Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment after Transvaginal Polypropilene Mesh for Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Treatment as an Alternative to Improove Mesh Erosion Rates

The support advantages of synthetic mesh in vaginal reconstructive surgery and stress urinary incontinence are significant. However, erosion of the mesh may occur as a complication, Four sessions of fractional CO2 Laser treatment protocol (Mona Lisa Touch Deka M.E.L.A Florence Italy protocol, were performed in the study group to 96 patients, beginning at 30 days, after mesh insertion, important improvement regarding erosion rates was found inside our study group, thanks to the trophic effects of fractional CO2 laser protocol. The use of alternative technologies that provide bio -stimulation of vaginal epithelium by increasing its thickness, and trophic changes that may be related to the very low erosion rate was found in our group of patients

Correlation between Photoluminescence Properties of Surface Defects and Laser-Induced Damage Threshold of Fused Silica

Laser-induced damage threshold is the main limitation for fused silica optics in high-power laser applications. The existence of various defects near the surface is the key factor for the degradation of the threshold. In this work, the photoluminescence spectra at different regions of the damaged and recovered fused silica samples are recorded to analyze the correlation between photoluminescence of surface defects and laser-induced damage threshold. The experimental data concluded the inverse proportional correlation between fluorescence and laser-induced damage threshold value. The weak photoluminescence is the guarantee of the high laser-induced damage threshold, and then the higher local Si nanocluster concentration corresponds with the higher laser-induced damage threshold value for the fused silica optics after CO2 laser treatment. The investigation reveals that photoluminescence measurement can be employed to check the quality of pristine fused silica and evaluate the tendency of the laser-induced damage threshold value. The current results are helpful for understanding the evolution of interaction from CO2 laser treatment and fused silica optics and can provide the guide of process technology for the high quality of fused silica optics.

Laser Patterning of Aligned Carbon Nanotubes Arrays: Morphology, Surface Structure, and Interaction with Terahertz Radiation

The patterning of arrays of aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) allows creating metastructures for terahertz (THz) applications. Here, the strips and columns from MWCNTs vertically grown on silicon substrates are prepared using CO2 laser treatment. The tops of the patterned arrays are flat when the laser power is between 15 and 22 W, and craters appear there with increasing power. Laser treatment does not destroy the alignment of MWCNTs while removing their poorly ordered external layers. The products of oxidative destruction of these layers deposit on the surfaces of newly produced arrays. The oxygen groups resulting from the CO2 laser treatment improve the wettability of nanotube arrays with an epoxy resin. We show that the patterned MWCNT arrays absorb the THz radiation more strongly than the as-synthesized arrays. Moreover, the pattern influences the frequency behavior of the absorbance.

Effect of CO2 laser treatment on the leather surface morphology and wettability

The aim of this research was to determine the influence of pulsed CO2 laser treatment on crust leather surface morphology and wettability. The obtained results revealed that pulsed CO2 laser engraving can be used as an effective tool for crust leather surface treatment. Pulsed CO2 laser treatment only negligible affects the macrostructure of leather, while the morphology and wetting of the leather surface after treatment were changed. It was found that an increase of laser pulses number increases the initial water contact angle value and intensifies the water droplet relaxation process. After laser treatment, the water droplet contact angle relaxation rate increases twofold compare to those for untreated leather. SEM micrographs showed increased defectiveness with rough surface patterns, thermally affected areas, and change of microstructure. The EDX analysis revealed that the engraved leather surface contains a significantly higher amount of carbon but smaller quantities of oxygen compared to those of untreated samples. It was found that only after laser treatment chromium and sulfur in the EDX spectra appear while for untreated samples these elements on the surface were not observed. The results indicate that for investigated samples laser engraving does not affect the concentration of hexavalent chromium and are in accordance with EU requirements.