title: Variations in laser energy outputs over a series of simulated treatments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Test patches are routinely employed to determine the likely efficacy and the risk of adverse effects from cutaneous laser treatments. However, the degree to which these represent a full treatment has not been investigated in detail.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the variability in pulse-to-pulse output energy from a representative selection of cutaneous laser systems in order to assess the value of laser test patches.
  
  
  METHODS
  The output energies of each pulse from seven cutaneous laser systems were measured using a pyroelectric measurement head over a 2-h period, employing a regime of 10-min simulated treatments followed by a 5-min rest period (between patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each laser system appeared to demonstrate a different pattern of variation in output energy per pulse over the period measured.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The output energies from a range of cutaneous laser systems have been shown to vary considerably between a representative test patch and a full treatment, and over the course of an entire simulated clinic list.
authors: Salisbury Laser Clinic, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 8BJ, U.K.
authors: T S
authors: TS
authors: Lister
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Brewin
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards*; D007834:Lasers / Q000592:standards*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D012867:Skin / Q000528:radiation effects; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000628:therapy*