Laser Lithotripsy

Disintegration of kidney and gall stones by intense laser radiation is becoming increasingly important as a complementary technique to extracorporeal shockwave treatment. This book gives for the first time a complete overview of laser lithotripsy combining a critical comparison of the methods and a thorough evaluation of instrumental developments and clinical applications. Readers from the medical as well as from the engineering side will find it a stimulating source of information on all aspects of laser-stone interaction.

Inhalt
History of the Management of Stone Disease.- A Survey of the Action of Lasers on Stones.- Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) of Kidney Stones.- Identification of Body Concrements by Fast Time-Resolved Spectroscopy of Laser Induced Plasma.- Identification of Biliary and Urinary Calculi by Optical Spectroscopy Compared to X-Ray Diffractometry.- Primary Results in the Laser Lithotripsy Using a Frequency Doubled Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser.- Stone Disintegration with Lasers A Comparison Between Pulsed Nd:YAG-and Dye Laser.- Gallstone Lithotripsy Nd:YAG Laser Versus Dye Laser.- Acute Shock-Wave Induced Effects on the Microcirculation.- Effects of Laser Pulses on Cells and Tissue.- Analysis of Tissue Damage After Laser Induced Shockwave Lithotripsy.- Shock-Wave Induced Breakdown of the Tumor Microcirculation.- Limits of Optical Fiber Systems for Pulsed Lasers.- Enhanced Energy Transport via Quartz Fibers Using 250 ns Long- Pulse Excimer Laser.- Ray-Tracing Calculations of the Focusing Efficiency of Spherical Fiber Ends.- Methods in Lithotripsy.- Devices for Intracorporal Laser-Induced Shock-Wave Lithotripsy (ILISL).- A More Effective Method of in vitro Urinary Stone Disintigration Using the Nd:YAG Laser.- Shock Wave Exitation by Laser Induced Breakdown (LIB): Pressure Measurements with a PVDF Needle Probe.- Shock Wave Detection by Use of Hydrophones.- Some Technical Aspects of Generation and Measurement of Laser Induced Shockwaves.- The Development of an Endoscopically Applicable Optomechanical Coupler for Laser Induced Shock Wave Lithotripsy (LISL).- Current Status of Urinary Stone Therapy.- The Clinical Experience With Pulsed Dye Laser Photofragmentation of Ureteral Calculi (127 Cases).- Clincial Experience with Laser-Induced Shock-Wave Lithotripsy.- The Pulsed DyeLaser in Clinical Stone Problems.- Gallstone Lithotripsy by Pulsed Nd:YAG Laser.- Electronmicroscopic Evaluation of Urinary Stones Following Laser Stone Disintegration in Patients.- Index of Contributors.