A long pulse alexandrite laser for treating dermatological specimens is disclosed. The use of alexandrite allows operation in the near-infrared, specifically in a 50 nm range surrounding 755. Infrared in this range allows good penetration while still achieving an acceptable ratio of hemoglobin to melanin absorption In addition, a method and related system for treating biologic tissue with pulse light includes generating a long effective output light pulse comprising a series of sub-pulses having a fractional duty cycle over a selected effective pulse duration, a periodicity that is less than the thermal relaxation time of a targeted structure, and an interpulse-delay between successive sub-pulses that is greater than the thermal relaxation time of non-targeted structures within the treatment area; and delivering the output light to the tissue of a patient.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/925,589, filed Aug. 9, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,610,052 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/835,012, filed Apr. 8, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,883 entitled "Alexandrite Laser System for Treatment of Dermatological Specimens," by Horace W. Furumoto, et al., which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US97/05560, filed Apr. 4, 1997, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/015,082, filed Apr. 9, 1996, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/835,012 is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/745,133, filed Nov. 7, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,072 the teachings of which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety, and a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/744,344, filed Nov. 7, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,871,479 the teachings of which are incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety.
Lasers capable of lasing at at least two wavelengths are provided having a lasing medium which is capable of lasing at a first wavelength and at a second wavelength. Also disclosed are laser workstations having two lasers driven by a single electronics drive system in which a single energy storage network is connected to a first laser pump chamber operative to excite a first laser medium and connected to a second laser pump chamber operative to excite a second laser medium.
