Vapor Channel Oscillations in Laser Lithotripsy.

Objectives: Laser-based endoscopic procedures present special challenges to deliver energy for ablation or coagulation of target tissues. When optical fiber-target quasi-contact (< 0.5 mm distance) cannot be maintained or is undesirable, the creation of intervening vapor bubbles and channels provide for the necessary transmission of laser energy to the target.

Objective Melanin Measurements: Review of Novel Dosimetry Guidance Device for Intense Pulsed Light in Aesthetic Treatments.

Unlabelled: A melanin meter has been created to assess real time skin pigmentation to optimize settings for visible light aesthetic applications.

Methods: A handheld meter was applied to non sun-damaged skin on the back of volunteers to measure skin pigmentation prior to treatment with IPL light sources over a range of pulse widths and ascending fluences. Curves for maximum epidermal tolerances as a function of pigmentation were determined.

Characterization of an optimized light source and comparison to pulsed dye laser for superficial and deep vessel clearance.

Background And Objective: An arc lamp-based device providing optimized spectrum and pulse shape was characterized and compared with two pulsed dye laser (PDL) systems using a vascular phantom. Safety and effectiveness for facial telangiectasia are presented in clinical case studies.

Study Design/materials And Methods: An optimized pulsed light source's (OPL) spectral and power output were characterized and compared with two 595 nm PDL devices.

The role of laser tunnels in laser-assisted lipolysis.

Background And Objectives: Laser-assisted lipolysis (LAL) devices are used as adjuncts to liposuction that create laser tunnels to heat the adipose and connective tissue. Available systems vary significantly across choice of wavelengths, power delivery, and tip design. Rationale are developed for optimum laser parameters evaluated with physical principles and in controlled ex vivo tests.

Semi-Automated method of analysis of horizontal histological sections of skin for objective evaluation of fractional devices.

Background And Objective: The treatment of skin with fractional devices creates columns of micro-ablation or micro-denaturation depending on the device. Since the geometric profiles of thermal damage depend on the treatment parameters or physical properties of the treated tissue, the size of these columns may vary from a few microns to a few millimeters. For objective evaluation of the damage profiles generated by fractional devices, this report describes an innovative and efficient method of processing and evaluating horizontal sections of skin using a novel software program.

Micro-fractional ablative skin resurfacing with two novel erbium laser systems.

Background And Objectives: Fractional ablation offers the potential benefits of full-surface ablative skin resurfacing while minimizing adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety, damage profile, and efficacy of erbium fractional lasers.

Materials And Methods: Histology from animal and human skin as well as clinical evaluations were conducted with erbium YAG (2,940 nm) and erbium YSGG (2,790 nm) fractional lasers varying pulse width, microbeam (microb) energy, number of passes, and stacking of pulses.