Automated Laser Debridement System for Cutaneous Injuries

The primary objective of this project is the development of an automated system that will scan large areas of a casualty’s body that are in need of wound debridement following a skin injury, and perform the debridement. The system uses an Er-YAG (erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet) laser technology for debridement. The system allows the attending physician to program the instrument to debride specific areas of the damaged tissue. Following a process of skin surface scanning, the physician interactively circumscribes the treatment areas on a video screen and enters the operating parameters of the laser. The system will then quickly and automatically perform the debridement. The system is provided with several layers of safety protection. In addition to the treatment of thermal and chemical wound, the developed system will have numerous other applications, including for the treatment leg ulcers (e.g., venous stasis ulcers, pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers), penetrating injuries to the skin that may require frequent debridement to help these wounds to heal, and for various laser procedures in dermatology.