Overview on the Evolution of Laser Welding of Vascular and Nervous Tissues

• Main Authors: Diogo Francisco Gomes, Ivan Galvão, Maria Amélia Ramos Loja
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
• Series: Applied Sciences
• Subjects: laser welding; vascular; nervous; tissue; thermal damage; solder
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/10/2157

Laser welding presents a core position in the health sector. This process has had an outstanding impact on the surgical procedures from many medical areas, such as on vascular and nervous surgeries. The aim of the present research is to present an overview on the evolution of laser welding of vascular and nervous tissues. These surgeries present many advantages, such as an absence of foreign-body reactions and aneurysms and good tensile strengths. However, despite the sutureless nature of the process, complementary sutures have been applied to support the procedure success. An important concern in vascular and nervous laser welding is the thermal damage. The development of temperature-controlled feedback systems has reduced this concern with a very precise control of the laser parameters. The bonding strength of vascular and nerve laser welds can be enhanced with the application of solder solutions, bonding materials, and laser-activated dyes. Alternative techniques to laser welding, such as photochemical tissue bonding and electrosurgical high-frequency technologies, have also been tested for vascular and nervous repairs.