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OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy of nonablative fractional 1,540 nm laser to treat the atrophic scars caused by the cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). METHODS This clinical trial with a pre- and a posttreatment measurement was conducted on patients with atrophic CL scars. The lesions were treated with nonablative fractional 1,540 nm laser. We evaluated the patients initially and then monthly, before each treatment session. The final follow-up was done 6 months after the end of study for all patients. Patient assessment was performed by two physicians using the modified Manchester Scar Scale (MSS) as well as the interpretation of captured digital photographs. Moreover, the patients performed a self-assessment by filling in a researcher-made questionnaire. The data were statistically analyzed by SPSS software. P

Introduction: Induction of collagen and elastin remodeling in the human skin can be achieved by non-ablative fractional laser (NAFXL) and ablative fractional laser (AFXL). Our objective was to compare the safety, efficacy, tolerability, and ability to induce collagen and elastin remodeling of NAFXL versus AFXL in a series of treatments over time.Materials and Methods: In this prospective, proof of principle, single-case study, the safety, tolerability and efficacy of the laser systems were assessed via histopathology and clinical evaluations including photographs. Optical biopsies by means of multiphoton tomography (MPT) were used to evaluate the induction of collagen and elastin remodeling.Results: Treatments by both NAFXL and AFXL were well tolerated. The NAFXL system was found to be less painful and resulted in a shorter down- and healing times. MPT findings showed the superior capability of the AFXL procedure to induce collagen; on the other hand, elastin induction was more pronounced after NAFXL treatments.Conclusions: While NAFXL is as effective and safe as the traditional AFXL, it is better tolerated and has a shorter downtime. Serial optical biopsies over time over time can be a useful tool to assess the induction of collagen and elastin remodeling in the human skin.

The paper discusses the active delivery of a drug (methylene blue solution) through the Er:YLF-laser-perforated nail plate using pulsed radiation of microsecond Yb,Er:Glass laser. Different methods of laser impact on liquid drug are considered: by focused and diverging laser beam. It was established that both discussed methods can provide sufficient dose of the drug for the treatment of onychomycosis.

We report on the development of a compact side diode pumped eye-safe A/O Q-switched Yb:Er:glass laser at repetition rates as high as 40 Hz. The laser generates 1.3 mJ / 45 ns pulses with the beam divergence 4.5 mrad without collimating system. The laser diodes and laser rod are conductive thermoelectrically cooled. The high repetition rate operation with good beam quality is demonstrated.

An eye-safe Yb:Er:glass laser with a repetition rate 10 Hz was developed. The device was a diode pumped Yb:Er:glass laser Q-switched by an acousto-optic gate producing 12 mJ energy and 20 ns FHWH duration pulses of 1.54 um radiation. The laser rod and laser diodes are cooled by a thermoelectric module. The laser head dimension were 180×80×80 mm3.

The results of in vitro pilot study of anterior lens capsule destruction by submicrosecond pulses of Yb,Er:Glass laser as well as results of 2% agar gel damage threshold investigation are presented. It was established that the local destruction of anterior lens capsule is possible without any ruptures at energy densities up to 25 J/cm2 when exposed to 30 laser pulses, delivered via 200 μm optical quartz fiber. It was found that 2% agar gel damage threshold determined as minimal value of laser energy density required for appearance of the visually identifiable damage of agar gel decreases with the increase in the number of laser pulses. The 2% agar gel damage threshold on the air for a single laser pulse impact was about 2.3-3.3 J/cm2, for 5 pulses impact – about 1.8-2.5 J/cm2 and for 10 pulses impact – about 1.6-2.4 J/cm2.

1623 nm Er:YAP and 1648 nm Er:YAG lasers resonantly pumped by a solid state Er:glass laser operating at 1535 nm were investigated. Laser generation was reached for Er:YAP and two Er:YAG crystals with different Er ion concentration. The maximal output energies were 20 and 45 mJ for Er:YAP and Er:YAG laser systems, respectively.

Background. Nonablative remodeling has been recently proposed as an alternative to CO2 and Er:YAG resurfacing. Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 1540 nm Er:glass laser with contact cooling in nonablative skin remodeling, focused on perioral and periorbital rhytides. Methods. Sixty patients (mean age 47 years), Fitzpatrick skin types I–IV were treated four times over 6-week intervals. Patients were evaluated using digital photographs, histology, ultrasound imaging, and profilometry with silicone imprints in order to quantitate the degree of clinical improvement. Results. All subjects reported subjective improvement in the quality and visual aspect of their skin. This was confirmed by a 40.2% reduction of anisotropy (P < .001) 6 weeks after the fourth treatment. Ultrasound imaging demonstrated a 17% increase of dermis thickness (P < .005). Biopsy specimens showed evidence of new collagen formation. Conclusion. This study has clearly demonstrated that irradiation with 1540 nm Er:glass laser can lead to new collagen formation, dermis thickening, reduction of anisotropy of the skin, and clinical improvements. The lack of adverse effects confirmed that this 1540 nm laser emitting in a pulsed mode coupled with an efficient cooling system is safe.

Background and objective Selective dermal remodeling consists of inducing collagen tightening, neocollagen synthesis, or both, without damage to the overlying epidermis. This experimental study aimed to evaluate an Er:Glass laser emitting at 1.54 micrometer combined with contact cooling to target the upper dermis while protecting the epidermis. Study design/materials and methods Male hairless rats were used for the study. Different fluences (26-30 J/cm(2)) by using single 3-ms pulse irradiation or pulse train irradiation (1.1 J, 3 Hz) and different cooling temperatures (+5 degrees C, 0 degrees C, -5 degrees C) were screened with clinical examination and histologic evaluation at 1, 3, and 7 days after laser irradiation. Results The clinical effects were clearly dose and temperature cooling dependent. It seemed that single pulse irradiation led to epidermal whitening in most cases, whatever the cooling temperature. Conversely, pulse train irradiation showed reproducible epidermal preservation and confinement of the thermal damage into the dermis. New collagen synthesis was confirmed by a marked fibroblastic proliferation, detected in the lower dermis at day 3 and clearly seen in the upper dermis at day 7. Conclusion This new laser seems to be a promising new tool for the treatment of skin laxity, solar elastosis, facial rhytides, and mild reduction of wrinkles.

Experimental evaluation of a flash lamp pumped Er: glass laser over temperature extremes is presented. In this study, first behavior of flash lamp pumped Er: glass laser system has been experimentally investigated over temperature extremes. Next, the generated data during experimentation has been analyzed and system parameters are optimized such that fairly constant laser output is maintained over temperature extremes. This work also enables the development of a compact, simple, low cost, light weight, low repetition rate and high peak power laser source working in eye safe region for defense application.

Eruptive vellus hair cysts occur sporadically, hereditarily or in association with other diseases due to developmental anomalies of vellus hair follicles. Here, we report on a 41-year-old male with multiple vellus hair cysts of the forehead, who was successfully treated three times with a non-ablative, non-fractional 1540 nm Er:Glass laser on one side of his face, and with an ablative non-fractional 2940 nm Er:YAG laser on the other side, at intervals of 6-12 weeks. Over the whole treatment period of about 9 months, we could observe a marked reduction in the total number of cysts. The bigger and painful inflammatory cysts were reduced significantly. There was a slight tendency for better clinical outcome in the area in which the Er:YAG laser had been used. Clinical and histopathological findings, pathogenesis and treatment options are discussed with a review of the literature.

We have demonstrated a passive Q-switched Er:glass laser with a Co2+:LaMgAl 11 O 19 (Co:LMA) saturable absorber. The absorption spectrum of Co:LMA was studied. Q-switched single pulse and double pulses were observed under different pumping energies.

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Laser alignment thermal sensitive paper can be used for laser applications such as spot size measurements, beam characteristics, and determining beam mode. Thermal sensitive paper interactions with a 1.54 micron, 35 ns, 3.75 J, Er-Glass laser produced spots that had three concentric zones of response. These spots interact with each other if a minimum distance between exposures is not maintained. The distance needed between spots is directly related to the energy density incident upon the paper. Although there was no lot designation for the box of thermal sensitive papers used in this research, we were able to determine that the response of different papers in the same box could vary under constant laser exposure parameters. Therefore, investigators need to be cautious when extrapolating experimental data from exposures using this type of laser alignment paper.

As remodeling is getting more popular with patients, long-term studies are becoming necessary. The aim of this 35-month clinical study was to evaluate the long-term benefits obtained using a 1540-nm Er:glass laser for non-ablative remodeling of perioral and periorbital rhytids. The role of maintenance treatments was also investigated.Eleven women with periorbital and perioral rhytids underwent a series of five treatments at 6-week intervals with an Er:glass laser. Five patients subsequently received two maintenance retreatments and six did not. The maintenance treatments were performed at 14 and 20 months. Silicone imprints were performed to measure anisotropy before treatment, at 6 months, at 14 months and at 35 months. Patient self-evaluation/questionnaire was also done to assess adverse effects and subjective clinical improvement.For all 11 patients, the percentage of anisotropy reduction was 41.21% at 6 months, 51.76% at 14 months and 29.87% at 35 months. No adverse effects were noted. Patient satisfaction was high at the end of the evaluation. Retreated patients were more satisfied than non-retreated ones. However, there was no difference in the anisotropy factor between the two groups.Treatment of facial rhytids with a non-ablative 1540-nm Er:glass laser system can produce benefits that persist over 2 years after the last treatment.

Saturable absorber Q-switching of the 1.54 μm Er:glass laser using U4+:SrF2 has been obtained for the first time. Q-switched pulses of 3 mJ, 60 nanoseconds FWHM were achieved using a 2.69 mm thick Q-switch in a 14 cm long flat-flat cavity, with a 3 x 50 mm Kigre QE-7S Englass rod. Pulses of 40 mJ, 64 nanoseconds have been obtained using a 4 x 76 mm Er:glass laser rod. The high absorption cross-section of U4+:SrF2 at 1.54 μm resulted in efficient Q-switched operation (without intracavity focussing) in agreement with the theoretical predictions.

background. Nonablative remodeling has been recently proposed as a new antiaging treatment with no downtime. objective. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nonablative skin remodeling with a 1540 nm Er:glass laser and contact cooling on perioral and periorbital rhytides at 14 months follow-up. methods. Forty-two female patients (mean age 47 years), Fitzpatrick skin types I–IV were treated five times at 6-week intervals and checked 6 months after the last treatment. Patients were evaluated using clinical data, patient satisfaction (scale 1–4), digital pictures, ultrasound imaging, and profilometry data from silicone imprints in order to quantify the degree of improvement. results. All subjects reported an improvement in the quality and visual aspect of their skin at 6 months (mean patient satisfaction 3.06/4) and at 14 months after enrollment (mean patient satisfaction 2.90/4). This was confirmed by a 43.41% reduction of anisotropy (P < 0.001) 6 weeks after the fourth treatment, reaching 44.85% reduction 6 months after the fifth treatment (P < .001). Ultrasound imaging demonstrated a 17% increase in dermal thickness (P < .001) at 6 months and 11% 6 months after the last treatment (P < .05). A lack of immediate or late adverse effects was noted at all stages of the procedure. conclusion. This study demonstrated that irradiation with a 1540 nm Er:glass laser emitting in a pulsed mode and coupled with an efficient cooling system increased dermal thickness, reduced the anisotropy of the skin, and improved clinical aspects. The lack of adverse effects within the 14 months confirmed that this procedure was safe. Overall the stability of the results many months after the treatment was remarkable.

Background: Non-ablative remodeling has been recently proposed as a new anti-ageing treatment with no downtime. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of non-ablative skin remodeling with a 1540 nm Er:Glass laser and contact cooling on pen-oral and pen-orbital rhytids at 14 months follow up. Methods: 42 female patients (mean age: 47 years), Fitzpatrick skin types I -IV were treated five times at 6 weeks intervals, and checked 6 months after the last treatment . Patients were evaluated using clinical data, patients satisfaction (scale 1 to 4), digital pictures, ultrasound imaging and profilometry data from silicone imprints in order to quantify the degree of improvement. Results: All subjects reported an improvement in the quality and visual aspect of their skin at 6 months (mean patient's satisfaction : 3,06/4) and they noticed that it was very similar at 14 months after enrollment (mean patient's satisfaction: 2.9/4) . This was confirmed by a 43.2% reduction ofanisotropy (p

New saturable absorber as magnesium-aluminum-silicate glass ceramic containing tetrahedrally coordinated Co2+ ions for Er:glass laser is presented. Q-switched pulses of 5.5 mJ in energy and 80 ns in duration at 1.54 µm were obtained. Bleaching relaxation time was measured to be ~450 ns. Ground-state absorption cross-section at 1.54 µm was estimated to be 3.3×l0−19 cm2.

Passive Q-switching of Er:glass laser has been demonstrated with Cr2+:ZnSe and Co2+: ZnSe saturable absorbers. The pulse duration of about 50 ns and output pulse energy of 5 mJ were obtained with both Co:ZnSe and Cr:ZnSe passive shutters. A Q-switched conversion efficiency of as much as 26% was obtained for Cr:ZnSe. Theoretical modeling exhibits satisfactory agreement with the experimental data.

Room temperature Er:YAG (0.5, 1, 2 and 4%) lasers at 1 644μ were demonstrated by pumping with an Er glass laser at 1.535 μ. An end pumped arrangement was utilized simulating diode laser pumping. The characteristics ot these low threshold and efficient lasers are described.

Saturable-absorber Q switching of a diode-pumped erbium-doped glass laser at 1.54 microm with a V:YAG crystal has been demonstrated. An average output power of 30 mW with Q-switching efficiency of 37% and pulse duration of 350 ns have been obtained. Results of the numerical simulation of the laser have been presented.

Temporal characteristics of a Cr–Yb–Er glass laser are presented. Pulses of 13 ps duration were obtained in the 1.54 μm range by active mode locking with a highly efficient LiNbO3 crystal modulator.

A Nd:YAG pumped Yb:Er:Phosphate glass laser oscillator has been actively mode-locked and Q-switched, producing stable ~70ps fwhm mode-locked pulses at 1.54µm. Peak powers of ~20 kW are achieved when Q-switched and mode-locked and ~20W when quasi-cw mode-locked. thus providing a convenient source suitable for investigation of nonlinear propagation behaviour in the negative dispersion region of silica optical fibres.

The upconversion pumped solid state laser was first reported by L. F. Johnson and H. J. Guggenheim in 1971 with Yb3+ − Er3+ and Yb3+ − Ho3+ in a BaY2F8 crystal.1 Recently, upconversion pumped laser action was obtained by Pollack et. al. on the 4I11/2 → 4I13/2 transition of Er3+ in CaF22 and in SrF2, YAG and YLF.3