Experimental evaluation of potential hazards to tracheal tubes during KrF Excimer laser irradiation

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Vol. 39; no. 3; pp. 235 - 239
• Main Authors: ISOBE, Makoto, MATSUSHITA, Hidenori, YOSHIDA, Kenji, FUKAYA, Masahiko, SATO, Katsuhiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japanese Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 1993
• Subjects: KrF excimer laser; tracheal tube
• ISSN: 0021-5163; 2186-1579
• DOI: 10.5794/jjoms.39.235

Recently, lasers operating at shorter and shorter wavelengths have become available. The excimer laser emits pulses of ultraviolet irradiation. The KrF excimer laser has high incision efficiency, and can cut hard tissue without thermal damage. Use of a laser in the oral region is dangerous due to the close proximity between the operative field and the tracheal tube. Evaluation of the influence of laser irradiation on tracheal tubes is therefore necessary. The authors assessed the effects of KrF excimer laser irradiation on Portex®, Spiral tube® and Diffencer® tracheal tubes under ordinary atmospheric conditions, and gas flow rates of 3l/min for both O2 and N2O. The laser was used at energy densities of 40 and 60 J/cm2, frequencies of 20 and 40Hz, a beam spot of 0.015 cm2, a pulse width of 15 ns, and a peak power of 2.7 MW. The tubes was perforated by laser irradiation under ordinary atmospheric conditions, but they did not ignite. The time required for perforation of the tubes became shorter as the energy density and frequency increased. The perforation time under the flow of O2 3l/min and N2 O 3l/min was comparable to that under ordinaly atmospheric conditions. Spiral tube® ignited almost simultaneously to the time of perforation at energy densities of 40 and 60J/cm2 and a frequency of 40Hz.