This study demonstrated the capability of soldering cuts in thick tissues, paving the way for new types of surgical applications.

This report describes the in vitro LTB anastomosis of a large diameter cylindrical organ. The immediate bond strength, as estimated by burst pressure measurements, was double compared to sutured anastomosis.

The common method of closing conjunctival incisions is by suturing, which is associated with several disadvantages. It requires skill to apply and does not always provide a watertight closure, which is required in some operations (e.g., glaucoma filtration). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate laser soldering as an alternative method for closing conjunctival incisions. Conjunctival incisions of 20 ex vivo porcine eyes were laser soldered using a temperature-controlled fiberoptic laser system and an albumin mixed with indocyanine green as a solder. The control group consisted of five repaired incisions by a 10-0 nylon running suture. The leak pressure of the repaired incisions was measured. The mean leak pressure in the laser-soldered group was 132 mm Hg compared to 4 mm Hg in the sutured group. There was no statistically significant difference in both the incision's length and distance from the limbus between the groups, before and after the procedure, indicating that there was no severe thermal damage. These preliminary results clearly demonstrate that laser soldering may be a useful method for achieving an immediate watertight conjunctival wound closure. This procedure is faster and easier to apply than suturing.

Laser tissue soldering is a technique for the closure of incisions, which provides an immediate air-and watertight bond. Previous studies have shown that this method can bond tracheal incisions with the aid of stay sutures or solid albumin strips. In this study we investigated whether soldering using a diode laser and indocyanine green (ICG) dyed liquid albumin solution as solder, was efficacious for the repair of tracheal incisions without the need for additional strengthening aids. A transverse incision was made in isolated pig tracheas. The incision was smeared with liquid solder composed of 42% bovine albumin and 0.1 mg/ml ICG, and soldered using a temperature-controlled fiberoptic diode laser system. The soldered tracheal ends were sealed and the burst pressure measured. In a series of experiments the burst pressure was found to be higher than 382 mm Hg. These preliminary results demonstrate that diode laser tissue soldering of tracheal incisions provides better results than with a CO2 laser, and that it is possible to achieve considerable soldering strength without the use of any additional strengthening procedures.

Linear heating produced stronger bonds than step heating. The difference in the bond strength was more pronounced at high set-point temperatures and short dwell times. The bond strength could be increased with either higher set-point temperature or a longer dwell time.