tm-fiber laser, the carbonization and coagulation times of the brain slices were recorded for each power value, both for cortical and subcortical tissue. The appropriate laser parameters for lamb brain tissue were selected according to this study. Lasers were applied in both continuous and pulsed modes. In continuous mode, doses were changed with fixed application time. In pulsed mode, doses were modified with the change in pulse width. The lesions were detected with microscope. The radius of ablation and coagulation for each laser application was recorded. By calculating ablation efficiency (100xablation/calculation radius) the aproppriate laser doses were determined for both cortical and subcortical tissue. The maximum ablation efficiency for cortical tissue in continuous mode was 200 mW and 600 mW and in pulsed mode was 600 mW and for subcortical tissue maximum ablation efficiency was found 600 mW in both continuous mode and pulsed mode.