High-power thulium fiber laser ablation of the canine prostate

The Thulium fiber laser may have several advantages over current urology lasers, including smaller size, more efficient operation, improved spatial beam quality, more precise tissue incision, and operation in pulsed or continuous-wave modes. However, previous laser-tissue interaction studies utilizing the Thulium fiber laser have been limited to laser powers of less than 5 W. This study describes high-power Thulium fiber laser vaporization of the canine prostate, ex vivo. A continuous-wave, 110-watt Thulium fiber laser operating at a wavelength of 1.91 mu m, delivered 88.5 +/- 2.3 W of power through a 600-mu m-core silica fiber for non-contact vaporization of canine prostates (n=6). The Thulium fiber laser vaporized prostate tissue at a rate of 0.83 +/- 0.11 g/min. The thermal coagulation zone measured 500-2000 mu m. The high-power Thulium fiber laser is capable of rapid vaporization and coagulation of the prostate, ex vivo. In vivo animal studies are currently in development for evaluation of the Thulium fiber laser for prostate vaporization and potential treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia.