The carbon dioxide laser is one of the oldest and most common types of lasers. This laser system is considered a gas laser that uses a mixture of gases as the active medium. The gas mixture is primarily composed of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen, hydrogen and helium.
This versatile laser has many therapeutic and aesthetic applications. Conditions that have been proved to respond positively to CO2 lasers include dermatofibroma, sebaceous hyperplasia, rhinophyma, angiofibroma, scar treatment, keloid, skin cancer and neurofibroma. Additionally, there are many aesthetic applications that use CO2 lasers such as, perioral wrinkles, acne scars, facial resurfacing and dyschromias.
Safety precautions should be taken when working around CO2 lasers. The unprotected human eye is extremely sensitive to laser radiation and direct or reflected laser beams can cause permanent damage or sometimes vision loss. For both medical personnel and patients, CO2 laser safety glasses should be worn at all times during the laser treatment. By appropriately matching your CO2 laser to your laser glasses you can ensure that your staff will be fully protected. Not only is protective eyewear a huge safety component, it is a requirement that all medical personnel wear laser safety glasses when working around high-power Class 3B and Class 4 lasers in healthcare. This requirement is a safety regulation that has been established by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), specifically following ANSI Z136.3.
The carbon dioxide laser is an essential tool for many industries and has been increasingly used in surgical procedures. Following proper safety regulations and use will make for a better workplace around lasers. If you have any questions or comments about this post, please let us know below!
Leave a Reply