Characterization of the Workspace and Limits of Operation of Laser Treatments for Vascular Lesions of the Lower Limbs

Abstract

The increase of the aging population brings numerous challenges to health and aesthetic segments. Here, the use of laser therapy for dermatology is expected to increase since it allows for non-invasive and infection-free treatments. However, existing laser devices require doctors’ manually handling and visually inspecting the skin. As such, the treatment outcome is dependent on the user’s expertise, which frequently results in ineffective treatments and side effects. This study aims to determine the workspace and limits of operation of laser treatments for vascular lesions of the lower limbs. The results of this study can be used to develop a robotic-guided technology to help address the aforementioned problems. Specifically, workspace and limits of operation were studied in eight vascular laser treatments. For it, an electromagnetic tracking system was used to collect the real-time positioning of the laser during the treatments. The computed average workspace length, height, and width were 0.84 ± 0.15, 0.41 ± 0.06, and 0.78 ± 0.16 m, respectively. This corresponds to an average volume of treatment of 0.277 ± 0.093 m3. The average treatment time was 23.2 ± 10.2 min, with an average laser orientation of 40.6 ± 5.6 degrees. Additionally, the average velocities of 0.124 ± 0.103 m/s and 31.5 + 25.4 deg/s were measured. This knowledge characterizes the vascular laser treatment workspace and limits of operation, which may ease the understanding for future robotic system development.