Comparison of thermal and optical techniques for describing light interaction with vascular grafts sutures and thrombus

摘要

Abstract: Pulsed photothermal radiometry (PPTR) and integrating sphere spectrophotometry analyzed by the theory of Kubelka and Munk (KM) were used to determine optical absorption coefficients of prosthetic grafts and sutures and arterial thrombus. The KM method, a purely optical theory and technique, resulted in higher absorption coefficients than those found using PPTR, a primarily thermal technique. This difference was statistically significant (t$-.025$/) for the prosthetic materials. With the KM method, other properties such as scattering can also be quantified and the experiment can be performed over a range of wavelengths at one time. The PPTR technique is limited to a single wavelength but it has the advantage that most materials can be tested without any special preparation. In addition, with PPTR the measured quantity is the temporal temperature response of an object to a laser pulse, which is itself of interest. Clinically, the high absorption coefficient of thrombus as compared to that of the graft and sutures (t$-.025$/ for the PPTR measurements) suggests that laser thrombectomy may be safe in polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron) grafts.!