Computer Controlled Contact Nd:YAG Laser System For Interstitial Local Hyperthermia

Contact Nd: YAG laser surgery is assuming a gre ter importance in endoscopic and open surgery allowing coagulation, cutting and vaporization with greater precision and safety. A new contact probe allows a wider angle of irradiation and diffusion of low power laser energy (less than 5 watts) using the interstitial technique for local hyperthermia. Continuously monitoring temperature sensors are placed directly into the surrounding tissue or tumor. Using a computer program interfaced with the 1.ser and sensors, a controlled and stable temperature (e.g., 42°C) can be produced in a known volume of tissue over a prolonged period of time (e.g., 20-40 minutes).