Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated that pulsed 2.94μm Er-YAG laser radiation allows a precise etching of organic tissue with only minimal thermal damage. This makes the Er-YAG laser a promising tool for the careful removal of superficial skin lesions. In order to provide optimized laser parameters for potential clinical use and to enhance our understanding of the mid-infrared ablation process, we measured the ablation rate, temperature profile and damage zones for various pulse numbers, radiant energies and pulse repetition rates. Ablation is very efficient (about 6μm J−1 cm2 for high radiant exposure) and the crater depth is exactly (1Hz) or nearly (2 Hz) linearly related to the radiant exposure. In contrast, no significant effects of the laser parameters on the thermal damage of the epidermis and the crater bottom were observed. In conclusion, for a future clinical use high radiant energies should be applicable without the disadvantage of enhanced damage.
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Hibst, R., Kaufmann, R. Effects of laser parameters on pulsed Er-YAG laser skin ablation. Laser Med Sci 6, 391–397 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042461
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042461