title: Infrared skin damage thresholds from 1319-nm continuous-wave laser exposures.
abstract: A series of experiments were conducted in vivo using Yucatan miniature pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) to determine thermal damage thresholds to the skin from 1319-nm continuous-wave Nd:YAG laser irradiation. Experiments employed exposure durations of 0.25, 1.0, 2.5, and 10 s and beam diameters of ∼0.6 and 1 cm. Thermal imagery data provided a time-dependent surface temperature response from the laser. A damage endpoint of fifty percent probability of a minimally visible effect was used 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. Resultant trends with respect to exposure duration and beam diameter are compared with current standardized exposure limits for laser safety. Mathematical modeling agreed well with experimental data, predicting that though laser safety standards are sufficient for exposures <10 s, they may become less safe for very long exposures.
authors.affiliation: 711th Human Performance Wing, Optical Radiation Branch, 4141 Petroleum Road, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234.
authors.forename: Jeffrey W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: TASC Inc., 4241 Woodcock Drive, Suite B-100, San Antonio, Texas 78228.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vincelette
authors.affiliation: TASC Inc., 4241 Woodcock Drive, Suite B-100, San Antonio, Texas 78228.
authors.forename: Gary D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Noojin
authors.affiliation: TASC Inc., 4241 Woodcock Drive, Suite B-100, San Antonio, Texas 78228.
authors.forename: Clifton D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: TASC Inc., 4241 Woodcock Drive, Suite B-100, San Antonio, Texas 78228.
authors.forename: Corey A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Harbert
authors.affiliation: TASC Inc., 4241 Woodcock Drive, Suite B-100, San Antonio, Texas 78228.
authors.forename: Kurt J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.affiliation: TASC Inc., 4241 Woodcock Drive, Suite B-100, San Antonio, Texas 78228.
authors.forename: Aurora D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Shingledecker
authors.affiliation: 711th Human Performance Wing, Optical Radiation Branch, 4141 Petroleum Road, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234.
authors.forename: Semih S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kumru
authors.affiliation: Fort Hays State University, Department of Physics, 600 Park Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maughan
authors.affiliation: Fort Hays State University, Department of Physics, 600 Park Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitzis
authors.affiliation: Fort Hays State University, Department of Physics, 600 Park Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.
authors.forename: Gavin D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Buffington
authors.affiliation: TASC Inc., 4241 Woodcock Drive, Suite B-100, San Antonio, Texas 78228.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stolarski
authors.affiliation: 711th Human Performance Wing, Optical Radiation Branch, 4141 Petroleum Road, JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature