Laser Technology & Equipment Flashcards
7 cards from real CLT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Laser Technology & Equipment flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a contact cooling handpiece (such as a sapphire window cooled to 4°C) in laser hair removal?
Answer: Protect the epidermis while allowing laser energy to reach the follicle
Contact cooling pre-cools the epidermis before each pulse, protecting melanin-rich surface cells while allowing laser energy to heat deeper follicular melanin.
Which of the following best defines 'spot size' as it relates to laser treatments?
Answer: The diameter of the laser beam at the skin surface
Spot size refers to the diameter of the laser beam at the treatment surface; larger spot sizes scatter less and penetrate deeper into tissue.
A laser operator notices the laser output energy has decreased over time despite same settings. The most likely cause is:
Answer: Degraded or aged flashlamp/pump diodes needing replacement
Flashlamps and pump diodes have finite lifespans; as they age, they deliver less energy to the gain medium, reducing output and requiring replacement.
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a 'Class IV' laser that differentiates it from lower classes?
Answer: It poses a fire hazard and can cause injury from direct, reflected, or scattered beams
Class IV lasers exceed 500 mW and present hazards from direct, specularly reflected, and diffusely scattered beams, requiring strict safety controls.
In laser physics, 'population inversion' refers to:
Answer: More atoms existing in an excited state than in the ground state
Population inversion is the prerequisite for stimulated emission and lasing, achieved when the pump source elevates more atoms to excited states than remain at ground level.
Which delivery system component focuses the laser beam to a precise spot and allows the practitioner to adjust treatment depth and area?
Answer: Focusing lens or collimating optics in the handpiece
The lens or collimating optics in the handpiece shape and focus the beam to the desired spot size and depth for precise tissue targeting.
A ruby laser emitting at 694 nm is used for tattoo removal. Which ink colors respond best to this wavelength?
Answer: Black and dark blue inks
The 694 nm ruby laser is absorbed by dark pigments such as black and dark blue tattoo inks because they absorb red/near-IR wavelengths well.