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Laser Angioplasty

Laser angioplasty opens blocked arteries through the use of a tiny catheter with a laser at its tip. The catheter is inserted into the artery and the laser emits pulses of light to vaporize plaque. Plaque is the term used to describe cholesterol, cells and fatty deposits in the inner lining of an artery.

Angioplasty is helpful for:

clearing plaque from coronary arteries to help widen them
emergency relief from a heart attack that is in progress
relieving chest pain caused by narrowing coronary arteries
widening narrowed arteries in limbs, such as the femoral or iliac artery to the leg.

Other Types of Angioplasty

Angioplasty is the procedure of inserting a catheter into a narrowed blood vessel. What differentiates laser angioplasty is the use of a laser to destroy plaque. Other types of angioplasty procedures include:

Atherectomy: A device is used to actually cut into artery-clogging plaque and remove it from the lining of a blood vessel. This procedure is often used in combination with balloon angioplasty or stenting.
Balloon Angioplasty: A small, thin catheter with a balloon at its tip is introduced to the bloodstream by inserting it through a large blood vessel, either in the arm or leg. Doctors can watch the movement of the catheter on an X-ray screen and guide the tube through the heart and into a narrowed coronary artery. Then the balloon is inflated to help widen the artery.
Stenting: Often during a balloon angioplasty, a stent is also used. A stent is a metal wire frame that helps keep the artery open.

Laser Angioplasty and NASA

What does laser angioplasty have to do with NASA?

While laser angioplasty helps improve the quality of life for coronary patients here on earth, the science that makes it work originated with the space program. The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) developed this laser technology for satellite-based atmospheric studies to measure gases in the ozone layer of our atmosphere.

The excimer laser, which was the first laser used in laser angioplasty, was developed by NASA. It produces a uniform laser beam that can be pulsed in 200 billionths of a second. This maintains a low working temperature and helps make it safe for use in living patients.

In addition to its use in angioplasty procedures, the excimer laser has many other medical applications, including:

neurosurgery
orthopedics
vision correction.

Knowing When to Use Angioplasty

To determine if a patient needs to have laser angioplasty or other angioplasty procedures, a personal and family medical history is needed. Doctors perform many tests to determine whether angioplasty is indicated, including:

blood tests
echocardiography
electrocardiogram (EKG)
stress testing.

What to Expect During Laser Angioplasty

Before having any angioplasty procedure, you may be asked to start or stop taking certain medications, and you will be asked not to wear any jewelry or watches during the actual procedure. You'll need to have an empty stomach for the procedure, so your doctor will let you know at what point you have to stop eating and drinking.

When it is time for your laser angioplasty:

The area of your arm or groin where the catheter enters will be shaved and cleansed.
You will receive an IV line in a vein for fluids and medicines.
You will be given medicine to relax you.
The catheter will be inserted into a blood vessel and your doctors will watch its progress. When it reaches the narrowed artery, the laser will be activated to destroy the plaque.
After the laser is used, an X-ray dye will be injected. Surgeons can then watch the flow of blood through the area to make sure the angioplasty was successful.
Blood-thinning medicines are then given to decrease any chance of the blockage re-closing.

Once the procedure is completed, most people need to stay in the hospital for one to three days.

Resources

Aetna InteliHealth, Inc. (2007). Angioplasty. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from the Aetna InteliHealth Web site: http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/20745.

html.

American Heart Association (2008). Angioplasty, Laser. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from the American Heart Association Web site: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4446.

United States Space Foundation (1997). Aerospace Technology Spinoffs. Retrieved January 22, 2008, from the Seds.org Web site: http://seds.org/technology/software/ussfspn.pdf.

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