<title>Laser tissue welding using an eye-guided targeting system</title>

Abstract

End-to-end carotid artery anastomoses and aorta arteriotomy closure in rats have been performed using a diffraction limited semiconductor MOPA laser, coupled to an operating microscope and emitting a 1 watt continuous power output at a wavelength of 985 nm. Laser aiming was performed using an eyeguided laser targeting prototype, which allows to direct the laser with a beam steering unit controlled by the surgeon's eye movements. Preliminary results show that efficient welds can be obtained with the MOPA laser with irradiances of 670 and 1 195 W/cm2. The ease and efficiency of the eye-guided procedures enabled to close up to 5 mm long arteriotomies in the rat aorta and to accurately perform laser assisted microvascular anastomoses of rat carotid arteries. These laser welding procedures demonstrate the feasibility of eyeguided laser targeting in laser microsurgery.