Enhanced photocoagulation with catheter-based diffusing optical device

Hyun Wook Kang, Jeehyun Kim, Jungwhan Oh
Journal of biomedical optics · 2012 · vol. 17(11) , pp. 118001 · doi:10.1117/1.jbo.17.11.118001 · PMID:23154817 · W2048913321
Lab / animal OA: bronze CC0
📄 Open PDF View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher
⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-08-09 ⓘ

A novel diffusing optical device integrated into a balloon catheter effectively enhanced endometrial photocoagulation depth and area in ex vivo and in vivo models, demonstrating potential for treating excessive menstrual bleeding.

One-sentence paraphrase of the abstract; not a substitute for reading it. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

A novel balloon catheter-based diffusing optical device was designed and evaluated to assist in treating excessive menstrual bleeding. A synthetic fused-silica fiber was micro-machined precisely to create scattering segments on a 25 mm long fiber tip for uniform light distribution. A visible wavelength (λ=532  nm) was used to specifically target the endometrium due to the high vascularity of the uterine wall. Optical simulation presented 30% wider distribution of photons along with approximately 40% higher irradiance induced by addition of a glass cap to the diffuser tip. Incorporation of the optical diffuser with a polyurethane balloon catheter considerably enhanced coagulation depth and area (i.e., 3.5 mm and 18.9  cm2 at 1 min irradiation) in tissue in vitro. The prototype device demonstrated the coagulation necrosis of 2.8±1.2  mm (n=18) and no thermal damage to myometrium in in vivo caprine models. A prototype 5 cm long balloon catheter-assisted optical diffuser was also evaluated with a cadaveric human uterus to confirm the coagulative response of the uterine tissue as well as to identify the further design improvement and clinical applicability. The proposed catheter-based diffusing optical device can be a feasible therapeutic tool to photocoagulate endometrial cell layers in an efficient and safe manner.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

MeSH descriptors

Light Coagulation Menorrhagia Optical Devices Animals Catheters Cattle Diffusion Endometrium Endometrium Equipment Design Female Goats Humans Light Coagulation Menorrhagia Models, Animal Optical Fibers Optical Phenomena Silicon Dioxide

Citation neighborhood (sparse)

Too few in-corpus citations on either side for a chart; here are the lists.

Cites (1)

References (45)

Source provenance

openalex
last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-10-08T21:11:01.534134+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK