Development of compression-controlled low-level laser probe system: Towards clinical application

Various physico-chemical tissue optical clearing (TOC) methods have been suggested to maximize photon density in tissue. In order to enhance photon density, a compression-controlled low-level laser probe (CCLLP) system was developed by utilizing the principle of mechanical tissue compression. Negative compression (NC) was applied to the laser probes built in various diameters and simultaneously the laser was irradiated into ex-vivo porcine skin samples. Laser photon density (LPD) was evaluated as a function of NC and probe diameter by analyzing 2D diffusion images of the laser exposures. The CCLLP system resulted in a concentrated laser beam profile, which means enhancement of the LPD. As indicators of LPD, the laser peak intensity increased and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) decreased as a function of NC. The peak intensity at -30 kPa increased 2.74, 3.22, and 3.64 fold at laser probe diameters of 20, 30, and 40 mm, respectively. In addition, sample temperature was measured with a thermal camera and increased 0.4 K at -30 kPa after 60 s of laser irradiation as a result of enhanced LPD. The CCLLP system effectively demonstrated enhancement of the LPD in tissue and potentially its clinical feasibility.