A Clinically Practical Laser System for Precision Neurosurgery

描述（由申请人提供）：最近的自由电子激光（FEL）研究结果表明，在某些条件下，脉冲6¿m辐射可以以前所未有的精度影响软组织的切割。相关组织学显示切口附近组织无损伤。随后的临床工作已经成功地将这种FEL输出应用于几个试点的人类神经外科手术。直到最近，只有设备大小的FELs能够产生所需的光脉冲特性，但这种设备与一般临床使用不相容。最近，我们开发了一种具有自由电子激光器输出特性的台式原型激光源。在这里，我们建议构建一个完整的系统，并进行初步的组织研究，将直接与FEL的结果进行比较。我们的方法是基于一个强大的可调谐固体激光源（亚历山大变石）和一个两阶段的拉曼转换过程。虽然拉曼技术是一种新技术，但泵浦激光技术已经在世界各地的常规医疗应用中得到了应用。与范德比尔特大学的合作者一起，将进行进一步的工作，以开发一种适合常规神经外科应用的医疗设备。由于人体研究的批准和设施已经到位，这项技术可以迅速进入临床试验。这种激光技术产生紧凑可靠的计算机控制设备的能力，为将FEL研究成果扩展到一般临床实践提供了一个令人兴奋的机会，有望在神经、视网膜和其他精密手术中获得近期和长期的好处。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Results of recent Free Electron Laser (FEL) studies have indicated that under certain conditions pulsed 6 ¿m radiation can affect cision of soft tissues with unprecedented precision. Related histology shows no damage to tissues immediately adjacent to the cision sites. Subsequent clinical work has successfully employed this FEL output in several pilot human neurosurgeries. Until recently, only facility-sized FELs had been able to produce the required light pulse characteristics, but such facilities are incompatible with general clinical use. Recently, we developed a table-top prototype laser source having the output characteristics of the FEL. Here we propose to construct an integrated system and conduct preliminary tissue studies that will be compared directly with FEL results. Our approach is based upon a robust tunable solid-state laser source (alexandrite) and a two-stage Raman conversion process. While the Raman technology is new, the pump laser technology is already employed in routine medical application throughout the world. In conjunction with collaborators at Vanderbilt, further work will be conducted to develop a medical device suitable for routine neurosurgical application. Because the approvals and facilities for human studies are already in place, this technology can move quickly into clinical trials. The ability of this laser technology to yield compact and reliable computer controlled devices provides an exciting opportunity to extend the fruits of the FEL research into general clinical practice, with promising near and long-term benefits for neural, retinal and other precision surgeries.