Effect of excimer laser irradiation on human atherosclerotic aorta: amelioration of laser-induced thermal damage

Abstract
Tissue irradiation by conventional medical lasers, i.e., cw ion, Nd:YAG, and CO2, results in vaporization, coagulation necrosis, and carbonization. Histologic examination of tissue irradiated in air characteristically reveals a central crater with concentric zones of thermal and blast injury. Cellular damage adjacent to the crater is much more extensive at high energies.1-4