Combined guidance technique using angioscope and fluoroscope images for CO laser angioplasty. In vivo animal experiment

The combined guidance technique using angioscope and fluoroscope(i.e. angiography) images for CO laser angioplasty was demonstrated in vivo animal experiment. The newly developed total occlusion model which had been produced by a long term transplantation of Chitin^R tube in canine femoral artery was ablated by the contact irradiation of CO laser. A thin laser angioscope catheter, 5F in outer diameter, was inserted from total carotid artery to femoral artery by selective catheterization technique under fluoroscopy. A thin CO laser cable of which diameter was less than 0.6mm was advanced from the tip of the angioscope catheter. A As-S chalcogenide glass fiber of which diameter was 200μm was installed in the laser cable. The laser cable connected to the CO laser device which was developed for medical use. The angioscope catheter and laser cable could be seen by the fluoroscopy. We used the angioscope image of the occulsion end and the angiography image to check the direction of ablation hole. The simultaneous use of these images which include quite different kind of information was extremely useful for the safety guidance of laser angioplasty for total occlusion.