ERADICATION OF MARKS AND STAINS BY LASER

摘要

A method of and apparatus is described for eradicating marks and stains at or beneath the surface of a substrate. The technique involves the use of a variable wavelength pulsed laser and an optical fibre delivery system to direct a spot of laser light at the treatment site. The laser produces an output in the form of a pulse having a duration in the range of 0.1 to 100 microseconds, at an energy level in the range of 0.5 to 5 Joules at a wavelength in the range of 400 to 900 nanometres. The output may consist of a single pulse or a sequence of pulses with a repetition rate selectable from 1 to 20 Hz. Marks in many different material may be eradicated using this technique. Examples are leather, wood, plastics and skin lesions such as tattoos and "port wine stains".