title: Infrared skin damage thresholds from 1940-nm continuous-wave laser exposures.
abstract: A series of experiments are conducted in vivo using Yucatan mini-pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) to determine thermal damage thresholds to the skin from 1940-nm continuous-wave thulium fiber laser irradiation. Experiments employ exposure durations from 10 ms to 10 s and beam diameters of approximately 4.8 to 18 mm. Thermal imagery data provide a time-dependent surface temperature response from the laser. A damage endpoint of minimally visible effect is employed to determine threshold for damage at 1 and 24 h postexposure. Predicted thermal response and damage thresholds are compared with a numerical model of optical-thermal interaction. Results are compared with current exposure limits for laser safety. It is concluded that exposure limits should be based on data representative of large-beam exposures, where effects of radial diffusion are minimized for longer-duration damage thresholds.
authors.affiliation: Air Force Research Laboratory, San Antonio, TX 78235-5148, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stolarski
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Noojin
authors.forename: Harvey M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hodnett
authors.forename: Corey A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Harbert
authors.forename: Kurt J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Foltz
authors.forename: Semih S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kumru
authors.forename: Clarence P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Finkeldei
authors.forename: Gavin D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Buffington
authors.forename: Isaac D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Noojin
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004056:Differential Threshold / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007259:Infrared Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000528:radiation effects; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature