MICROJET SYSTEM FOR SUPERIOR TISSUE SOLDERING

我们将介绍一种新的激光组织修复技术。 初步数据表明，该方法可以潜在地产生安全， 包括冠状动脉在内的小血管的存活性闭塞。 我们的方法的关键是给外科医生一个新的控制维度： 控制焊料分配过程。为此，我们安装了一个微型 “焊料喷射”旁边的激光光学。飞机会自动发射 单个空气中的蛋白质焊料微滴（和光吸收剂） 在每次激光脉冲之前。的音量、时间和位置 微滴被精确控制，因此激光脉冲能量可以被预设 以确保最大的粘合强度。在关键的“底漆”涂层之后， 应用焊料，可以快速添加连续层， 牢固紧密的纽带抗炎药，生长因子。和 光活化的组织粘合剂可以顺序地或以 与焊料分配平行。 在第一阶段，我们将开发和测试焊料喷射方法的可行性 在体外和体内。在第二/三阶段，我们将构建原型工具， 常规和微创使用，并进行长期生存 试验.该计划的一个主要目标是开发一种微创 冠状动脉旁路移植术的方法。 拟定商业应用： 射流辅助激光手术有可能成为 外科医学伤口闭合、组织修补和加固，以及 用于缓慢药物递送或组织的光聚合材料的递送 修复是一些潜在的用途。冠状动脉焊料喷射修复术 动脉连接处可以实现微创冠状动脉搭桥术 潜在的销售额是巨大的。

We will introduce a new, enabling technology for laser repair of tissue. Preliminary data indicate that the method can potentially produce safe, viable anastomoses of small blood vessels, including coronary arteries. The key to our approach is to give the surgeon a new dimension of control: control of the solder dispensing process. For this, we mount a miniature "solder-jet" beside the laser optics. The jet automatically fires a single, airborne microdrop of protein solder (and photo absorber) onto the tissue just before each laser pulse. Volume, timing, and placement of the microdrops are precisely controlled; thus laser pulse energy can be preset to assure maximum bond strength. After the critical "primer" coat of solder is applied, successive layers can be added rapidly, producing strong, tight bonds. Anti-inflammatory agents, growth factors. and photoactivated tissue adhesives can be dispensed sequentially or in parallel with solder dispensing. In Phase I we will develop and test feasibility of the solder-jet methods in vitro and in vivo. In phase II/III we will build prototype tools for conventional and minimally-invasive use, and conduct longer-term survival tests. A cardinal goal of this program is to develop an minimally-invasive method for coronary artery bypass anastomoses. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: Jet-assisted laser procedures can potentially become a mainstay of surgical medicine. Wound closure, tissue patching and reinforcing, and delivery of photopolymerized materials for slow drug delivery or tissue repair are some of the potential uses. Solder-jet repair of coronary artery junctions would enable minimally-invasive coronary bypass procedures.Potential sales are vast.