Page 106 - LASERS & IPLS IN MEDICAL/AESTHETIC APPLICATIONS

Chapter 1 – Fundamentals of Medical/Aesthetic Lasers and IPLs v1.1
hazardous to the eyes under certain conditions if magnifying optics are used with them, such as a telescope, a microscope or eye loupes.
Examples of Class 1/1M lasers include CD/DVD/BluRay players and laser printers.
Class 1C Lasers (AEL < 0.039 mW)
Class 1C lasers are a relatively new Class and were introduced because of the influx of Class 4 diode ‘hair removal’ lasers from China in recent years. Many of these lasers were not supplied with the correct safety glasses but were emitting invisible laser energy with powers greater than 0.5 watts (making them Class 4 – see below).
To ensure safety the powers-that-be decided to introduce this new Classification rating. To comply with this new rating all such lasers must have an ‘interlock’ built into them so that the laser can only be ‘fired’ when the tip is in contact with the skin, or some other surface.
By doing so, it should be difficult to fire the laser energy into ‘free space’ where it could be a hazard to someone’s eyes!
Class 2 Lasers (AEL < 1 mW)
These are lasers that must emit visible radiation in the wavelength range 400nm to 700nm and whose output is a maximum of 1 mW (milliwatt). They are safe for accidental viewing as protection is ensured by the blink responses (which typically takes around 0.25 seconds in most people). There is no hazard to skin tissue.
Class 2M Lasers (AEL < 1 mW)
These are laser products that only emit visible radiation in the wavelength range 400nm to 700nm, whose total output is in excess of that normally permitted for Class 2 laser products but because of their diverging beams or very low power density are safe for accidental viewing during normal use and comply with the measurement conditions for a Class 2M product. However, they may be hazardous to the eyes under certain conditions if viewed through magnifying optics such as telescopes or binoculars.
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Chapter 1 LEVEL A Fundamentals of Lasers/IPLs
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