An Experimental Apparatus for Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization Based on an Nd:YAG Laser

We present here the results obtained during the development of an experimental apparatus for transmyocardial laser revascularization based on an Nd:YAG laser. Use of laser irradiation with a wavelength of 1.44 μm was shown to be effective in producing targeted angiogenesis in transmyocardial laser revascularization in experimental studies using a model of ischemic myocardium. The optimum regimes for pulsed Nd:YAG laser irradiation of the myocardium with thermal tissue damage were established. Morphological changes in the transmyocardial laser channels in pig myocardium were studied. The objective of the experiments was to confirm the efficacy of using this apparatus for transmyocardial laser revascularization with an Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of patients with diffuse lesions to the coronary arteries.