Application Note #7
Conical lens-tipped Optical Fiber Helps Dissolve Highly Stable Blood Clots
In a collaborative effort between the Department of Neurology at The University of Miami —specifically, with Dr. Brant Watson, the patent holder— and OpusGen LLC (formerly VasCon) of Miami, Florida, conical lens-tipped optical fibers have been utilized endovascularly to facilitate dissolution of a type of blood clot that is extremely resistant to “clot-busting” (thrombolytic) enzymes. As Dr. Watson explained, the tightly organized clot structure inhibits entry of these enzymes. Dr. Watson’s method utilizes a conical lens-tipped fiber to illuminate the circumference of an arterial wall with a ring-shaped beam of ultraviolet laser light. This not only rapidly increases the diameter of the artery while it is occluded by a clot, but at the same time, the most enzymeresistant part of the clot is separated into individual cells (platelets). This process is called “dethrombosis” to distinguish it from the better-known “thrombolysis.” Dethrombosis allows blood to perfuse into the clot as it begins to disappear, and soon, blood flow is restored.
The entry into, and effectiveness of thrombolytic agents into clots is also much enhanced, but Dr. Watson reports that these medications may not be needed, at least acutely.
ULTRAPOL Fiber Lensing System offers accuracy and versatility in the surface shaping and lensing of optical components.
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