The pulsed solid-state lasers used in dermatology, on the other hand, are measured with pyroelectric sensors. Because of the high power and energy densities involved, Asclepion relies on Ophir sensors of the type PE50BF-DIFH-C, PE50- DIF-ER-C, which have integrated diffusers and thus higher damage thresholds. In order to meet the special requirements of medical technology, the sensors are also adjusted for specific wavelengths, e.g. calibrated to 2940 nm.
Asclepion's collection of metrological solutions for laser power and energy is rounded out with Ophir photodiode sensors. They measure the pilot beam systems that aim at the target in all solid-state lasers, the power of which is in the range of just a few mW. Depending on the area of application, Asclepion transmits the measurement data either via PC interfaces or directly to compact, handheld display devices.
No matter what measurement principle is applied, one thing is certain: Every single laser system that leaves Asclepion's production facility undergoes meticulous final testing. A final inspection protocol – encompassing some 25 - 60 A4 pages – is worked through step by step; depending on the laser system, this last evaluation can take a few days to a week. According to the principle of double checks, every product produced by Asclepion must be formally tested and finally approved by the Quality Assurance Department on the factory site before being shipped out to customers.
Introduced in 2019, the company's picosecond laser proved to be a particular challenge: In addition to the power and/ or energy of the laser beam, the beam profile must also be carefully checked and pre-adjusted on the optical bench during the final test. Here, Asclepion relies on the beam profile measurement taken by an Ophir CCD camera in combination with a beam reducer and the BeamGage or BeamMic analysis software. If, at the end of the beam path, the laser is ever to provide the optimal conditions as prescribed by the laser specifications, it must be carefully pre-adjusted in stages. For this purpose, the beam profile is recorded with the CCD camera at three different positions along the optical bench. These figures show the measurements of a correctly adjusted laser (right) compared to that of a misaligned laser.