USER MANUAL (Instruction for Use) SW 6.1
Safety
Version 6.1.6 dated 2020-01-31 EN Page 32 of 201
2.6.4 Working Gas
The active laser medium of an ArF-excimer laser is a premix gas, containing < 0,2% fluorine gas
and 1% to 5% argon, buffered in neon. Up to 5% helium may also be included, thus reducing the
respective portion of neon.
Possible negative influence from the premix gas is minimal due to the low fluorine concentration.
During the exchange of the working gas in the laser cavity, the old gas is neutralized by a filter
and becomes thereby harmless.
The laser head contains only a small quantity of fluorine. It is checked according to the pressure
compartment regulations. An unintentional output of working gas is very unlikely. Fluorine can
be recognized through its pungent smell long before the concentration will reach maximum
allowed values for work areas. If a fluorine gas leak is detected, open the window, leave the room
and call the service department of SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions or the service of your nearest
distributor.
WARNING!
Risk of injury!
In case of the pungent smell of fluorine gas, open the window and leave the
room immediately.
Contact the service department of SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions.
2.6.5 Topic Ozone
During the operation of the laser ozone (O
3
) is created by the laser beam (ultraviolet light with a
wave length of 193 nm) as interaction with O
2
. With extended exposure, ozone can cause
irritations of the respiratory system and of the eyes, as well as headache and further side effects.
Various studies
1,2
show that pregnant women may be particularly sensitive to ozone exposure.
When operating the AMARIS always ensure that the operating environment is sufficiently
ventilated, depending on the size of the room.
If the environmental area is not well ventilated, the ozone may accumulate and, as a result, may
partly absorb the delivered energy of the laser beam. This may influence patient outcomes of
refractive surgery.
1
Lin Y-T, Jung C-R, Lee YL, Hwang B-F. Associations Between Ozone and Preterm Birth in Women Who Develop
Gestational Diabetes.
Am J Epidemiol
. 2015;181(4):280-287. doi:10.1093/aje/kwu264
2
Salam MT, Millstein J, Li YF, Lurmann FW, Margolis HG, Gilliland FD. Birth outcomes and prenatal exposure to ozone,
carbon monoxide, and particulate matter: Results from the Children’s Health Study.
Environ Health Perspect
.
2005;113(11):1638-1644. doi:10.1289/ehp.8111
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