Effects of a rapidly scanned carbon dioxide laser on porcine dermis.

This study systematically examined the effect of varying continuous-wave carbon dioxide laser scanning parameters on the resultant tissue effects. The effects of varying scanning speed, laser power, and laser beam diameter were assessed. Residual thermal damage at the center of the crater was approximately 120 microm independent of dwell time and laser irradiance. However, thermal damage zones along the sides of the ablation crater increased as laser dwell times exceeded 50 msec. This study demonstrates that under appropriate conditions a scanned continuous-wave carbon dioxide laser can ablate tissue with a zone of residual thermal injury less than 200 microm, making it useful for cutaneous surgery and the debridement of burn wounds before skin grafting is performed.