Argon laser treatment can be used to treat a number of eye conditions including glaucoma, diabetic eye disease and some retinal holes and tears. It can also be used to prevent an eye condition from getting worse, and sometimes to cure it.

What is argon beam?

Argon beam therapy is a modern, safe form of heat (cautery) treatment for some diseases of the bowel and stomach lining. It allows the doctor to produce controlled burning of the superficial tissue without producing deep damage. It is useful for treating bleeding areas, small cancers or polyps.

How much does an argon laser cost?

How Much Does Laser – Argon Cost? The prices of some systems can be as low as 500 USD or less, while the newest, high-tier systems may cost as much as 30.000 USD.

Why argon laser is used in photodynamic therapy?

Argon lasers are FDA approved for use in photodynamic therapy to treat actinic keratoses and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Photodynamic therapy uses a combination of a light energy and a photosensitising agent (a medication that is activated by light).

How does argon laser work?

The argon gas laser works by burning and sealing the blood vessels. … The lasers give out continuous waves of milliwatts to tens of watts. It passes through tubes made of Nickel end bells, Kevlar metal to ceramic seals, beryllium oxide ceramics or tungsten disks.

Is argon used in eye surgery?

Narrow-angle glaucoma treatment: An argon gas laser is used for trabeculoplasty for narrow-angle glaucoma. It improves the drainage of the aqueous humor (eye fluid).

Is Argon Plasma Coagulation the same as ablation?

Conclusions: RFA and APC were both effective in treating bleeding from GAVE. Though we found subtle differences, patients underwent a similar number of treatment sessions and had similar procedure times and a similar time between sessions no matter the treatment modality used.

How effective is argon plasma coagulation?

Results: At a median follow-up of 11 months, ten patients (83 percent) had a significant reduction in the severity and frequency of bleeding, with complete cessation in six (50 percent).

What is the advantage of using argon plasma coagulation?

The theoretical advantages of APC include its ease of application, speedy treatment of multiple lesions in the case of angiodysplasias or wide areas (the base of resected polyps or tumor bleeding), safety due to reduced depth of penetration, and lower cost compared with laser.

Is argon gas an ar2?

It is a noble gas with atomic number 18. It is monoatomic argon which is used in fluorescent tubes. The molecular formula of Argon Gas is Ar. Argon is a colourless and odourless noncombustible gas. … Properties Of Argon Gas Formula.

Molecular formula Ar
Melting point −189.34 °C

Is Argon an atom or ion?

Argon is a chemical element with the symbol Ar and atomic number 18. It is in group 18 of the periodic table and is a noble gas. Argon is the third-most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere, at 0.934% (9340 ppmv). …

Argon
Atomic number (Z) 18
Group group 18 (noble gases)
Period period 3
Block p-block

What is SLT laser surgery?

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty, or SLT, is a form of laser surgery that is used to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma. It is used when eye drop medications are not lowering the eye pressure enough or are causing significant side effects. It can also be used as initial treatment in glaucoma.

How do gas lasers work?

A gas laser is a laser in which an electric current is discharged through a gas to produce coherent light. The gas laser was the first continuous-light laser and the first laser to operate on the principle of converting electrical energy to a laser light output.

Does Medicare cover trabeculoplasty?

Q Does Medicare cover selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT)? A Yes. Trabeculoplasty performed with a frequency doubled Nd:YAG laser1 . (also known as SLT) is a covered procedure when it is medically necessary and supported in the patient’s medical record.

What are 3 types of lasers?

Types of lasers

What does an argon laser look like?

The argon laser contains argon gas and produces a visible blue-green beam with wavelengths of 488 nm and 514 nm, which are absorbed selectively by hemoglobin, melanin, and other pigments that lie under the retina.

What kind of laser is argon?

Argon laser The argon-ion laser was invented in 1964 by William Bridges at the Hughes Aircraft Company and it is one of the family of ion lasers that use a noble gas as the active medium. Argon-ion lasers are used for retinal phototherapy (for the treatment of diabetes), lithography, and the pumping of other lasers.

What is Argon laser ablation?

The laser induces heat energy in the retina and can be precisely focused and adjusted from simply stimulating the retina to reduce swelling, to creating small scars in the retina to cauterize blood vessels or prevent a retinal tear from extending and/or leading to a retinal detachment.

How does argon laser trabeculoplasty work?

Surgery Overview Laser trabeculoplasty uses a very focused beam of light to treat the drainage angle of the eye. This surgery makes it easier for fluid to flow out of the front part of the eye, decreasing pressure in the eye.

Can you drive after laser retina surgery?

After having lasik or lasek surgery, legally you aren’t allowed to drive until you’ve been given the all clear by your ophthalmic surgeon. You will be given a follow-up appointment for the day after your procedure, so again you’ll need to either ask a friend to drop you off, or else take a taxi or public transport.

When is argon plasma coagulation used?

Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a medical endoscopic procedure used to control bleeding from certain lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. It is administered during esophagogastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy.

What is ablation?

Ablation is a procedure to treat atrial fibrillation. It uses small burns or freezes to cause some scarring on the inside of the heart to help break up the electrical signals that cause irregular heartbeats. This can help the heart maintain a normal heart rhythm.

How hot is argon plasma?

Argon ICP plasma discharge temperatures are typically ~5,500 to 6,500 K and are therefore comparable to that reached at the surface (photosphere) of the sun (~4,500 K to ~6,000 K).

What color is argon plasma?

bluish pink Argon plasma has bluish pink color and nearly uniform.

What is APC treatment for radiation proctitis?

Rectal bleeding caused by radiation proctitis is difficult to manage. Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is an electrocoagulation technique that appears to be an effective and low-cost alternative to the use of lasers in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

How long is APC procedure?

The procedure itself takes about 30 to 45 minutes. An hour after the procedure you will be given a tepid drink and if the recovery staff are happy you will be able to go home.

Why is argon used in surgery?

Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is a monopolar electrosurgical technique which uses argon discharges at atmospheric pressure to coagulate tissue. Argon was chosen because it is biochemically inert, has a low breakdown voltage and is relatively inexpensive.

How is argon plasma made?

A high-frequency generator, typically operated at 27 or 40 MHz and with a power of 1–2 kW, is used to produce a high-frequency field through an induction coil, which is positioned at the outside of the torch. In this way, the argon plasma is produced, i.e. the argon is ionized and the plasma is sustained.

What is argon enhanced coagulation?

Argon-enhanced coagulation (AEC) is a method for operative coagulation of tissues that utilizes a jet of argon gas encompassing an electrofulguration arc. Concern has been raised that the argon jet may produce harmful venous gas embolization.