Introduction: To assess the effect of various factors on laser fiber tip degradation with the Thulium Fiber Laser (Tm-fiber): fiber stripping, adjustable laser settings (energy, frequency, peak power), and stone density.
Methods: 273µm fibers were used with a 50W Tm-fiber. Firstly, we assessed the evolution of power transmission with stripped and unstripped fibers submerged in saline solution. The laser was continuously activated for 5 minutes. The influence of each laser parameter (energy, frequency, peak power) on fiber degradation was assessed by loss of power transmission and reduction of tip length. Secondly, we assessed the evolution of power transmission after 150 seconds of lithotripsy in quasi-contact mode against soft and hard Begostones. The influence of lithotripsy with different laser settings on fiber degradation was assessed by loss of power transmission.
Results: Power transmission was close to 100% with stripped fibers while a power gain appeared for unstripped fibers after 5min laser emission. Thus, only stripped laser fibers were used during the second series of experiments. Regardless of laser settings, there was a constant loss of measured power transmission after lithotripsy with a significant difference between soft and hard stones, p<0.0001. Power transmission was 67% and 78% against hard and soft stones, respectively. While there was no influence of peak power on power output against hard stones, there was a significant one against soft stones.
Conclusions: The main determinant of loss of power transmission during lithotripsy in contact mode with Tm-fiber is the stone density. Higher loss of power transmission occurs against hard stones than soft stones. All peak powers may be used against hard stones without difference, while high peak power appears as an additional factor of power loss against soft stones, but this decrease will not the reach the one obtained with hard stones.
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