Ch 8 glossary vocab

Question 1

ablation

Answer 1

the removal of surface material from the body. Ablative devices vaporize, cut or remove all or part of the epidermis and or dermis.

Question 2

ablative

Answer 2

the ability to cut, vaporize or remove using a laser.

Question 3

absorption

Answer 3

the uptake of one substance into another. In laser/light therapy, the attraction of energy particles, liquid, or gas to a particular chromophore or target in the skin.

Question 4

attenuation

Answer 4

the act of removing light energy from a beam before it exits a second medium; a method of blocking light energy.

Question 5

biopolar radiofrequency (RF) energy

Answer 5

a current that flows on a path of least resistance between positive and negative electrodes that are placed at opposite ends of the treatment forceps or device head. No dispersive electrode is needed.

Question 6

chromophore

Answer 6

the colored cells or target in the epidermis or dermis that absorbs the laser beam’s thermal energy, causing the desired injury or destruction of the material.

Question 7

coherent light

Answer 7

parallel rays or light that travel spatially and temporally in phase with each other.

Question 8

cryogen

Answer 8

a liquified gas that is cooled to -238F

Question 9

dispersing electrode

Answer 9

a “grounding pad” placed on the individual’s thigh or an area of large tissue mass that receives the radiofrequency energy.

Question 10

fluence

Answer 10

irradiance multiplied by the exposure time, measured in joules per square centimeter

Question 11

infrared

Answer 11

electromagnetic radiation found in the invisible spectrum of light.

Question 12

intense pulsed light

Answer 12

a polychromatic, noncoherent, dispersive band or light commonly using wavelengths from 500 to 1,200 nm; a common photoepilation hair reduction method.

Question 13

joules

Answer 13

units of heat energy

Question 14

laser-engerated air contaminants

Answer 14

plume or smoke that is generated from an ablative laser device

Question 15

laser safety officer

Answer 15

the person responsible for the laser safety program at the facility. The LSO is authorized to monitor operation, enforce controls, and oversee hazards associated with laser usage.

Question 16

light- emitting diode (LED)

Answer 16

a device made up of panels of tiny diodes that are pulsed in an exclusive array sequence to trigger a photobiochemical response.

Question 17

lipolysis

Answer 17

the splitting up or destruction of fat cells

Question 18

maser

Answer 18

microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation

Question 19

maximum permissible exposure (MPE)

Answer 19

the level of laser radiation to which a person may be exposed without hazardous ocular or tissue effects.

Question 20

microthermal zone (MTZ)

Answer 20

a column of tissue that is heated by a fractional laser device.

Question 21

modulate

Answer 21

to stimulate or change cellular function

Question 22

monochromatic

Answer 22

describes light consisting of one wavelength that is typically found emitted from a laser system.

Question 23

monopolar radiofrequency energy (RF)

Answer 23

radiofrequency electrical current that uses a dispersive electrode to return the energy back to the generator device.

Question 24

Nevus of Ota

Answer 24

A deep dermal pigmented lesion usually found on the face in populations of darker-skinned Asians.

Question 25

nominal hazard zone (NHZ)

Answer 25

the zone in which direct, reflected, or scattered radiation, during normal operation, exceeds the maximum permissible exposure (MPE)

Question 26

optical density (OD)

Answer 26

the amount of attenuation or reduction of radiant laser energy as it passes through the filter material in the laser eyewear.

Question 27

optical resonator

Answer 27

a cavity containing a laser rod or tube made up of two reflective mirrors at each end. The mirrors reflect light back and forth to build up amplification of the laser light under external stimulus.

Question 28

oxyhemoglobin

Answer 28

hemoglobin in red blood cells that has been oxygenated; a protein in red blood cells

Question 29

photomodulation

Answer 29

LED technology that uses energy-producing packets of light to enhance fibroblast collagen synthesis.

Question 30

quantum theory

Answer 30

“the physics that explains how everything works”. It is a look at the tiniest particles of life, how they interact with each other and light.

Question 31

photons

Answer 31

in quantum theory, the elemental unit of light; a particle of energy that has motion and travels in waves.

Question 32

power density

Answer 32

the rate of energy that is being delivered to tissue by laser light source. Measured in watts per square centimeter.

Question 33

pulse duration (pulse width)

Answer 33

the duration of an individual pulse of laser light; usually measured in milliseconds.

Question 34

scatter

Answer 34

a general physical process involving moving particles that are dispersed through a medium in a nonuniform manner.

Question 35

selective photothermolysis

Answer 35

treatment using an appropriate wavelength, exposure time, and pulse duration with sufficient energy fluence to absorb light into a specific area; it allows damage to targeted tissue without involving the surrounding area.

Question 36

spot size

Answer 36

the diameter of the optical or laser light beam

Question 37

thermal relaxation time (TRT)

Answer 37

the time it takes for the target tissue to dissipate one-half of the heat attained by a laser pulse.