Cryogen spray cooling for spatially selective photocoagulation: A feasibility study with potential application for treatment of hemangiomas
Abstract
The clinical objective in laser treatment of hemangiomas is to photocoagulate the dilated cutaneous blood vessels, while at the same time minimizing nonspecific thermal injury to the overlying epidermis. We present an in-vivo experimental procedure, using a chicken comb animal model, and an infrared feedback system to deliver repetitive cryogen spurts during continuous Nd:YAG laser irradiation. Gross and histologic observations are consistent with calculated thicknesses of protected and damaged tissues, and demonstrate the feasibility of inducing spatially selective photocoagulation when using cryogen spray cooling in conjunction with laser irradiation. Experimental observation of epidermal protection in the chicken comb model suggests selective photocoagulation of subsurface targeted blood vessels for successful treatment of hemangiomas can be achieved by repetitive applications of a cryogen spurt during continuous Nd:YAG laser irradiation.
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