Presentation
13 March 2024 Ablative Tm:YAP laser for dermatology
Author Affiliations +
Abstract
Dermatological lasers are broadly classified as ablative or non-ablative, with tissue absorbance being a key consideration. The primary target in the Infrared (IR) spectrum is water, owing to its high absorption and its high concentration in tissues. Ablative lasers at 10 and 3μm, CO2 and Erbium:YAG lasers, respectively, leverage this characteristic effectively. Conversely, non-ablative, lasers at 1.5-2μm primarily coagulate tissues without achieving the ablation threshold. Thulium lasers are positioned around a local peak in water absorption at 1.94μm, and exhibits approximately six times lower absorption than CO2 (10.6μm) and significantly higher absorption than the 1.5μm wavelength. So far they were employed as more superficial non ablative lasers but did not achieve the ablation threshold. This study presents an innovative Tm:YAP laser at 1.94μm as an ablative laser. Employing high-energy, passively Q-switched pulses, at the nanosecond regime enables to reach the ablation threshold. The relatively high absorption characteristics at 1.94μm ensure the laser surpasses the lowered ablation threshold successfully. Experimental demonstrations on porcine skin using a fractional method showcased the creation of clean ablation micro columns. Micro columns with a remarkable thinness of up to 60μm was demonstrated. Deep column of up to 1.9mm was also observed. The 1.94μm Tm:YAP laser, as an innovative addition to the arsenal of ablative lasers, has the potential to revolutionize dermatological practices, providing a safe and reliable solution for skin treatments. Further refinement and development could open new avenues for enhancing patient care in dermatology.
Conference Presentation
(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Salman Noach, Rotem Nahear, Neria Suliman, Alon Shacham, and David Friedman "Ablative Tm:YAP laser for dermatology", Proc. SPIE PC12816, Photonics in Dermatology and Plastic Surgery 2024, PC128160E (13 March 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3000929
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KEYWORDS
Laser ablation

Carbon dioxide lasers

Dermatology

Light absorption

Tissues

Laser damage threshold

Carbon dioxide

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