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Beam profile of the flashlamp pumped pulsed dye laser: Support for overlap of exposure spots
Author(s) -
Dinehart Scott M.,
Flock Stephen,
Waner Milton
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/lsm.1900150307
Subject(s) - optics , beam (structure) , laser , dye laser , materials science , laser beams , optoelectronics , physics
The degree to which individual practitioners overlap exposure spots of the flashlamp pumped pulsed dye laser when treating large vascular lesions appears to be a matter of personal preference. There are few data to support one approach over another. We have measured the beam profile of this laser at two different energy fluences using a photodiode and a digitizing storage oscilloscope. Results show that for each energy fluence, the beam intensity decreases from the center to the outside rim of the beam. A plot of beam intensity versus the radius of the treatment field approaches a truncated normal distribution with a full width at half‐maximum of 4.7–4.8 mm. These results help explain why clinical overlap of exposure spots can be safely undertaken and provide a rationale for recommendations concerning the degree of overlap needed to expedite treatment while still minimizing adverse reactions. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.