Experimental ex-vivo performance study comparing a novel, pulsed thulium solid-state laser, chopped thulium fibre laser, low and high-power holmium:YAG laser for endoscopic enucleation of the prostate.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the enucleation performances of four different types of laser devices in an ex-vivo experiment: a novel, pulsed Tm:YAG solid-state laser evaluation model (p-Tm:YAG), chopped thulium fibre laser (TFL), low-power Ho:YAG laser (LP-Ho:YAG), and a high-power Ho:YAG laser (HP-Ho:YAG). METHODS: Our primary aim was to endoscopically separate the fascial layers of a porcine belly using laser fibres within a time period of 60 s. The size of a "tissue pocket" was assessed numerically. The enucleation characteristics reflecting the surgeon's experience were evaluated via the NASA Task Load Index (TLX) questionnaire and a questionnaire based on Likert scale. RESULTS: HP-Ho:YAG achieved with the available laser settings the largest overall "tissue pocket" (31.5 cm2) followed by p-Tm:YAG (15 cm2), TFL (12 cm2), and LP-Ho:YAG (6 cm2). The coagulation performances of p-Tm:YAG and TFL were rated the best. In the performance evaluation by the Likert questionnaire, HP-Ho:YAG (average score of 4.06) was rated highest, followed by p-Tm:YAG (3.94), TFL (3.38), and LP-Ho:YAG (3.25). The evaluation of the NASA-TLX performance questionnaire revealed average scores for HP-Ho:YAG, LP-Ho:YAG, TFL and p-Tm:YAG of 4.38, 4.09, 3.92 and 3.90, respectively. CONCLUSION: We are the first to compare different laser devices and settings in an ex-vivo study. We found that the surgeons were most satisfied with the HP-Ho:YAG laser device, followed by the p-Tm:YAG. These findings could be highly relevant for future research and for the practical utilisation of laser systems in endourology.

In vitro fragmentation performance of a novel, pulsed Thulium solid-state laser compared to a Thulium fibre laser and standard Ho:YAG laser.

The aim of this work was to compare the fragmentation efficiency of a novel, pulsed Thulium solid-state laser (p-Tm:YAG) to that of a chopped Thulium fibre laser (TFL) and a pulsed Holmium solid-state laser (Ho:YAG). During the fragmentation process, we used a silicone mould to fixate the hemispherical stone models under water in a jar filled with room-temperature water. Each laser device registered the total energy applied to the stone model to determine fragmentation efficiency. Our study examined laser settings with single pulse energies ranging from 0.6 to 6 J and pulse frequencies ranging from 5 to 15 Hz. Similar laser settings were applied to explicitly compare the fragmentation efficiency of all three devices. We experimented with additional laser settings to see which of the three devices would perform best. The fragmentation performance of the three laser devices differed statistically significantly (p < 0.05). The average total energy required to fragment the stone model was 345.96 J for Ho:YAG, 372.43 J for p-Tm:YAG and 483.90 J for TFL. To fragment the stone models, both Ho:YAG and p-Tm:YAG needed similar total energy (p = 0.97). TFL's fragmentation efficiency is significantly lower than that of Ho:YAG and p-Tm:YAG. Furthermore, we found the novel p-Tm:YAG's fragmentation efficiency to closely resemble that of Ho:YAG. The fragmentation efficiency is thought to be influenced by the pulse duration. TFL's shortest possible pulse duration was considerably longer than that of Ho:YAG and p-Tm:YAG, resulting in Ho:YAG and p-Tm:YAG exhibiting better fragmenting efficiency.

Safe Hb Concentration Measurement during Bladder Irrigation Using Artificial Intelligence.

We have developed a sensor for monitoring the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration in the effluent of a continuous bladder irrigation. The Hb concentration measurement is based on light absorption within a fixed measuring distance. The light frequency used is selected so that both arterial and venous Hb are equally detected. The sensor allows the measurement of the Hb concentration up to a maximum value of 3.2 g/dL (equivalent to ≈20% blood concentration). Since bubble formation in the outflow tract cannot be avoided with current irrigation systems, a neural network is implemented that can robustly detect air bubbles within the measurement section. The network considers both optical and temporal features and is able to effectively safeguard the measurement process. The sensor supports the use of different irrigants (salt and electrolyte-free solutions) as well as measurement through glass shielding. The sensor can be used in a non-invasive way with current irrigation systems. The sensor is positively tested in a clinical study.

Dusting Efficiency of a Novel Pulsed Thulium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet Laser vs a Thulium Fiber Laser.

Background: Holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser (Ho:YAG) is still considered the gold standard in laser lithotripsy. There is a large body of literature comparing the capabilities of Ho:YAG and thulium fiber lasers (TFLs). The novel, pulsed thulium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser (p-Tm:YAG) evaluation model has only been compared with Ho:YAG in terms of its dusting performance to date. It was this study's aim to compare the p-Tm:YAG's dusting efficiency with that of a chopped TFL. Materials and Methods: During the laser ablation procedure, while the laser device was emitting light, the laser fiber was spiraled across the surface of a uniform kidney stone model via software. We relied on the stone model's difference in weight before and after the dusting procedure to assess the dusting efficiency and assessed each laser device's dusting efficiency at various preset laser configurations and laser fiber-motion speeds. We compared both laser devices' laser configurations, which were identical in pulse energy and frequency, while keeping in mind that the pulse duration differed significantly. In addition, we tested each laser device's capability. Results: The average ablated weight across all laser configurations was 0.61 g (standard deviation [SD] = 0.44 g) for p-Tm:YAG and 0.76 g (SD = 0.51 g) for TFL. After statistical analysis, we found no significant difference in ablated weight between the laser devices (U = 1715.5, p-value = 0.11). The maximum permissible frequency configuration for TFL was 1600 Hz, which resulted in the worst overall dusting output. Conclusions: We observed that the p-Tm:YAG's dusting efficiency resembled that of TFL in the identical pulse energy and frequency laser configurations. The ablation efficiency did not seem to be affected by the laser devices' differences in pulse duration. Slower laser fiber-motion speeds resulted in more efficient ablation. When using the maximum preset frequency and power configuration, TFL's dusting efficiency appeared to be inefficient.