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We have developed a complete excimer laser and fiber‐optic angioplasty system and successfully opened completely occluded blood vessels in humans. We use the 308 nm XeCL excimer laser and fiber‐optic delivery system that can be passed through a catheter or over a guidewire. In this article, we describe the knowledge essential for the interventionalist using the device: the method for generating 308 nm laser light, laser‐tissue interaction, healing after laser injury, and how the rate of laser ablation is controlled. Our initial experience using the excimer laser in the superficial femoral artery has been excellent. (J of Interv Cardiology; 1988;1:1)
Forrester et al. (Tue,) studied this question.