LIGHT-GUIDING EFFECT IN A 2-FLUID MODEL OF LASER ANGIOPLASTY

Mixing and optical characteristics of blood and optical fluid, utilize d in laser angioplasty, are investigated with a two-fluid model. Trans port equations are solved for the zone-averaged variables of each flui d with allowance for momentum transport at the interface, The predicte d volume fractions of the fluids are used as weight functions to calcu late the mixture refractive index, A set of light rags are traced thro ugh the fluids to the plaque, utilizing the mixture refractive index, The results indicate significant effect of flow characteristics on the focusing of the rays.