Paper
26 May 1994 Stereotactic CO2 laser therapy for hydrocephalus
Rebecca Lynn Kozodoy-Pins, James A. Harrington, George A. Zazanis, Michael G. Nosko, Richard M. Lehman
Author Affiliations +
Abstract
A new fiber-optic delivery system for CO2 radiation has been used to successfully treat non-communicating hydrocephalus. This system consists of a hollow sapphire waveguide employed in the lumen of a stereotactically-guided neuroendoscope. CO2 gas flows through the bore of the hollow waveguide, creating a path for the laser beam through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This delivery system has the advantages of both visualization and guided CO2 laser radiation without the same 4.3 mm diameter scope. Several patients with hydrocephalus were treated with this new system. The laser was used to create a passage in the floor of the ventricle to allow the flow of CSF from the ventricles to the sub-arachnoid space. Initial postoperative results demonstrated a relief of the clinical symptoms. Long-term results will indicate if this type of therapy will be superior to the use of implanted silicone shunts. Since CO2 laser radiation at 10.6 micrometers is strongly absorbed by the water in tissue and CSF, damage to tissue surrounding the lesion with each laser pulse is limited. The accuracy and safety of this technique may prove it to be an advantageous therapy for obstructive hydrocephalus.
© (1994) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rebecca Lynn Kozodoy-Pins, James A. Harrington, George A. Zazanis, Michael G. Nosko, and Richard M. Lehman "Stereotactic CO2 laser therapy for hydrocephalus", Proc. SPIE 2132, Clinical Applications of Modern Imaging Technology II, (26 May 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176597
Lens.org Logo
CITATIONS
Cited by 1 scholarly publication.
Advertisement
Advertisement
RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS
Get copyright permission  Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace
KEYWORDS
Carbon dioxide lasers

Waveguides

Sapphire

Fiber optics

Carbon dioxide

Laser therapeutics

Laser tissue interaction

Back to Top