Laser-activated protein solder for peripheral nerve repair

Rodney Ian Trickett; Antonio Lauto; Judith M. Dawes; Earl R. Owen M.D.

doi:10.1117/12.209075

12 May 1995 Laser-activated protein solder for peripheral nerve repair

Rodney Ian Trickett, Antonio Lauto, Judith M. Dawes, Earl R. Owen M.D.

Proceedings Volume 2395, Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems V; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.209075
Event: Photonics West '95, 1995, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

A 100 micrometers core optical fiber-coupled 75 mW diode laser operating at a wavelength of 800 nm has been used in conjunction with a protein solder to stripe weld severed rat tibial nerves, reducing the long operating time required for microsurgical nerve repair. Welding is produced by selective laser denaturation of the albumin based solder which contains the dye indocyanine green. Operating time for laser soldering was 10 +/- 5 min. (n equals 20) compared to 23 +/- 9 min. (n equals 10) for microsuturing. The laser solder technique resulted in patent welds with a tensile strength of 15 +/- 5 g, while microsutured nerves had a tensile strength of 40 +/- 10 g. Histopathology of the laser soldered nerves, conducted immediately after surgery, displayed solder adhesion to the outer membrane with minimal damage to the inner axons of the nerves. An in vivo study is under way comparing laser solder repaired tibial nerves to conventional microsuture repair. At the time of submission 15 laser soldered nerves and 7 sutured nerves were characterized at 3 months and showed successful regeneration with compound muscle action potentials of 27 +/- 8 mV and 29 +/- 8 mW respectively. A faster, less damaging and long lasting laser based anastomotic technique is presented.

Citation Download Citation

Rodney Ian Trickett, Antonio Lauto, Judith M. Dawes, and Earl R. Owen M.D. "Laser-activated protein solder for peripheral nerve repair", Proc. SPIE 2395, Lasers in Surgery: Advanced Characterization, Therapeutics, and Systems V, (12 May 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.209075

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