Potentiation of laser-tissue interactions of the 805 nm laser with indocyanine green

A high power 805 nm diode laser with advantages of compact size, portability and ease of installation and use has recently been introduced. This unit has comparable laser-tissue interactions to the Nd-YAG in contact mode, however the maximum power output of 25 W has limited its clinical applications. We have compared 805 nm with 1064 nm laser energy in noncontact mode before and after the addition of a chromophore (intravenous indocyanine green). There is equivalency of laser-tissue interactions of 805 and 1064 nm in non-contact mode up to a maximum power output of 20 W. Laser-tissue interactions of the 805 nm laser are significantly potentiated by indocyanine green, as shown by a significant increase in diameter of tissue thermal injury. The 805 nm diode may therefore provide an alternative to the 1064 nm laser in non-contact as well as contact mode.