Abstract
Like the CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers, the copper vapour laser may be used to ablate tissue. However, when used with a computerised scanning system, it is ideal for the treatment of port-wine stains.
The yellow light produced can be used to damage just the enlarged capillaries in the skin. These capillaries are necrosed, and no longer contain blood. The volume of blood in the skin is reduced, and the skin takes on a more normal appearance.
Theoretical calculations that we have carried out have shown that the illumination time needs to be in the 2–8 ms range, which is consistent with the clinical results of many workers. We describe how these illumination times can be achieved with a computer controlled treatment system and the response of the skin to such a system.
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© 1996 Kluwer Academic Publishers
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Butler, P.H., Smithies, D.J., Mehrtens, N.W. (1996). Treatment of Port-Wine Stains with the 578 NM Light from a Copper Vapour Laser and an Automated Scanning Device. In: Little, C.E., Sabotinov, N.V. (eds) Pulsed Metal Vapour Lasers. NATO ASI Series, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1669-2_42
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1669-2_42
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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