Continuous wave and active Q-switched operation of Watt-level LED-pumped two-rod Nd,Ce:YAG laser

A high-performance LED-side-pumped two-rod Nd,Ce:YAG laser with continuous-wave(CW) and acousto–optical(A-O) Q-switched operation is demonstrated in this work. A symmetrically shaped flat–flat cavity with two identical LEDside-pumped laser modules is employed for power scalability. In the CW regime, the maximum output average power of laser at 1064 nm is 4.41 W, corresponding to a maximum optical conversion efficiency of 5.3% and a slope efficiency is 12.4%. In the active Q-switched regime, the pulse energy of laser reaches as high as 0.89 m J at a repetition rate of 800 Hz with a pulse width of 457.2 ns, the corresponding highest peak output power is 1.94 k W and the M~2 factor is measured to be about 8.8. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first demonstration and the highest performance of a CW LED-side-pumped two-rod laser Nd,Ce:YAG with Watt-level output reported so far.

Efficacy and Safety of Alexandrite and Nd:YAG Laser Combination in Permanent Hair Removal

Background and Objective: Unwanted hair growth is a discomforting issue affecting both genders. People have tried various methods to get rid of this situation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a combined Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser treatment for permanent hair removal, drawing insights from existing literature. Materials and Methods:This study included a total of 2127 patients (302 males, 1825 females) aged 18 - 65, with complete data, who underwent hair removal treatment between December 2018 and April 2021. These patients were treated using the Duetta laser system (Quanta system, Samarate, Italy), combining Alexandrite 755 nm and Nd:YAG 1064 nm wavelengths. The patients’ skin types were classified according to the Fitzpatrick classification scale. Target area/areas for laser hair removal was/were determined. Laser parameters, pulse counts, pain levels assessed through the Visual Pain Scale (VPS), and patient satisfaction were documented based on skin types. Findings: Across various skin types, Types I - II exhibited the highest treatment success rates (87%), with the axillary region achieving the highest rate (83%) and the face region achieving the lowest rate (75%). Pain scale analysis indicated that 98% of patients tolerated the procedure well. Patient satisfaction levels exceeded 90%. Evaluation of complication rates revealed minimal occurrences. Conclusion: The combined Alexandrite and Nd:YAG laser system demonstrates both efficacy and safety across diverse skin types, attributed to its notable success rates, minimal adverse effects, and high patient tolerance.

Long-term efficacy and safety of YAG laser vitreolysis for vision degrading myodesopsia

AIM:To assess the long-term efficacy and safety of yttrium-aluminum garnet(YAG)laser vitreolysis for vision degrading myodesopsia(VDM)caused by posterior vitreous detachment(PVD).METHODS:This retrospective study reviewed VDM patients of PVD type undergoing YAG laser vitreolysis.The baseline demographic information,the patterns of floaters,the number of floaters,and the subjective improvement of floater sympotoms(ranging from 0 to 100%)from medical records were collected.Significant improvement was defined as a relief of floater symptoms of≥50%at the final visit.The long-term efficacy and safety of YAG laser vitreolysis were analyzed.The risk factors linked to significant improvement of floater symptoms were defined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.RESULTS:The final analysis included 221 patients with VDM.The mean age of patients was 61.08±7.74y,and the mean length of follow-up was 21.38±5.61mo.Totally 57.01%of patients experienced a significant improvement in their floater symptoms after YAG laser therapy,and none of them developed delayed retinal abnormalities such as retinal tears or detachments.Age(OR=1.049,95%CI=1.007-1.092,P=0.021)was identified as a significant risk factor for significant improvement in VDM.CONCLUSION:YAG laser vitreolysis is an effective and secure treatment for PVD-type VDM,and patients of advanced age are more likely to get favorable outcomes.

Comparison of laser iridotomy using short duration532-nm Nd: YAG laser (PASCAL) vs conventional laser in dark irides

AIM: To evaluate the outcome of laser iridotomy using532-nm Nd: YAG laser(PASCAL) with short pulse duration and Nd: YAG laser compared to conventional combined laser iridotomy.METHODS: Retrospective, nonrandomized, comparative case series. Forty-five eyes of 34 patients underwent laser iridotomy. Twenty-two eyes underwent iridotomy using short duration PASCAL and Nd: YAG laser, and 23 eyes underwent iridotomy using conventional combined laser method. The average settings of PASCAL were60 μm and 700-900 m W with a short duration of 0.01 s to reduce the total applied energy. The conventional laser was 50 μm and 700-900 m W for 0.1s. After photocoagulation with these laser, the Nd: YAG laser was added in each group. Endothelial cell counts of preiridotomy and 2mo after iridotomy were measured and compared.RESULTS: All eyes completed iridotomy successfully.The total energy used in the PASCAL group was 1.85 ±1.17 J. Compared to conventional laser 13.25 ±1.67 J, the energy used was very small due to the short exposure time of PASCAL. Endothelial cell counts were reduced by0.88% in the PASCAL group and 6.72% in the conventional laser group(P =0.044). The change in corneal endothelial cell counts before and after iridotomy was significant in conventional combined laser iridotomy group(P =0.004).CONCLUSION: Combined PASCAL and Nd:YAG laseriridotomy is an effective and safe technique in the dark brown irides of Asians. Furthermore, the short duration of exposure in PASCAL offers the advantages of reducing the total energy used and minimizing the corneal damage.

Passively Q-Switched Nd,Cr:YAG Laser Simultaneous Dual-Wavelength Operation at 946 nm and 1.3μm

A diode-end-pumped Q-switched high-efficiency Nd, Cr：YAG laser with simultaneous dual-wavelength emission at 946nm and 1.3μm is demonstrated. The maximum output power of 1.93 W with simultaneous dual-wavelength operation is achieved at an absorbed pump power of 13.32 W and an absorbed slope efficiency of 15.15%. The maximum optical-optical efficiency is 14.49% with pulse widths of 16.38ns at 946nm and 26.65ns at 1.3μm. A maximum total repetition rate of 43.25 kHz is obtained.

High-Power Passively Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser at 1112 nm with a Cr^(4+):YAG Saturable Absorber

A high-power passively Q-switched Nd：YAG laser operating at lll2nm with Cr4＋：yAO as a saturable absorber is demonstrated. Under 808 nm diode-direct pumping, the maximum average output power of 2.73 W is achieved at the pump power of 16.65 W, corresponding to an optical-to-optical conversion efficiency of 16.4%. At the same time, the pulse width, pulse repetition rate, single pulse energy and peak power are 27.2ns, 9 kHz, 303.3#3 and 11.2kW, respectively. As far as we know, the result gives the highest average output power at 1112nm generated by an 808 nm diode-end-pumped Nd：YAG laser.

Surface modifications of biometallic commercially pure Ti and Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy by picosecond Nd:YAG laser

The effects of picosecond Nd:YAG laser irradiation on chemical and morphological surface characteristics of the commercially pure titanium and Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy in air and argon atmospheres were studied under different laser output energy values.During the interaction of laser irradiation with the investigated materials,a part of the energy was absorbed on the target surface,influencing surface modifications.Laser beam interaction with the target surface resulted in various morphological alterations,resulting in crater formation and the presence of microcracks and hydrodynamic structures.Moreover,different chemical changes were induced on the target materials’surfaces,resulting in the titanium oxide formation in the irradiation-affected area and consequently increasing the irradiation energy absorption.Given the high energy absorption at the site of interaction,the dimensions of the surface damaged area increased.Consequently,surface roughness increased.The appearance of surface oxides also led to the increased material hardness in the surface-modified area.Observed chemical and morphological changes were pronounced after laser irradiation of the Ti–13Nb–13Zr alloy surface.

A 526 mJ Subnanosecond Pulsed Hybrid-Pumped Nd：YAG Laser

A hybrid-pumped Nd：YAG pulse laser with a double-pass two-rod configuration is presented. The focal length of offset lens is particularly studied to compensate for the thermal lens effect and depolarization. For input pulse energy of 141 μJ with pulse duration of 754ps, the pulse laser system delivers 526mJ pulse energy and 728ps pulse width output at lO Hz with pulse profile shape preservation. The energy stability of the laser pulse is less than 3%, and the beam quality factor M2 is less than 2.26.

Effect of thermally induced birefringence on high power picosecond azimuthal polarization Nd:YAG laser system

Pulse-burst 1064-nm picosecond azimuthal polarization beam amplification up to an average power of 16.32 W using side-pumped Nd: YAG amplifiers has been demonstrated. The maximum envelop energy as much as 16.32 mJ, corresponding to a power amplification factor of 299.5%. A simple criterion was defined to help estimate the amount of depolarization in Nd:YAG amplifier stages. The degree of depolarization of the beam was 7.1% and the beam quality was measured to be M2= 3.69. The reason for the azimuthal polarization depolarization and beam quality degradation were explained theoretically and experimentally during the amplification process.

Enhancement of Transdermal Drug Delivery by ns Q-swithed Nd:YAG Laser-induced Pressure Wave

A non-invasive laser enhancing transdermal drug delivery technique has been investigated. The second harmonic wavelength of 532 nm of a Q-Switched Nd:YAG laser with pulse duration of 15 ns was used to irradiate on a black polyethylene sheet covering on the surface of the drug solution, and hence produced pressure waves in the solution. Porcine skin and Rhodamine B were used as skin model and reagent respectively. Fluorescence microscope was employed to examine the mechanisms of drug delivery via the skin samples after laser treatment. The experiment revealed that the penetration depth of Rhodamine B under the illumination of laser increased with the energy density of the laser beam. After 20 laser shots at laser energy density of 70 mJ/cm2, the penetration depth reached 440 μm in 30 minutes, which was about three times as that without laser illumination. One possible explanation was that laser-induced pressure waves formed microchannels in the stratum corneum of the skin tissue. These microchannels provided much more effective paths for infiltration of Rhodamine B through the SC than follicular and intercellular paths. The drug solution diffused into the SC under the concentration gradient through the channels.

Clinical usefulness of transpapillary removal of common bile duct stones by frequency doubled double pulse Nd:YAG laser

AIM: To study the efficacy and the safety of laser lithotripsy without direct visual control by using a balloon catheter in patients with bile duct stones that could not be extracted by standard technique. METHODS: The seventeen patients (7 male and 10 female; mean age 67.8 years) with difficult common bile duct (CBD) stones were not amenable for conventional endoscopic maneuvers such as sphincterotomy and mechanical lithotripsy were included in this study. Laser wavelengths of 532 nm and 1064 nm as a double pulse were applied with pulse energy of 120 mJ. The laser fiber was advanced under fluoroscopic control through the ERCP balloon catheter. Laser lithotripsy was continued until the fragment size seemed to be less than 10 mm. Endoscopic extraction of the stones and fragments was performed with the use of the Dormia basket and balloon catheter. RESULTS: Bile duct clearance was achieved in 15 of 17 patients (88%). The mean number of treatment sessions was 1.7 ± 0.6. Endoscopic stone removal could not be achieved in 2 patients (7%). Adverse effects were noted in three patients (hemobilia, pancreatitis, and cholangitis). CONCLUSION: The Frequency Doubled Double Pulse Nd:YAG (FREDDY) laser may be an effective and safe technique in treatment of difficult bile duct stones.

A new technique for Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy

AIM:To investigate the effects of a new opening pattern in neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet(Nd:YAG)laser posterior capsulotomy on visual function.METHODS:This technique was conducted along a circular pattern.The energy ranged between 0.8 and1.2 mJ/pulse was consumed and mean total energy levels were 74±21 mJ(mean±standard deviation:SD,from 40 to167)and laser shots aimed at 150μm away behind a datum point and went along an imaginary line which extends 0.5 mm inside from optic margin and into the circular en bloc pattern.Vitreous stands were attached with fragment and then they were cut off by the laser after circular application.The circular fragment was completely separated from vitreous,and then this fragment was quickly sunk in intravitreal space.RESULTS:The follow-up period ranges from at least a week to 40mo,making 15.8mo on average.The procedural outcome showed 96%(74 eyes out of the 77eyes)enhancement in patients’visual acuity.Cystoid macular edema or retinal detachment was not observed in any of the patients during follow-up periods.CONCLUSION:This new technique is expected to improve the weaknesses that the conventional procedures have by adding the process to cut off vitreous stands attached with the fragment by the laser to the circular application.

Effects of output waveforms on penetration for Nd :YAG laser welding

By using a Nd: YAG laser welding system devised for transmitting continuous, rectangular and pulsed waveforms, comprehensive and deep investigation is focused on the effects of several parameters of rectangular waveform and pulsed output wave superimposed on a rectangular waveform on the penetration depth of weld. Research results indicate that the average power, duty cycle, frequency and peak power of rectangular wave affect the weld penetration depth to different extent. Results of experiments and analysis also indicate that the pulse delay time, pulse width and the power ratio of pulse to rectangular waveform seriously influence the penetration when the pulsed wave is superimposed on a rectangular waveform.

Pulsed Nd:YAG laser cladding of high silicon content coating on low silicon steel

A pulsed Nd：YAG （yttrium aluminum garnet） laser-based technique was employed to clad low silicon steel with preplaced Si and Fe mixed powders for high Si content. The surface morphology, microstructural evolution, phase composition, and Si distribution, within the obtained cladding coatings, were characterized by optical microscopy （OM）, field emission scanning electron microscopy （FE-SEM）, with associated energy dispersive spectroscopy （EDS）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, and X-ray diffraction （XRD）. The microhardness was also measured along the depth direction of the specimens, A crack- and pore-free cladding coating through excellent metallurgical bonding with the substrate was successfully prepared on low silicon steel by means of optimized single-track and multi-track laser cladding. The phases of the coating are a-Fe, T-Fe, and FeSi. The high microhardness of the lasercladding zone is considered as an increase in Si content and as the refined microstructure produced by the laser treatment. The Si contents of the cladding coatings were about 5.8wt% in the single-track cladding and 6.5wt% in the multi-track cladding, respectively.

Role of Removing Stasis and Reducing Heat Formula in Clearance of Proximal Ureteral Calculi after Ureteroscopic Ho:YAG Laser Lithotripsy: A Prospective Randomized Study

Objective To prospectively evaluate the efficacy of Removing Stasis and Reducing Heat Formula in accelerating calculus clearance and improving lower urinary tract symptoms of patients with proximal ureteral calculi after ureteroscopic Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy. Methods A total of 138 patients with proximal ureteral calculi underwent ureteroscopic Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy by a single endocrinologist. Stone size varied from 10 to 15 mm. After operation, the patients were randomly divided into three groups: the control group(group A), tamsulosin group(group B), and Removing Stasis and Reducing Heat Formula group(group C). The treatment lasted for 4 weeks or until stone clearance. The primary and secondary outcomes of the three groups at follow-up were assessed. Results Of the 131 patients available for follow-up, 44 cases were in the group A, 45 in the group B, and 42 in the group C, respectively. The stone free rate at 2 weeks in the groups B and C were significantly higher than that in the group A(95.56%, 97.62% vs. 79.55%; all P<0.05). The ureteral colic rate and mean time of fragment expulsion were significantly reduced in the groups B(4.44% and 7.86±4.99 days) and C(2.43% and 6.76±4.37 days) compared with the group A(22.73% and 11.54±9.89 days, all P<0.05). On the day of double-J ureteric stent removal, the group C differed significantly from the group A in the total International Prostate Symptom Score, irritative subscore, obstructive subscore, and quality of life score(all P<0.05). Conclusion Removing Stasis and Reducing Heat Formula in the medical expulsive therapy might be an effective modality for patients with calculus in the proximal uretera after ureteroscopic Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy.

Effects of 946-nm thermal shift and broadening on Nd^(3+):YAG laser performance

Spectroscopic properties of flashlamp pumped Nd^3＋：YAG laser are studied as a function of temperature in a range from-30℃ to 60℃. The spectral width and shift of quasi three-level 946.0-nm inter-Stark emission within the respective intermanifold transitions of ^4F3/2→^4I9/2are investigated. The 946.0-nm line shifts toward the shorter wavelength and broadens. In addition, the threshold power and slope efficiency of the 946.0-nm laser line are quantified with temperature.The lower the temperature, the lower the threshold power is and the higher the slope efficiency of the 946.0-nm laser line is,thus the higher the laser output is. This phenomenon is attributed to the ion-phonon interaction and the thermal population in the ground state.

Cutting of nonmetallic materials using Nd:YAG laser beam

This study deals with Nd：YAG laser cutting nonmetallic materials, which is one of the most important and popular industrial applications of laser. The main theme is to evaluate the effects of Nd：YAG laser beam power besides work piece scanning speed. For approximate cutting depth, a theoretical study is conducted in terms of material property and cutting speed. Results show a nonlinear relation between the cutting depth and input energy. There is no significant effect of speed on cutting depth with the speed being larger than 30 mm/s. An extra energy is utilized in the deep cutting. It is inferred that as the laser power increases, cutting depth increases. The experimental outcomes are in good agreement with theoretical results. This analysis will provide a guideline for laser-based industry to select a suitable laser for cutting, scribing, trimming, engraving, and marking nonmetallic materials.

Experimental study of electro-optical-switched pulsed Nd:YAG laser

We report the specification of a compact and stable side diode-pumped Q-switched pulsed Nd：YAG laser. We ex- perimentally study and compare the performance of the pulsed Nd：YAG laser in the free-running and Q-switched modes at different pulse repetition rates from 1 Hz to 100 Hz. The laser output energy is stabilized by using a special configu- ration of the optical resonator. In this laser, an unsymmetrical concave-concave resonator is used and this structure helps the mode volume to be nearly fixed when the pulse repetition rate is increased. According to the experimental results in the Q-switched operation, the laser output energy is nearly constant around 70 mJ with an FWHM pulse width of 7 ns at 100 Hz. The optical-to-optical conversion efficiency in the Q-switched regime is 17.5%.

Nd:YAG water mist laser treatment for giant gestational gingival tumor: A case report

BACKGROUND This case of gestational gingival tumor is huge and extremely rare in clinical practice.As the growth location of this gingival tumor is in the upper anterior tooth area,it seriously affects the pregnant woman's speech and food,causing great pain to the patient.The use of Nd:YGA water mist laser to remove the gingival tumor resulted in minimal intraoperative bleeding,minimal adverse reactions,and good postoperative healing,which is worthy of clinical promotion and application.CASE SUMMARY The patient,a pregnant woman,reported a large lump in her mouth on the first day of postpartum treatment.Based on medical history and clinical examination,the diagnosis was diagnosed as gestational gingival tumor.Postoperative pathological biopsy also confirmed this diagnosis.The use of Nd:YAG water mist laser to remove the tumor resulted in minimal intraoperative bleeding,clear surgical field of view,short surgical time,and good postoperative healing.CONCLUSION In comparison to traditional surgery,Nd:YAG water mist laser surgery is minimally invasive,minimizes cell damage,reduces bleeding,ensures a clear field of vision,and virtually eliminates postoperative edema,carbonization,and the risk of cross infection.It has unique advantages in oral soft tissue surgery for pregnant patients.Therefore,the clinical application of Nd:YAG water mist laser for the treatment of gestational gingival tumors is an ideal choice.

A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF SHORT-TERM EFFICACY OF Nd:YAG LASER PERIPHERAL IRIDOTOMY IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY ANGLE CLOSED GLAUCOMA

Q-switched Nd:YAG laser was used for the peripheral iridotomy in 68 cases(80 eyes) of primary angle closed glaucoma. The average number of laser shots is 20.5(1～127 shots), and the average shot energy is 2.5 mJ(0.9～5.6mJ). The successful rate of iris penetration is about 97.6%. The size of the iris hole is not smaller than 0.2mm^2. The kind of the iris is the most important factor that causes the marked variation in laser shots and in laser shot energy. The main complications of Nd:YAG laser iridotomy p...