A model for optical and thermal analysis of laser balloon angioplasty.

Laser balloon angioplasty is modeled using an infinitely long cylinder possessing axisymmetry. The balloon surface is assumed to be uniformly irradiated by diffuse light at 1060 nm delivered from within the inner balloon core. The diffusion approximation to the radiative transport equation is solved for a single layer of homogeneous medium enclosing the transparent fluid-filled balloon. The computed light fluence rate (W.cm-2) just beneath the tissue surface is 4.7 times the primary irradiance, owing to scattering and secondary irradiance from the "integrating cylinder" effect of backscattered light into the inner core. The transient temperature response of the heated tissue is then calculated using an implicit finite difference solution of the heat conduction equation for concentric layers of varying thermal properties. Finally, the extent of damage is analyzed using the Arrhenius rate process model. Changes in optical and thermal properties with temperature and thermal phase transitions have been omitted in all our analyses. Irradiances which decrease with time can produce a "temperature plateau" for a longer time period than a constant irradiance of equal total energy output. This may be clinically important. Flexible boundary conditions at the balloon interface permit simulation of a "hot contact surface," such as a black balloon absorbing all incident laser power. In this situation, the computed surface damage is consistently higher than that obtained by LBA of equivalent energy output.