CLEANING ARTERIES WITH LIGHT

[shahina]

 

CLEANING ARTERIES WITH LIGHT                  

Plaque is a tough fatty substance that can build up on the inside walls of the arteries. Gradually  the arteries can get so clogged that blood does not flow normally, and the result can be a heart attack or stroke. The traditional method for removing the plaque involves opening the chest and making several incisions, a long and sometimes risky operation. It is also expensive and requires weeks for recovery.


An effective alternative is to use a laser beam to burn away the plaque. The key to making this work is the doctor's ability to see inside the artery and direct the beam, another area in which fiber optics and lasers are combined into a modern wonder tool. An optic fiber that has been connected to a tiny television camera can be inserted into an artery. These elements now become a miniature sensor that allows the doctor and nurses to see inside the artery while a second fiber is inserted to carry the bursts of light that will burn away the plaque.