According to News 8 Austin, this new laser offers a treatment in which skin resurfacing is done through “tiny areas of thermal wounds in a dot-like grid. It leaves areas of healthy skin in between. Healthy cells in the untouched spots promote rapid healing of the entire area.”
Reliant Technologies provides further details of Fractional™ Photothermolysis:
Treating the skin fractionally with patterns of microscopic laser spots, each of which is 30-50 micrometers in diameter, results in a unique wound healing process. This is aided by the fact that each laser spot (known as a microthermal zone, or MTZ) is surrounded by healthy tissue. Many of the stem cells and melanocytes in the papillary dermis are spared. Fractional wound healing results in both rapid reepitheliazation of the epidermis as well as collagen remodeling to depths of 400-700 microns.
The laser hand piece is designed to comfortably slide across the skin. The unique feature of this hand piece is Reliant Technologies’ patented Intelligent Optical Tracking System (IOTS), which ensures that the laser creates a consistent treatment zone pattern. The device self-adjusts to velocity and ensures a constant pattern density of MicroThermal Zones. For instance, if you move at 2 cm per second, it lays down the predetermined grid of MTZs at the same speed. For additional operator safety, the laser will not fire if the optical hand piece is not in contact with skin.
More at Reliant Technologies.