Sculpted optical silica fiber tips for use in Nd:YAG contact tip laser surgery: part 1--fabrication techniques

Abstract

We analyze the optical properties of two commercial contact tips in air and saline: a silica conical tip manufactured by Heraeus Laser- Sonics and a sapphire rounded tip manufactured by SLT, together with a set of seven laboratory-fabricated silica tips. A statistical comparison (Dunnett's test) was used to determine the significance of the rounded sapphire contact tip compared to a set of five sculpted silica contact tips when used in a tissue mass ablating experiment using excised rat liver. A regression test was performed to determine a model for the relationship between mass ablation and energy. In addition, seven contact tips were assessed for an evaluation of laser-induced damage in excised rat liver. The tissue damage was assessed using histological sections, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and examined using a light microscope. Dunnett's test showed that with a level of significance of <i>P</i> < 0.05, no mass ablating ability difference existed between the five silica contact tips and the sapphire contact tip. The regression test showed that with a level of significance of <i>P</i> < 0.05, a first-degree linear model applies to mass ablation and energy input. The results of the histological investigation indicate that no relationship exists between tissue damage and the geometrical profiles for the various contact tips.