Heat generation in laser irradiated tissue

Many medical applications involving lasers rely upon the generation of heat within the tissue for the desired therapeutic effect. Determination of the absorbed light energy in tissue is difficult in many cases. Although UV wavelengths of the excimer laser and 10.6 microns wavelength of the CO2 laser are absorbed within the first 20 microns of soft tissue, visible and near infrared wavelengths are scattered as well as absorbed. Typically, multiple scattering is a significant factor in the distribution of light in tissue and the resulting heat source term. An improved model is presented for estimating heat generation due to the absorption of a collimated (axisymmetric) laser beam and scattered light at each point r and z in tissue. Heat generated within tissue is a function of the laser power, the shape and size of the incident beam and the optical properties of the tissue at the irradiation wavelength. Key to the calculation of heat source strength is accurate estimation of the light distribution. Methods for experimentally determining the optical parameters of tissue are discussed in the context of the improved model.     

传递函数在生物组织光传输问题中的应用

本文将传递函数的概念引入生物组织光传输问题,并将传递函数理论用于面光源照射下生物组织内特定深度层面上光场强度分布的理论计算。结合Monte Carlo模拟获取脉冲相应函数,我们分析了不同面光源照射下层状组织样品透射面上的光场强度分布。理论计算结果与实验测试结果的一致性较好,这充分说明了本文建立的基于Monte Carlo模拟的传递函数方法是一种处理面光源照射下生物组织内光场空间的直接而有效的手段。     

Temperature evolution in tissues embedded with large blood vessels during photo-thermal heating

During laser-assisted photo-thermal therapy, the temperature of the heated tissue region must rise to the therapeutic value (e.g., 43 °C) for complete ablation of the target cells. Large blood vessels (larger than 500 micron in diameter) at or near the irradiated tissues have a considerable impact on the transient temperature distribution in the tissue. In this study, the cooling effects of large blood vessels on temperature distribution in tissues during laser irradiation are predicted using finite element based simulation. A uniform flow is assumed at the entrance and three-dimensional conjugate heat transfer equations in the tissue region and the blood region are simultaneously solved for different vascular models. A volumetric heat source term based on Beer–Lambert law is introduced into the energy equation to account for laser heating. The heating pattern is taken to depend on the absorption and scattering coefficients of the tissue medium. Experiments are also conducted on tissue mimics in the presence and absence of simulated blood vessels to validate the numerical model. The coupled heat transfer between thermally significant blood vessels and their surrounding tissue for three different tissue-vascular networks are analyzed keeping the laser irradiation constant. A surface temperature map is obtained for different vascular models and for the bare tissue (without blood vessels). The transient temperature distribution is seen to differ according to the nature of the vascular network, blood vessel size, flow rate, laser spot size, laser power and tissue blood perfusion rate. The simulations suggest that the blood flow through large blood vessels in the vicinity of the photothermally heated tissue can lead to inefficient heating of the target.     

不同波长的面光源在生物组织中光能分布的对比

用M onte-Carlo模拟了波长为515 nm的激光光源在空气-肺-空气层样品结构中的传播,详细地讨论了面光源分别为高斯光束和圆平面光束在不同光束半径情况时的光能流率和漫反射强度的分布情况,并与波长635 nm激光光源的结果相比较。结果表明:不同波长光源在相同模型中传播,其光能流率分布和漫反射强度的分布走向相同,激光光斑形状和光束半径大小的选择对激光在组织中传播有重要的影响作用,但比较模拟结果之后,发现在生物组织中近红外光波相对其他光波的穿透性比较强,更便于生物医学以及其他领域的研究。     

MC方法在血糖无损检测探测器设计中的应用

本文针对多模光纤光束垂直入射到皮肤组织表面的情况,利用蒙特卡罗方法模拟了三层皮肤组织中光的传输和分布情况,给出了皮肤组织表面漫反射率变化曲线和组织内光通量变化曲面,并对其变化进行分析,并将分析结果应用到血糖无损检测光纤探测器的设计中。     

用于Monte Carlo模拟的复杂生物组织模型

Monte Carlo（MC）模拟被广泛应用于光子在生物组织中的传输研究。通常模拟时将生物组织近似为均匀的平板分层介质,当层状生物组织中含有异常物质（如肿瘤细胞等）或正常生物组织为非平板的复杂结构时,其模拟中的组织模型将会有相应的改变。通过探讨这几类生物组织的MC模拟模型,总结并分析模型建立的关键问题,对基于MC模拟的各种生物组织光学检测研究提供了指导。     

生物组织的折射和折射率

光在生物组织中的传播与组织的光学性质有关。光通过组织时,光强和光的偏振状态会发生变化。而折射率是组织光学用来评价组织改变光线行进方向的基本参量。本文以菲涅耳公式为理论依据,用空气一组织界面的反射率、生物组织薄膜的反射率和生物组织反射光的倔振分量,推算生物组织的折射率。     

Thermal effects of a short light pulse on biological tissues. II. Light and heat fields

A set of heat conduction equations for a two-component medium simulating biological tissues were formulated. Their solutions were obtained, and the spatial distribution of light and temperature over tissue depth at different times after irradiation by a short light pulse was studied. The local absorption of light by blood vessels and the influence of this effect on the optical parameters of the medium, a more intense heating of blood as compared with its surrounding tissue, heat exchange between them, and heat transfer at the interface with different environments were accounted for. The solutions are expressed via characteristic times of the respective thermal processes to enable one to easily and vividly analyze the features of tissue heating and the influence of optical and thermal parameters on the temperature distributions of the components. The calculations are illustrated by examples.     

Temperature regime of biological tissue under photodynamic therapy

An analytical model is proposed to calculate heating of human skin cover under laser light action of photodynamic therapy. A photosensitizer of "Fotolon" is taken as an example. Temperatures of skin surface and of deep dermis regions are studied as a function of time under pulsed and stationary irradiation of skin surface at the wavelength of 665 nm corresponding to the maximum of the photosensitizer absorption band. It is shown that, under the action of a short light pulse, the photosensitizer can lead to an essential temperature rise of dermis due to a considerable increase in its absorption coefficient. However, this rise does not destruct tissue cells because of the short action. Under stationary irradiation, the photosensitizer concentration has a low effect on the temperature regime of tissue. This is related with the specific features in heating of the medium by red light, where the main thermal process in skin is heat transfer over tissue volume from epidermis having a substantially larger absorption coefficient than that of dermis in the said spectral range. The role of blood perfusion in dermis and its effect on the temperature regime of tissue are evaluated.     

Temperature regime of biological tissue under photodynamic therapy

An analytical model is proposed to calculate heating of human skin cover under laser light action of photodynamic therapy. A photosensitizer of «Fotolon» is taken as an example. Temperatures of skin surface and of deep dermis regions are studied as a function of time under pulsed and stationary irradiation of skin surface at the wavelength of 665 nm corresponding to the maximum of the photosensitizer absorption band. It is shown that, under the action of a short light pulse, the photosensitizer can lead to an essential temperature rise of dermis due to a considerable increase in its absorption coefficient. However, this rise does not destruct tissue cells because of the short action. Under stationary irradiation, the photosensitizer concentration has a low effect on the temperature regime of tissue. This is related with the specific features in heating of the medium by red light, where the main thermal process in skin is heat transfer over tissue volume from epidermis having a substantially larger absorption coefficient than that of dermis in the said spectral range. The role of blood perfusion in dermis and its effect on the temperature regime of tissue are evaluated.     

光敏剂特性影响光动力治疗鲜红斑痣的数学仿真研究

目的：通过建立光动力治疗鲜红斑痣中激光、光敏剂、氧的分布及其相互作用关系的数学模型,对表皮、真皮、血管中单线态氧的产生过程进行仿真,了解光敏剂的药代动力学和扩散特性对单线态氧产生的影响,进而了解光敏剂特性在光动力治疗鲜红斑痣中的作用和意义。方法：用’Monte Carlo方法描述光在组织中的分布;用药代动力学描述光敏剂在血管中的变化规律;用Fick定律描述光敏剂和氧在组织中的扩散和分布;用与氧含量有关的二级动力学描述光敏剂的漂白;用Lambert—Beer定律和单线态氧的量子产率来计算各层组织中单线态氧的产生。结果：光敏剂药代动力学的变化,使注射光敏剂后开始照光的时间对各层组织中单线态氧产量有明显的影响。光敏剂扩散特性的改变,对真皮和表皮中单线态氧的产生有较大影响,对血管中单线态氧的产生没有影响。结论：光敏剂的特性对光动力治疗鲜红斑痣有明显的影响,数学仿真能较全面地反应这种作用的特点和意义。     

Modeling of laser coagulation of tissue with MRI temperature monitoring

Light energy from a laser source that is delivered into body tissue via a fiber-optic probe with minimal invasiveness has been used to ablate solid tumors. This thermal coagulation process can be guided and monitored accurately by continuous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) since the laser energy delivery system does not interfere with MRI. This report deals with mathematical modeling and analysis of laser coagulation of tissue. This model is intended for "real-time" analysis of magnetic resonance images obtained during the coagulation process to guide clinical treatment. A mathematical model is developed to simulate the thermal response of tissue to a laser light heating source. For fast simulation, an approximate solution of the thermal model is used to predict the dynamics of temperature distribution and tissue damage induced by a laser energy line source. The validity of these simulations is tested by comparison with MRI-based temperature data acquired from in vivo experiments in rabbits. The model-simulated temperature distribution and predicted lesion dynamics correspond closely with MRI-based data. These results demonstrate the potential for using this combination of fast modeling and MRI technologies during laser heating of tissue for online prediction of tumor lesion size during laser heating.     

Effect of freezing and cold storage on phospholipids in developing soybean cotyledons

Freezing of plant tissue adversely affects lipid composition. Immature soybean cotyledons (Glycine max L. Merr.) var. “Harosoy 63” were frozen with liquid N₂, dry ice, or stored in a freezer (−20 C) before lipid extraction. The effects of freezing temperature, thawing rate, and cold storage on the lipid composition of frozen tissue revealed significantly higher levels of phosphatidic acid, and diminished levels of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine from the control. Regardless of freezing temperature, phosphatidic acid levels increased from 4.7 mole% to nearly 50 mole% of the total phospholipid when frozen tissues were stored 10 days at −20 C. During the same period, N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine decreased from 54.1 mole% to 6.6 mole% phospholipid. At least 8 mole% of the phosphatidic acid increase occurred during slow thawing of the frozen tissues. In autoclaved samples, phosphatidic acid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine levels were not different from the control. Labeling of the lipid-glycerol with ³H, and fatty acids with ¹⁴C, demonstrated the degradation product was primarily phosphatidic acid. Apparently enzymic destruction of the phospholipids occurred during freezing, cold storage, and thawing.     

采用不同的光传输模型比较研究结肠的散射和吸收特性:离体结肠肿瘤的光学诊断

测定和比较研究了离体的正常的和腺癌的人结肠粘膜/粘膜下层以及正常的和腺癌的人结肠肌层/浆膜组织对630 nm,680 nm,720 nm,780 nm,810 nm,850 nm和890 nm波长的钛宝石激光的散射和吸收系数。采用双积分球测量系统测量组织样品对七个不同波长的激光的准直透射、漫反射和漫透射,从实验所测结果以及分别采用反向倍增法和反演蒙特卡罗技术这两个光学模型计算出组织的散射和吸收系数。研究结果表明,无论是用反向倍增法还是用反演蒙特卡罗法,每一种类型的正常的和腺癌的人结肠组织对同一波长的激光的吸收系数和散射系数有显著性的差异(P<0.01),正常的和腺癌的结肠组织的散射和吸收系数有大的差异,这些结果提示每种类型的正常和腺癌的结肠组织的组份和结构之间有大的差异。四种类型的结肠组织对七个不同波长的激光的散射系数较其吸收系数至少要大三个数量级,而四种类型的结肠组织对七个不同波长的激光的散射系数有相同的数量级。     

Image reconstruction of optical attenuation coefficient variation in biological tissues

A procedure for non-invasive imaging of the optical attenuation coefficient variation of in vivo thick organs/tissues is developed. The laser back-scattered surface profiles at various locations of human forearm, by multi-probe reflectometer, are measured. These profiles are matched by iterative procedure, with that as obtained by Monte Carlo simulation and the corresponding values of attenuation coefficient (equal to the sum of absorption and reduced scattering coefficients) are determined. By interpolation of this data a 100 x 100 grid is constructed and after median filtering of this data a color-coded image of the variability of the optical attenuation coefficient of the forearm is obtained. These images in different subjects show variation due to change in overall tissue composition and blood pooling. This non-invasive imaging procedure may help in identifying the diseased affected regions in healthy tissues and in application of photodynamic therapy.     

Thermographic studies of phantom and canine kidneys thawed by microwave radiation

Whole organs, such as kidneys, must be thawed quickly and uniformly to prevent damage during thawing due to excessive heating. Electromagnetic heating with microwaves thaws the kidneys quickly but frequently produces "hot spots" with heat damage. To study heat damage, phantom gelatin kidneys with different dielectric constants and canine kidneys perfused with 12.5% glycerol, ethylene glycol, or dimethyl sulfoxide before freezing were microwave thawed, and the interior temperature was measured by thermography. Phantom kidneys were thawed free standing and canine kidneys were either free standing or packed in a gel mixture. Both phantom and canine kidneys were split symmetrically and separated with a sheet of Styrofoam to facilitate immediate separation and evaluation of the halves after thawing (approximately 3 sec). All the phantoms, regardless of dielectric properties, had areas less than 0 degrees C or greater than 37 degrees C after thawing. The free-standing canine kidneys and the gel-packed ethylene glycol-perfused kidneys had frozen areas (less than 0 degrees C) and hot spots (greater than 37 degrees C). However, glycerol- and dimethyl sulfoxide-perfused kidneys packed in gel before thawing had no areas less than 0 degrees C or greater than 37 degrees C. Altering the geometry from a "kidney shape" to a cylindrical shape with increased volume improved the uniformity of thawing and was more effective than altering the dielectric constant over the range evaluated.     

Weak biophoton emission after laser surgery application in soft tissues: Analysis of the optical features

Nowadays, laser scalpels are commonly used in surgery, replacing the traditional surgical scalpels for several applications involving cutting or ablating living biological tissue. Laser scalpels are generally used to concentrate light energy in a very small‐sized area; light energy is then converted in heat by the tissues. In other cases, the fiber glass tip of the laser scalpel is heated to high temperature and used to cut the tissues. Depending on the temperature reached in the irradiated area, different effects are visible in the tissues. In this study, we report the discovery and characterization of the light emitted by soft mammalian biological tissues from seconds to hours after laser surgery application. A laser diode (with hot fiber glass tip) working at 808 nm and commercially available for medical and dentistry applications was used. The irradiated tissues (red meat, chicken breast and fat) showed light emission in the visible range, well detectable with a commercial charge coupled device (CCD) camera. The time decay of the light emission, the laser power effects and the spectral features in the range 500 to 840 nm in the different tissues are here reported.      

Study on evaluating dose to fishes based on its anatomic model

Here, an anatomic model of mullet is developed on sampling, dissection, and measurement on site. A Monte Carlo code is used to compute the energy-absorbed fraction in tissues and organs of the mullet, and dose rates are calculated. Some previous methods are selected for comparison. The results calculated by means of a newly developed anatomic model indicate that the dose rate to each tissue/organ is different, and dose rates to some tissues/organs are much larger than those calculated based on previous uniform models. This suggests that it is necessary to exploit an anatomic model if there are various concentration factors within the organism. Taking the organism as a whole, the anatomic model has smaller internal dose rates and middle external dose rates among these methods.     

Analysis of thermal stress in cryosurgery of kidneys

In this study, the thermal stress distribution in cryosurgery of kidney was investigated using a multiphysics finite element model developed in ANSYS (V8.1). The thermal portion of the model was verified using experimental data and the mechanics portion of the model (elastic) was verified using classic analytical solutions. Temperature dependent thermal and mechanical properties were used in the model. Moreover, the model accounts for thermal expansion due to both thermal expansion in single phase and volumetric expansion associated with phase change of tissue water to ice. For a clinical cylindrical cryoprobe inserted into the renal cortex from the top-middle renal capsule, it was found that the thermal stress distributions along the radial position are very different at different depths from the top renal capsule. The thermal stress is much higher at both ends than in the middle of the cryoprobe surface. It was found that there might be more tissue next to the top renal capsule than other region undergoing microcrack formation or plastic deformation. Furthermore, it was found that macrocrack formation is more likely to occur in tissue adjacent to the cryoprobe surface (especially on the sharp point tip) and during the thawing phase of cryosurgery. It was further found that the volumetric expansion associated with phase change induced much higher thermal stress than thermal expansion in a single phase and might therefore be the main cause of the frequently observed crack formation shortly after initiation of thawing in cryosurgery. Because the thermal stress adjacent to the cryoprobe is much higher than the yield stress of frozen renal tissue, a plastic stress model is required for better modeling of the thermal stress distribution in cryosurgery of kidney in future. However the computational effort will then be drastically increased due to the strong nonlinear nature of the plastic model and more experimental studies are indispensable for better understanding of the mechanical behavior of frozen tissue in cryosurgery.