Photoablation Technology

Photoablation is the use of light to break down, vaporize and remove matter.

Spectranetics CVX-300® Excimer Laser facilitates photoablation via a variety of Spectranetics catheters to remove arterial plaques and binding scar tissue surrounding cardiac pacemaker leads.

• UV light pulse hits tissue for 135 billionths of a second (135ns); the duration of the laser pulse
• 50 microns penetration
• Billions of molecular bonds fractured per pulse
• After 135 billionths of a second, laser energy is not emitted

• Absorption vibrates the molecular bonds of the plaque
• Vibration of bonds heats intracellular water
• Water vaporizes, molecules break apart, and cells rupture
• Expanding vapor bubble forms in 100 millionths of a second (100 ms)
  • 1,000 times the duration of the actual laser energy emission

• Expansion and collapse of vapor bubble breaks down tissue and clears by-products away from tip
• By-products of ablation are water, gas, and small particles
• Entire process time per pulse is 400-millionths of a second (400 µs)
  • 4,000 times the duration of the actual laser energy emission

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