Evaluating acute physiological responses of porcine epidermis exposed to a pulsed 3.8 micron laser

摘要

Five male Yorkshire pigs were exposed on their flank to 4 microsecond pulses of laser light from a Deuterium Fluoride 3.8 micron Laser at varying energies. A preliminary EDso threshold for various skin reactions was determined for this laser exposure combination. The animal's skin was assessed for injury immediately, 1 hour, 24 hours and 72 hours post exposure. In general, energies below 3.2 J/cm~2 leave no lasting skin reaction. As energy increased above the threshold, erythema or skin reddening was easily visualized. High-energy pulses appear to produce a "rug bum" erythema without evidence of punctate hemorrage (bleeding) or coagulation. Laser exposure sites on the pigs were also biopsied to obtain histopathological results. These findings suggest that the principal effect of this type of in-vivo laser exposure is removal of the epithelium, while not damaging the papillary dermis or structures beneath the Basement Membrane Zone (BMZ).