Assessing vessel damage with color Doppler optical coherence tomography following irradiations with cooling
Abstract
The effects of cooling, laser irradiation, and laser irradiation with cooling on blood vessels were investigated with Color Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography (CDOCT). CDOCT may contribute to an understanding of the dynamics of laser-blood vessel interactions and aid in better optimization of laser parameters to be used. In this study, hamster dorsal skin flap window vessels were irradiated with a KTP laser operating at 532 nm. Irradiation sites were imaged with CDOCT prior to, during, immediately after, and several days after irradiation. KTP laser parameters were: radiant exposures in the range of 7-14 J/cm2, 3 mm spot size, and 10 ms pulse duration. Magnitude and color Doppler images provided information such as vessel size, depth, and changes in blood flow velocity. Vessel constriction, temporary occlusion, and changes in flow were frequent results of laser irradiation visualized with CDOCT. In addition, the effects of cooling alone were imaged with CDOCT and its effects on blood vessel flow and morphology were investigated before and after laser irradiation.
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