Infrared laser fusion and bisection of blood vessels with real-time optical diagnostic feedback

Doctoral Candidate Name: Nicholas Constantine Giglio
Program: Optical Science and Engineering
Defense Date and Time: February 18, 2022 – 9:00 AM
Defense Location: Virtual
Committee chair’s Name: Dr. Glenn Boreman
Committee Members: Dr. Nathaniel Fried, Dr. Tino Hofmann, Dr. Yasin Raja, Dr. Harish Cherukuri
Abstract:

The conventional method of suture ligation of vascular tissues during surgery is time consuming, skill intensive, and leaves foreign objects in the body. Energy-based radiofrequency (RF) and ultrasonic (US) devices have recently replaced the use of sutures and mechanical clips, providing rapid hemostasis during surgery. These devices expedite numerous labor-intensive surgical procedures, including lobectomy, nephrectomy, gastric bypass, splenectomy, thyroidectomy, hysterectomy, cystectomy, and colectomy. Though these newer methods provide rapid and efficient blood vessel ligation, both US and RF devices have limitations including the potential for unacceptably large collateral thermal damage zones, with thermal spread averaging greater than 1 mm. This lack of specificity prevents the use of these devices for delicate surgical procedures performed in confined spaces (such as prostatectomy). These devices may also cause thermal damage to healthy tissue through unintended heat conduction in contact with the device jaws. The active jaw of US devices can reach temperatures in excess of 200 oC during a single application and can take greater than 20 s to cool to usable temperatures before proceeding with further applications. The maximum temperatures on the active jaw of RF devices are lower (