Novel design: sliding discharge plasma cathode hf laser in multicomponent tissue ablation

The performance characteristics of a novel design, sliding discharge plasma cathode pulsed HF lasers are given and their advantages, as far as laser and tissue interaction is concerned, are analyzed. With these lasers, intense multiline operation in the 2.5 to 3.5 micrometers range is observed from the sliding discharge plasma cathode three electrode system, with a wide cross section beam, good beam profile quality and high efficiency at moderate voltages. These characteristics are very crucial for obtaining reproducible results leading to a well-defined dosimetry in biomedical applications. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on the HF chemical laser operating in the sliding discharge plasma cathode three electrodes excitation mode and the first time this novel design lasers are being engaged in some laser and tissue interaction applications. With these recently developed, novel design gas lasers, operating in the mid-infrared part of the spectrum, it has become very interesting to examine their efficacy in ablating multicomponent tissues, such as occluded carotide arteries. Some preliminary experimental results are presented and the role of the HF laser in optimization of soft and hard biological tissue ablational treatment is discussed.