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Advances in Clinical and Experimental... 2015Chronic venous insufficiency is one of the most common disorders of the vascular system, affecting approximately 50% of adults. If left untreated it can lead to a number... (Review)
Review
Chronic venous insufficiency is one of the most common disorders of the vascular system, affecting approximately 50% of adults. If left untreated it can lead to a number of complications, including venous ulceration and venous thrombosis. This review paper outlines the epidemiology and ethiopathogenesis of the disease with regard to hemodynamics and microcirculation disturbances. It describes the medical treatment as well as the traditional surgical approach to varicose veins (with several modifications of this technique), and its limitations and contraindications. Furthermore, it discusses a number of new, minimally invasive treatment methods, namely thermal in form (radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, steam ablation) and nonthermal (sclerotherapy, echosclerotherapy, Clarivein, Sapheon). For each method, there is a brief historical overview, a description of its mechanism of action, and its indications and limitations. The results of comparative studies on individual treatment methods as well as meta-analyses on this topic are briefly discussed. This paper highlights the progressive trend towards minimally invasive methods and attempts to predict the further development.
Topics: Catheter Ablation; Catheterization, Peripheral; Hemodynamics; Humans; Laser Therapy; Lower Extremity; Recurrence; Sclerosing Solutions; Sclerotherapy; Varicose Veins; Venous Insufficiency
PubMed: 25923081
DOI: 10.17219/acem/31880 -
Thulium fiber laser: the new player for kidney stone treatment? A comparison with Holmium:YAG laser.World Journal of Urology Aug 2020To compare the operating modes of the Holmium:YAG laser and Thulium fiber laser. Additionally, currently available literature on Thulium fiber laser lithotripsy is... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
PURPOSE
To compare the operating modes of the Holmium:YAG laser and Thulium fiber laser. Additionally, currently available literature on Thulium fiber laser lithotripsy is reviewed.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Medline, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles relating to the operating modes of Holmium:YAG and Thulium fiber lasers, including systematic review of articles on Thulium fiber laser lithotripsy.
RESULTS
The laser beam emerging from the Holmium:YAG laser involves fundamental architectural design constraints compared to the Thulium fiber laser. These differences translate into multiple potential advantages in favor of the Thulium fiber laser: four-fold higher absorption coefficient in water, smaller operating laser fibers (50-150 µm core diameter), lower energy per pulse (as low as 0.025 J), and higher maximal pulse repetition rate (up to 2000 Hz). Multiple comparative in vitro studies suggest a 1.5-4 times faster stone ablation rate in favor of the Thulium fiber laser.
CONCLUSIONS
The Thulium fiber laser overcomes the main limitations reported with the Holmium:YAG laser relating to lithotripsy, based on preliminary in vitro studies. This innovative laser technology seems particularly advantageous for ureteroscopy and may become an important milestone for kidney stone treatment.
Topics: Equipment Design; Humans; Kidney Calculi; Laser Therapy; Lasers, Solid-State; Thulium
PubMed: 30729311
DOI: 10.1007/s00345-019-02654-5 -
Lasers in Medical Science Mar 2014Physicists and medical doctors "speak" different languages. Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is a good example in which technology is essential to guide the doctor to...
Physicists and medical doctors "speak" different languages. Endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) is a good example in which technology is essential to guide the doctor to the final result: optimal treatment. However, for the doctor, it is by far insufficient just to turn on the knobs of the laser. He should understand what is going on in the varicose vein. On the other hand, the physicist is usually not aware what problems the doctor finds on his road towards improving a new technique. We have tried to bring both languages together in the special on Ins and outs of endovenous laser ablation published in this issue of Lasers in Medical Science. The 13 articles include endovenous related clinical (de Roos 2014; Kockaert and Nijsten 2014; van den Bos and Proebstle 2014) and socioeconomical articles (Kelleher et al 2014), the first paper on the molecular pathophysiologic mechanisms (Heger et al 2014), fiber tips (Stokbroekx et al 2014), the future of EVLA (Rabe 2014), a review of EVLA with some important issues for debate (Malskat et al 2014), an excellent paper on transcutaneous laser therapies of spider and small varicose veins (Meesters et al 2014), as well as several scientific modeling articles, varying from a mathematical model of EVLA that includes the carbonized blood layer on the fiber tip (van Ruijven et al 2014) and its application to the simulation of clinical conditions (Poluektova et al 2014) via experimental measurements of temperature profiles in response to EVLA, radiofrequency waves, and steam injections (Malskat et al 2014) to a literature review and novel physics approach of the absorption and particularly scattering properties of whole blood also including the infrared wavelengths used by EVLA (Bosschaart et al 2014). The aim of our afterthoughts, the 14th article in this special, is to try to amalgamate the clinical and physical contents of these contributions, providing the reader with the bridge that overlaps these different backgrounds.
Topics: Endovascular Procedures; Hemoglobins; Humans; Laser Therapy; Time Factors; Varicose Veins
PubMed: 24399461
DOI: 10.1007/s10103-013-1499-7 -
International Journal of Hyperthermia :... Oct 2019A growing body of evidence is being published regarding the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive image-guided ablation techniques. While clinical applications of... (Review)
Review
A growing body of evidence is being published regarding the safety and efficacy of minimally invasive image-guided ablation techniques. While clinical applications of these techniques are increasing, international societies have started to publish treatment guidelines and to make efforts to standardize both terminology and reporting criteria for image-guided thyroid ablations. Laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) are among the most common ablation techniques either for benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Unlike laser ablation and RFA in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules, where safety and efficacy have been widely demonstrated, evidence regarding local tumor control of thyroid malignancies is still limited. However, preliminary results are encouraging and image-guided thermal ablation techniques can be considered a valid alternative to surgery for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers. This review evaluates the basic concept of RFA and laser ablations, their techniques, clinical outcomes, and complications based on the suggestions of several society guidelines. Multidisciplinary collaboration remains critical to identify patients which may benefit from minimally invasive image-guided thermal ablations, especially if surgery or radioiodine therapy are not feasible options.
Topics: Catheter Ablation; Humans; Laser Therapy; Thyroid Neoplasms; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 31537159
DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2019.1622795 -
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology Sep 2018Interstitial laser ablation has been successfully used as a minimally invasive treatment option for tumors in many parts of the body, including the head and neck. In... (Review)
Review
Interstitial laser ablation has been successfully used as a minimally invasive treatment option for tumors in many parts of the body, including the head and neck. In this article, we describe the use of MR imaging guidance and mapping sequences for accurate localization of the target lesion, percutaneous interstitial laser ablation methods, and the use of MR thermography for temperature monitoring during laser ablation, with a focus on applications in the head and neck region.
Topics: Head and Neck Neoplasms; Humans; Laser Therapy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Surgery, Computer-Assisted; Thermography
PubMed: 30049722
DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A5726 -
Missouri Medicine 2020Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive and cytoreductive neurosurgical technique that has gained significant momentum in the last decade.... (Review)
Review
Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is a minimally invasive and cytoreductive neurosurgical technique that has gained significant momentum in the last decade. Several technological enhancements such as MRI thermometry and improved laser probe design have enabled feasibility and improved the safety of LITT procedures. Numerous reports have been published describing the treatment of lesions ranging from tumors to epileptogenic foci, but the indications for LITT continue to evolve. We describe the general physical and biological concepts underlying LITT, clinical workflow, and established and emerging indications.
Topics: Ablation Techniques; Brain Neoplasms; Epilepsy; Humans; Laser Therapy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neurosurgical Procedures
PubMed: 32158050
DOI: No ID Found -
Technology in Cancer Research &... 2023Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among women. In the past two decades, new technologies and BC screening have led to the diagnosis of... (Review)
Review
Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy among women. In the past two decades, new technologies and BC screening have led to the diagnosis of smaller and earlier-stage BC (ESBC). Therefore, percutaneous minimally invasive techniques (PMIT) were adopted to treat patients unfit for surgery, women who refuse it, or elderly patients with comorbidities that could make surgery a difficult and life-threatening treatment. The target of PMIT is small-size ESBC with the scope of obtaining similar efficacy as surgery. Minimally invasive treatments are convenient alternatives with promising effectiveness, lower morbidity, less cost, less scarring and pain, and more satisfying cosmetic results. Ablative techniques used in BC are cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, high-intensity focused ultrasound (US), and laser ablation. The aim of our study is to discuss the current status of percutaneous management of BC, evaluate the clinical outcomes of PMIT in BC, and analyze future perspectives regarding ablation therapy in BC.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Breast Neoplasms; Cryosurgery; Ablation Techniques; Laser Therapy; High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation; Catheter Ablation
PubMed: 36916200
DOI: 10.1177/15330338231157193 -
IEEE Transactions on Bio-medical... Jan 2023Advancements in ablation techniques have paved the way towards the development of safer and more effective clinical procedures for treating various maladies such as...
Advancements in ablation techniques have paved the way towards the development of safer and more effective clinical procedures for treating various maladies such as atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is characterized by rapid, chaotic atrial activation and is commonly treated using radiofrequency applicators or laser ablation catheters. However, the lack of thermal lesion formation and temperature monitoring capabilities in these devices prevents them from measuring the treatment outcome directly. In addition, poor differentiation between healthy and ablated tissues leads to incomplete ablation, which reduces safety and causes complications in patients. Hence, a novel photoacoustic (PA)-guided laser ablation theranostic device was developed around a traditional phased-array endoscope. The proposed technology provides lesion formation, tissue distinguishing, and temperature monitoring capabilities. Our results have validated the lesion monitoring capability of the proposed technology through PA correlation maps. The tissue distinguishing capability of the theranostic device was verified by the measurable differences in the PA signal between pre-and post-ablated mice myocardial tissue. The increase in the PA signal with temperature variations caused by the ablation laser confirmed the ability of the proposed device to provide temperature feedback.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Precision Medicine; Endoscopy; Heart Atria; Atrial Fibrillation; Laser Therapy; Treatment Outcome; Catheter Ablation; Pulmonary Veins
PubMed: 35724291
DOI: 10.1109/TBME.2022.3184495 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2022Because of their small size and large specific surface area, nanoparticles (NPs) have special properties that are different from bulk materials. In particular, Au/Ag NPs... (Review)
Review
Because of their small size and large specific surface area, nanoparticles (NPs) have special properties that are different from bulk materials. In particular, Au/Ag NPs have been intensively studied for a long time, especially for biomedical applications. Thereafter, they played a significant role in the fields of biology, medical testing, optical imaging, energy and catalysis, MRI contrast agents, tumor diagnosis and treatment, environmental protection, and so on. When synthesizing Au/Ag NPs, the laser ablation and biosynthesis methods are very promising green processes. Therefore, this review focuses on the progress in the laser ablation and biological synthesis processes for Au/Ag NP generation, especially in their fabrication fundamentals and potential applications. First, the fundamentals of the laser ablation method are critically reviewed, including the laser ablation mechanism for Au/Ag NPs and the controlling of their size and shape during fabrication using laser ablation. Second, the fundamentals of the biological method are comprehensively discussed, involving the synthesis principle and the process of controlling the size and shape and preparing Au/Ag NPs using biological methods. Third, the applications in biology, tumor diagnosis and treatment, and other fields are reviewed to demonstrate the potential value of Au/Ag NPs. Finally, a discussion surrounding three aspects (similarity, individuality, and complementarity) of the two green synthesis processes is presented, and the necessary outlook, including the current limitations and challenges, is suggested, which provides a reference for the low-cost and sustainable production of Au/Ag NPs in the future.
Topics: Metal Nanoparticles; Silver; Gold; Catalysis; Laser Therapy
PubMed: 36498986
DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314658 -
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton,... 2022Laser ablation is routinely performed to infer mechanical tension in cells and tissues. Here we describe our method of two-photon laser ablation at the cellular and...
Laser ablation is routinely performed to infer mechanical tension in cells and tissues. Here we describe our method of two-photon laser ablation at the cellular and tissue level in mouse embryos. The primary outcome of these experiments is initial retraction following ablation, which correlates with, and so can be taken as a measure of, the tensile stress that structure was under before ablation. Several experimental variables can affect interpretation of ablation tests. Pre-test factors include differences in physical properties such as viscoelasticity between experimental conditions. Factors relevant during the test include viability of the cells at the point of ablation, image acquisition rate and the potential for overzealous ablations to cause air bubbles through heat dissipation. Post-test factors include intensity-biased image registration that can artificially produce apparent directionality. Applied to the closing portion of the mouse spinal neural tube, these methods have demonstrated long-range biomechanical coupling of the embryonic structure and have identified highly contractile cell populations involved in its closure process.
Topics: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Laser Therapy; Lasers; Mice; Morphogenesis; Neural Tube
PubMed: 35147945
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2035-9_14