Development of Pinpoint Laser Therapy Apparatus by Scanning a Fine Laser Spot (Wide Laser Scanning using the Shrink Fitter Method)

Abstract

To improve unwanted pigments in the skin laser light is irradiated on the pigmented lesion. Melanin, locally existing in the skin, selectively absorbs the laser light. At the present time, the laser guns used in dermatology are manually operated and their laser spots are as large as 3 to 7 mm in diameter. It is thought that normal tissues, which do not contain melanin so much, are hardly damaged by the laser irradiation. However, in reality terrible burns appear after the laser irradiation even in the normal tissue. We have developed a new type of laser apparatus for removing only the pigmented lesions with laser scanning technology. A fθ lens unit assembled by a shrink fitter can focus the laser beam well over a wide scanning width. The effect of the laser pinpoint irradiation to only the pigmented lesions on the pigmentation therapy was experimentally examined with the developed apparatus. As a result, the pigmented lesions were able to be removed without affecting any damage to the surrounding tissue. Thus, the laser pinpoint irradiation was proved to be effective in the pigmentation therapy.