Anomalous optical behavior of biological media: modifying the optical window of myocardial tissues

Robert Splinter; M. Yasin Akhtar Raja; Robert H. Svenson

doi:10.1117/12.240041

17 May 1996 Anomalous optical behavior of biological media: modifying the optical window of myocardial tissues

Robert Splinter, M. Yasin Akhtar Raja, Robert H. Svenson

Proceedings Volume 2671, Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems VI; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.240041
Event: Photonics West '96, 1996, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

In medical experimental and clinical treatment modalities of light, laser photocoagulation of ventricular tachycardia amongst others, the success of the application relies on whether or not the procedure operates in the optical window of the light-tissue interaction. The optical window of biological tissues can be determined by spectral scans of the optical properties. Optical anomalies may result from the irradiance, the wavelength, or from the tissue composition itself. The transmission of cw Nd:YAG laser light on myocardial tissue showed a nonlinearity in the transmission curve at approximately 3 kW/mm² irradiance. The total attenuation coefficient dropped sharp from 1.03 plus or minus 0.04 mm^-1 to 0.73 plus or minus 0.05 mm^-1 at this point in the curve. On the other hand, aneurysm tissue has a highly organized fiber structure, which serves as light-guides, since the transmission of light along the length of the collagen fibers is approximately 50% higher than the transmission perpendicular to the fiber orientation. In addition, changes in optical properties due to tissue phase changes also influence the penetration depth. These phenomena can be utilized to manipulate the optical penetration to an advantage.

Citation Download Citation

Robert Splinter, M. Yasin Akhtar Raja, and Robert H. Svenson "Anomalous optical behavior of biological media: modifying the optical window of myocardial tissues", Proc. SPIE 2671, Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems VI, (17 May 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.240041

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