A new treatment protocol using XR3T-1 photobiomodulation for stroke patient

The XR3T-1 device is a rebadged THOR system. I trained Ab Boonswang and the ATA clinic staff in LLLT and the device was used off label for this application.  Our FDA clearance is for temporary relief of muscle and joint pain. We have CE mark for Europe and TGA for Australia. These points were not made clear in the BMJ article.

A couple of minor technical points: There is an error in the technical description of the LED treatment head, the reported spot size of 0.196 cm2 should have been started as “per diode” of which there are 69. The total power was 1390mW (not 1400 as reported) which should be divided by the number of LEDs to get an average : 1390mW/ 69 LEDs / 0.196 each LED = an average power density of approx 100mW/cm2. Some would argue that the way to report power density of a cluster is total power by total area of the array in which case the power density would be approx 50mW/cm2.

Congratulations to Dr Boonswang on getting this published, I look forward to further reports in the future.

Here is the BMJ Case Reports abstract

A new treatment protocol using photobiomodulation and muscle/bone/joint recovery techniques having a dramatic effect on a stroke patient’s recovery: a new weapon for clinicians.

Boonswang NA, Chicchi M, Lukachek A, Curtiss D.

Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Easton Hospital, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA.

Abstract
The subject of this case study is a 29-year-old woman who suffered a brainstem stroke. She remained severely dizzy, had a non-functional left hand secondary to weakness, severe spasticity in the right hand, a right lateral sixth nerve palsy and was unable to ambulate on presentation. The stroke occurred 2 years before presentation. The subject had been treated for 21 months at two different stroke rehabilitation centres before presentation. Our stroke protocol includes photobiomodulation administered with the XR3T-1 device and ‘muscle/bone/joint/soft tissue’ recovery techniques. The patient was seen once a week for 8 weeks and treatment sessions lasted approximately 60 min. The results were dramatic: after 8 weeks of implementation of our protocol, the patient demonstrated positive change in every area of her deficits as determined by improvements in physical examination findings. The gains achieved at 8 weeks have been maintained to this day and she continues to be treated once every 4 weeks.

http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2012/bcr.08.2011.4689.short?g=w_casereports_current_tab