▶ Previous Artlcle : #17-2. IPL(Intense Pulsed Light)
However, photons are incoherent as IPL’s another characteristic, and thus photons form low energy while creating interferences with each other.
In addition, a lack of linearity leads to a low focusing effect on the target chromophore.
In order to treat a lesion using the general properties of light in contrast to those of laser, in the end, it is considered important that light energy is focused on the lesion without being diffused to minimize energy loss.
HELIOSⅡ/LOTUSⅡ/HYPERION – Manufacturer: LASEROPTEK(https://www.laseroptek.com/)
For IPL treatment, therefore, a cooling gel should be applied on the skin to reduce potential side effects such as burns on the epidermis, and the handpiece crystal should be put onto the skin in a vertical direction and make close contact with the skin for irradiation.
IPL is composed of power supply, capacitor bank, cooling system, xenon flash lamp, reflector, optical cut-off filter, and sapphire crystal (Figure 2).
The capacitor bank is a large-capacity condenser system to supply electric energy sufficiently and stably, and the power supply is a system to ensure a stable power supply.
The cooling system is designed to cool sapphire crystal at 2 to 4℃ in order to protect the epidermis against potential burns.
The Xenon flash lamp is a source of light.
A reflector is attached to the back of the xenon flash lamp so that this light source can travel in one direction.
Once the light source allows the passage of the optical cut-off filter to obtain the wavelength needed for irradiation, the intense light of the desired wavelength range reacts with the tissue (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Cut-off filter of IPL (Source: Jeisys).
-To be continued
