Temperature and pressure effects during erbium laser stapedotomy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Background and Objectives Laser‐assisted stapedotomy has become a well‐established alternative to the mechanical drilling method. The goal of this study is to quantify the mechanical and thermal tissue effects and to determine optimum erbium laser parameters for safe clinical treatment. Study Design/Materials and Methods On an inner ear model, time‐resolved pressure measurements and Schlieren optical flash photography were performed during the perforation of the stapes foot plate using an erbium laser at 2.79 μm. The laser radiation was transmitted via an optical zirconium fluoride fiber. The laser‐treated foot plates were investigated by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to visualize the laser‐induced tissue effects. Results Perforation of the stapes foot plate can be performed with a few erbium laser pulses with high precision and a thermal damage zone of 2. The erbium laser seems to represent an ideal instrument for middle ear surgery with all the advantages (precision, fiber optic transportable, high ablation efficiency, safety) desired for clinical application.