One of the most common laser repair services we perform here at Apex Medical Lasers, is Flash Lamp Replacements. Like the majority of components that make up your medical laser, flash lamps can go bad if they become worn out or if other parts go bad. Most times something else goes wrong and will eventually cause damage to the flash lamp. Small and fairly fragile, a non-working flash lamp renders your equipment or handpiece useless.
Good news is we stock flash lamp replacement part for the leading brands of aesthetic laser systems and can get you up and running quickly.
Flash Lamp Basics – What are they and where are they?
Flash lamps are used to power the laser component of your equipment. They look like thin long lightbulbs and are designed to create a set amount of energy. Depending on manufacturer design, flash lamps can be found inside the handpiece or inside the base unit.
Flash Lamps In Your Base Units: Flash lamps that are located in your base unit transmit energy into the laser head. From there the laser beam is generated and then makes its way through a series of other components, such as optics and travels into the handpiece and then through more optics before being directed to the patients skin. Flash lamps are commonly found in systems that use Intense Pulsed Light (as is the case for many hair removal lasers) and in YAG based laser systems.
Handpiece Based Flash Lamps: The flash lamps here power up the handpiece and are cooled with water that is running through the flow tubes surrounding the flash lamp. The handpiece optics direct the beam to the patient’s skin.
So Why Do Flash Lamps Go Bad?
A variety of factors can cause the flash lamp to become damaged. Following are typical examples of things that can cause damage to your flash lamp:
- The most common reason they go bad – usage.
- The laser head itself is damage and results in the flash lamp burning.
- Dropping the handpiece can damage the flash lamp along with other important components.
- Flow tube leaks water into the handpiece or system.
- Dust can actually cause the flash lamp to burn and dust will damage other components as well.
- Overheating due to over usage of the equipment. When you overuse the equipment, it cannot effectively be cooled because the water flow will get above the recommend temperature. If it gets too hot inside the handpiece or the equipment, components, including the flash lamp can crack and break.
- Power surges from a malfunctioning high voltage power supply (HVPS) can also cause the lamp to break or burn.
Cosmetic Laser Equipment That Uses Flash Lamps in Their Handpiece
- Palomar StarLux 300 and 500 handpieces
- Palomar Icon handpieces
- Alma Harmony handpieces
- Cutera Handpieces: Limelight, LP 560, Opus 600, Pearl, ProWave 770, Titan (XL, S & V)
- Lumenis Handpieces: LightSheer series
- Syneron Handpieces such as the AC, DS, LV, ST and SRA
- Sciton BBL, BBLs, 2940 ER and Nd Yag
Aesthetic Laser Equipment That Uses Flash Lamps in Their Base Unit
- Candela GentleMax, GentleLase and GentleYag and the mini’s
- Candela Pro Series GentleMax, GentleLase and GentleYag Pro Series
- Cutera XEO and Coolglide system
- Cynosure Affirm, Apogee and Apogee Elite and Apogee 500 systems
- ConBio Medlite 4 and C6
Remember, if the flash lamp is damaged or broken, your handpiece or the system itself will not work at all. Contact us today for your IPL and laser flash lamp repairs. We can help!
