Quick Curiousity Question

I was watching a program on history channel, and they were trying to figure out how cows were randomly dying on these farms. They were being cut like with a knife, but the skin around was shaved around the incisions.

ANYWAYS. They were testing methods that could make cuts like this, casue for whatever reason they ruled out knifes haha.

ANYWAYS again, they went to some doctor, and he was using a medical laser to make cuts, and show comparisons etc. etc. etc.

He was cutting away flesh, skin, and hair, with his laser, and it was clearly quite powerful, for it was cutting very fast.

The thing is, it was not visible, until smoke passed through, then you could tell it was IR i do believe.

But the thing is, it had to have been in the Watts category, and he had on no goggles, glasses, or anything.

Is he stupid? Or am I stupid and just missing something?

That cant be safe can it?

Seems weird. I mean at that power, there is no question of a direct hit doing damage, protection would only be for potential reflections, or diffuse IR coming off of the dot...

I would assume IR reflection from a close distance would do damage though, so not having any protection is just... weird.

Hopefully a vet has a better idea about this.

It was likely a CO2 laser, the wavelength (10.000-some nm) does not penetrate the eye, and does therefore not get focused by the lens onto the retina.

A reflection could still burn the corona badly so I don't understand why he would not wear something, like a cheap pair of clear plastic goggles.

BTW:
It was likely bigfoot, all the blurry pictures are clear evidence that he is actually blurry. With that kind of control over light, laser claws is only logical.

Did it look like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/JZ-3-15W-CO2-Laser-Veterinary-Laser-Surgery-/280247734466?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41401110c2

I'm guessing it focussed really close to the point of emission, such that 6 inches away it was already a foot wide, or something crazy and harmless like that ?

I think this is probably what that was about:

52 Cows Killed by One Lightning Strike? Aliens involved? « Xenophilia (True Strange Stuff)

It looked exactly like a soldering iron, corded to a station behind him, and he was holding it about 4-6 inches away from what he was cutting, but I could see the beam, and it had a faint red dot on what he was aiming at the whole time, but pushed a button and you could see a very dismal beam cutting the skin open.

I think it was probably a c02 laser as toke suggested. Just a much bigger more powerful one.

It was cutting really fast, and very deep

Well, funny story. I do software R&D at Virginia Urology on my breaks and am friends with some of the surgeons.

When they do a prostate removal (or other surgery - but this is the common one), a 120W Greenlight system is brought in on a truck. They're rather expensive to outright buy.

The surgeons generally don't know a ton about lasers. You see, they actually have trouble getting the surgeons to wear safety glasses. They used to use Ho:YAG systems (2.08um) when doing surgery. The light was invisible, and the safety glasses used to just get in the way (I believe the surgery was done via camera - the safety glasses were just a precaution). They also treat the new Greenlight systems this way, and it drives the representatives (from Greenlight) crazy, because they require OD6 glasses be worn by everyone in the room.

So I guess my point is that this might not be an isolated mindset; this surgeon may just be really cavalier about the Ho:YAG system he's using.

Just a little insight into the world of laser surgeons.

-Trevor

As an aside... looking up laser scalpel on youtube while eating lunch is NOT a good idea. Really don't feel like eating the rest of my sushi now

twhite828,
Yes, surgeons are not always the most technical types.

But it does remind me of a bridge offices telling about his tour at a hospital (they are supposed to be the ships doctors.)

He asked a surgeon what the big difference was between the surgeons handheld drill for bones and the 14V ones he could get a wallmart.
The surgeon just gave a smile/grin and said "This one cost $20.000".

Toke said:

twhite828,
Yes, surgeons are not always the most technical types.

But it does remind me of a bridge offices telling about his tour at a hospital (they are supposed to be the ships doctors.)

He asked a surgeon what the big difference was between the surgeons handheld drill for bones and the 14V ones he could get a wallmart.
The surgeon just gave a smile/grin and said "This one cost $20.000".

Click to expand...

:crackup: Actually the biggest real difference comes from the certification of the equipment and insurance policies backing those certifications.

In terms of actual physical difference.. surprisingly little if anything.

Reminds me of a West Wing episode where a guy explains to a girl about special $600 ashtrays for submarines. The ashtrays break in three pieces so as not to leave sharp pieces of glass everywhere. What really puzzled me... isn't smoking supposed to be banned on submarines:thinking::shhh:

But seriously this guy was holding this thing a foot away from his face. 6 inches from his subject, staring directly at it, it was a very powerful laser cuttin the HELL outta a piece of cow, just ripping this thing to shreds... it just surprised me even C02 lasers at that close are safe

jakeGT said:

But seriously this guy was holding this thing a foot away from his face. 6 inches from his subject, staring directly at it, it was a very powerful laser cuttin the HELL outta a piece of cow, just ripping this thing to shreds... it just surprised me even C02 lasers at that close are safe

Click to expand...

Well, if he had contact lenses in they might stop any diffuse reflections from damaging his corneas, depending on their composition. Maybe. :thinking:

I think it's probably just a case of a cavalier attitude towards the laser light.

-Trevor

twhite828 said:

Well, if he had contact lenses in they might stop any diffuse reflections from damaging his corneas, depending on their composition. Maybe. :thinking:

I think it's probably just a case of a cavalier attitude towards the laser light.

-Trevor

Click to expand...

Contact lenses?!?! For some very very diffuse reflections maybe. Seems kind of stupid not to wear some kind of protection though.

InfinitusEquitas said:

:crackup: Actually the biggest real difference comes from the certification of the equipment and insurance policies backing those certifications.

In terms of actual physical difference.. surprisingly little if anything.

Reminds me of a West Wing episode where a guy explains to a girl about special $600 ashtrays for submarines. The ashtrays break in three pieces so as not to leave sharp pieces of glass everywhere. What really puzzled me... isn't smoking supposed to be banned on submarines:thinking::shhh:

Click to expand...

Wow that's surprising. Anyway you would think a doctor would wear proper protection.

For anyone that's interested the show I watched is on the history channel right now where I am, Kentucky.

InfinitusEquitas said:

Contact lenses?!?! For some very very diffuse reflections maybe. Seems kind of stupid not to wear some kind of protection though.

Click to expand...

Most standard polycarbonate safety glasses will block CO2 laser emissions. I doubt contact lenses would be particularly transmissive. Citation needed. :na:

-Trevor