Dear Colleagues,
apologies for those of you who have already seen this message through
MDN, but I thought it was important enough to repost. Please direct any
replies to Wim, not to me.
Best regards.... Iain McNab
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 2002 09:05:44 +0200
From: Wim van der Zande <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 800 nm laser skin damage
Dear colleagues
In many of our laboratories, very high peak power, 800 nm pulses are used
often at high rep rates (amplified at 1 kHz with 1 mJ/pulse for example).
In our laboratory, a co-worker has developed a serious damage on the skin
and below the skin of his hand between thumb and pointing finger (of the
hand that is used to align optics). The first signs started way over a year
ago after feeling a number of high intensity pulses from within a NOPA. It
cannot be excluded that it is also a cumulative effect over longer time. The
damage does not seem to cure at all. The medical profession is not sure
what the best cure in the present situation, but suggestions have already
been given of tissue removal.
Could you advice us regarding similar experiences in yours or other
laboratories and on possible rational methods of curing skin and tissue
damage since the penetration depth at these wavelength is subcutaneous,
Sincerely yours
Wim van der Zande
******************************************************************
* Prof. Dr Wim J. van der Zande *
* Group: Atmospheric Photophysics (APP) *
* FOM-Institute AMOLF *
* Kruislaan 407 *
* 1098 SJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands *
* Phone: 31-20-608 1234 or 1235 (direct) *
* Fax: 31-20-668 4106 *
* Prive: 31-35-694 7979 *
* Email: [log in to unmask] *
* http://www.amolf.nl/research/atmospheric_photo_physics *
* Associated with the Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen *
******************************************************************
|