Candela AlexTriVantage, Operator'S Manual

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8501-00-1800, Revision 05 Confidential 1-9
Candela Corporation AlexTriVantage Laser System
Flash Fire Hazards
WARNING! Extreme caution must be used whenever oxygen is present during the
laser procedure. The presence of oxygen greatly accelerates combustion of any
flammable material. Failure to follow adequate precautions could result in a fire and
possible injury to the patient or staff.
WARNING! Hair, gauze, masks, cannula and airway materials can be ignited by laser
energy in an oxygen enriched atmosphere. Even if thoroughly soaked with saline,
flammable materials can be ignited by laser energy in the presence of oxygen. The
following sequence can lead to a flash fire during laser treatment:
1. Oxygen (with or without other gases) is administered via a mask, endotracheal
tube, or nasal cannula. Leakage of oxygen generally occurs near the eye region
where a tight seal of the mask is difficult to maintain, near the nasal area when a
nasal cannula is used, or near the mouth area when an endotracheal tube is used.
2. An oxygen-rich atmosphere is created beyond the oxygen delivery device and
dissipates over the facial area. Transient local concentrations of oxygen can occur
sufficient to greatly accelerate combustion.
3. During treatment, the laser pulse strikes combustible material which absorbs the
laser energy, resulting in the heating of the material beyond the combustion point.
This can be as simple as the singeing of the tip of a single hair at the hairline,
eyebrow, or eye lash.
4. This momentary, and possibly unnoticeable, ignition sets off a more significant flash
fire. The fire then follows a path from the peripheral area of the oxygen enriched
atmosphere towards the most oxygen enriched zone. This is generally the oxygen
source (mask, cannula, endotracheal tube).
5. Since the flash fire represents combustion and oxygen itself is not combustible,
other combustible substances are involved as a secondary effect of the initial
ignition. These combustible substances may be related to hair, gauze, oxygen
delivery devices, anesthesia gases, or byproducts of anesthesia in the oxygen
enriched atmosphere.
6. A burn may then occur where this secondary effect is present. This accounts for the
situation of a burn occurring in an area not being directly treated by the laser.
Caution! The electrical and laser radiation hazards present during servicing of the
AlexTriVantage Laser System can be extremely dangerous. The system should be
serviced only by those qualified technicians who have received appropriate training on
the AlexTriVantage Laser System from Candela.