Posters

Picosecond infrared laser: fibre-assisted-sclerostomy (PIRL-FAST),a first proof of principle analysis

Poster Details

First Author: J. Mehlan GERMANY

Co Author(s):    M. Klemm   H. Petersen   U. Schumacher   S. Linke   R. Dwayne Miller        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To present the feasibility and quantify the diameter and the collateral damage of sclerostomy using a new laser fibre and different energy levels of the picosecond infrared laser system.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany and the Max Planck Institute for the Structure und Dynamics of Matter, Germany.

Methods:

Freshly enucleated porcine globes were obtained from a local slaughter and refrigerated (4° Celsius) until the operation in the afternoon. The sclerostomies presented here are a result of laser ablations with a sapphire optical fibre coupled to the picosecond infrared laser system PIRL-HP2-1064 OPA-3000 (Attodyne Inc., Canada). Immediately after the intervention, eyes were fixed in phosphate-buffered 3.5% formaldehyde. For subsequent histological analysis the eyes were cut into 4μm thick sections, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H.E., Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). Furthermore we made electronmicroscopic images of the channel using the Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM).

Results:

The mean diameters (maximum and orthogonal diameter in medium range) of the sclerostomy canal in our analyses were 207,87 ± 69,69 μm and 125,75 ± 53, 44 μm respectively (N = 9). This results in a mean area of 0,021 mm2. The collateral damage zone (CDZ) was defined as atypical surrounding tissue. The mean collateral damage zone was 0,004 mm2. ESEM results reveal circular smooth sclerostomy wall with only minimal change of tissue ultrastructure

Conclusions:

PIRL-FAST using sapphire fibre is a new tool to provide robust microinvasive stenting from the anterior chamber to the subconjunctival space. Since the PIRL has proven to work efficiently in several tissues with minimal scar formation these first proof of principle experiments might pave the way for a new minimal-invasive glaucoma surgery strategy. We have already initiated experiments to analyse the wound healing and scar formation in vivo.

Financial Disclosure:

One or more of the authors has significant investment interest in a company producing, developing or supplying product or procedure presented