@article{lajoie97,
  author = {E. N. {La\ Joie} and A. D. Barofsky and K. W. Gregory and S. A. Prahl},
  title = {Patch Welding with a Pulsed Diode Laser and Indocyanine Green},
  journal = {Laser Med. Sci.},
  year = {1997},
  pages = {49--54},
  volume = {12},
  abstract = {Laser tissue welding is a sutureless method of wound closure that has been used successfully in nerve, skin, and arterial anastomoses. We welded an elastin-based biomaterial patch to the intimal surface of porcine aorta. The aorta was stained with indocyanine green dye to efficiently absorb the 808nm diode laser light. Laser welding with a pulsed diode laser thermally confines heating to stained portion of tissue, minimizing adjacent tissue damage. Laser welds of stained aorta to biomaterial were attempted by sandwiching the samples between glass slides and applying pressures ranging from 4--20\,Ncm$^{-2}$ for 5ms pulse durations and 83\,mJ mm$^{-2}$ radiant exposure. We observed bleaching of the indocyanine green by as much as 85\% after exposure laser irradiation. Finally, successful welds required 5\,Ncm$^{-2}$ of pressure between the elastin biomaterial and aorta.},
}