1. Volume 55, Issue 3, Pages 679-686 (March 2009)
Laser Fibre Deterioration and Loss of Power Output During Photo-Selective 80-W Potassium-Titanyl-Phosphate Laser Vaporisation of the Prostate 
Thomas Hermanns, Tullio Sulser, Markus Fatzer, Martin K. Baumgartner, Julien M. Rey, Markus W. Sigrist, Hans-Helge Seifert 
European Urology 
Volume 55, Issue 3, Pages (March 2009)
DOI: /j.eururo
Copyright © 2008 European Association of Urology Terms and Conditions

2. Fig. 1
Setup for the laser beam power measurement showing the on/off switch (asterisk) and the power monitor (white arrow). The power detector (black arrow) is placed in a special box, and a syringe (black arrowhead) on top of the box guides the laser fibre.
Detailed view of the custom-built pneumatic switch. A syringe (white arrowhead) was used to generate the air pressure needed to release the laser.
European Urology  , DOI: ( /j.eururo )
Copyright © 2008 European Association of Urology Terms and Conditions

3. Fig. 2
Substantial deterioration of the fibre tip in the region of laser emission caused by melting and carbonisation. The more energy was supplied, the more pronounced the damage was to the fibre tip. A clean, virgin fibre can be seen on the left and a fibre after in vitro vaporisation performed without tissue contact is shown on the right (scale bar: 2mm; NC=noncontact).
European Urology  , DOI: ( /j.eururo )
Copyright © 2008 European Association of Urology Terms and Conditions

4. Fig. 3
Medians of power output and interquartile range of all 36 measurement series.
European Urology  , DOI: ( /j.eururo )
Copyright © 2008 European Association of Urology Terms and Conditions

5. Fig. 4
Courses of median power output of the three different surgeons (surgeon 1, 300 previous operations; surgeon 2, 150 previous operations; and surgeon 3, without KTP laser experience).
European Urology  , DOI: ( /j.eururo )
Copyright © 2008 European Association of Urology Terms and Conditions