Maintenance of Laser Devices for Safe Use

Abstract

Since laser devices for medical treatment emit high-power laser light, even laser light that enters eyes indirectly due to reflection or scattering can cause damage. Furthermore, because emissions from most lasers for dental treatment are invisible, one can not notice, if the eyes are exposed to the laser light. Therefore, when using lasers for dental treatment, a laser controlled area should be set up with warnings, and all persons in the controlled area should wear protective glasses. Protective glasses must be adapted to the wavelength and output power of the laser to be used.
On the other hand, since a high-voltage power supply is used in most laser devices, when using a laser, it is necessary to consider protection from not only laser light but also electric shock, so the equipment must be grounded.
Optical components used in laser devices are weak against mechanical shock, and if deviation arises at the angle of the mirrors used for the laser resonator and so on due to vibration or shock, it may lead to a fall of laser power or malfunction. Therefore, it is important for laser devices to give neither vibration nor shock. Since mirrors, lenses, optical fibers, etc. which are used in laser devices deteriorate easily in a humid environment, it is desirable to use and keep the devices in a dehumidified environment. If dirt is adhered to the surfaces of a chip, optical fiber, and so on, it may cause damage or reduce the transmitted power, so it is necessary to perform checks and cleaning every time of use or every several months according to the directions of the maker. However, the parts and procedures of periodical checks and cleaning, and consumable parts and their exchange frequency differ for every model of laser. When two or more models of laser device are being used, the information for each model should not be confused.