ABSTRACT
CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy is becoming a widely accepted procedure for the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. The rate of severe complications following such a procedure has been reported. Of these complications, air embolism is the most likely to be fatal. We report a case of right coronary air embolism resulting in myocardial infarction after a CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung. The patient died from underlying malignant disease 4 months later.
Subject(s)
Biopsy, Needle/adverse effects , Coronary Vessels , Embolism, Air/etiology , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Lung/pathology , Myocardial Infarction/etiology , Adult , Aorta , Biopsy, Needle/methods , Embolism, Air/diagnostic imaging , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Male , Radiography, Interventional , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
We used a reversal imprinting-in-metal (RIM) process to fabricate various three-dimensional (3D) metal structures under low pressure. Molds featuring different shapes were used to pattern various subwavelength metal structures, including pyramidal, hole-array, and crater-like structures. Refractive index matching and cavity effects both enhanced the degree of transmission of these structured metal films. The crater-like structure appears to be a promising material because of the unique properties imparted by the elongated and gradually tapering spacing of its cavities. From both near-field simulations and experimentally obtained optical spectra, we found that the cavity effect in the crater-like structure led to significantly enhanced transmission of the optical intensity. Thus, this RIM process allows the ready fabrication of various two- and three-dimensional metallic structures for use in surface plasmon-based devices.
ABSTRACT
We measured the self-starting threshold of passive Kerr-lens mode-locking dye lasers and Ti:sapphire lasers by varying the concentration of the intracavity dilute-dye saturable absorbers that start the mode locking. From the threshold absorber concentration, we determined the strength of the intracavity pulse-broadening effects that counteract the pulse-shortening mechanisms in the self-starting stage. Experimental results agree well with theories based on phase diffusion and mode pulling.
ABSTRACT
Using an SF6 glass plate as the intracavity Kerr medium and a double-prism pair for dispersion compensation, we developed a femtosecond transform-limited passively mode-locked dye laser. Self-starting mode locking is achieved with a dilute intracavity TCVEBI saturable-absorber jet. Within a 50% power drop the tuning range is 577-606 nm. Pulse characteristics of the laser agree with theoretical predictions based on the Ginzburg-Landau equation.
ABSTRACT
Using the intracavity optical Kerr effect, we achieve self-starting wavelength-tunable passive mode locking in a Rhodamine 590 dye laser. With an external grating pair for group-velocity-dispersion compensation, 1.1-ps pulses of approximately twice the bandwidth of the Fourier-transform limit are obtained. Mode locking is started by a dilute saturable absorber jet, and the wavelength is tuned from 579 to 602 nm with a birefringent filter.
