Author Archives: James Carroll

About James Carroll

Founder and CEO at THOR Photomedicine Ltd. About THOR

LLLT Q&A : “how it is possible to have higher power density than the applicator’s total power”

Posted on 9 November 2013 by James Carroll

QUESTION FROM KOREA
Dear James

The THOR 810nm 1W laser cluster (5 × 200mW) has a 1/e2 power density of 5.96W/cm2. Just wondering how it is possible to have higher power density than the applicator’s total power

The formula is power/beam area

ILLUSTRATION
When you drive your car at 60 kph that is 60 kilometres per hour you don’t have to drive for one hour and you don’t have to drive for 60 kilometres.
e.g. You can drive at 60kph for one minute* and you will have travelled only 1 kilometre
*(1/60th of an hour)(or to put it another 1 minute = 0.01666 of an hour)

Math: 1 kilometre / 0.01666 hours = 60kph

LASER
Same for laser irradiance (power density)

If the laser was 5 Watts and if the beam area was 1cm2 then you would have 5W /cm2
but 5W/cm2 does not need a 5W laser (same as you don’t need to drive 60 kilometres or drive for one hour)

e.g. a 1W laser with a beam that is 0.2cm2 is also 5W/cm2
Maths: 1W / 0.2cm2 = 5W/cm2

ALSO

If a 200mW laser (0.2W) has a beam area of 0.4cm2 then that is also 5W/cm2

so on the THOR 1W laser cluster we have five beams of 200mW
each beam is approx 0.04cm2
so each beam is approx 5W/cm2

Posted in PBM/LLLT | on LLLT Q&A : “how it is possible to have higher power density than the applicator’s total power”

Protected: Class IV laser vs Class 3B laser vs LEDs

Posted on 7 November 2013 by James Carroll

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Posted in Rants | on Protected: Class IV laser vs Class 3B laser vs LEDs

LLLT for Multiple sclerosis (MS) : Nice work Jeri-Anne, Janis and Chukuka

Posted on 7 November 2013 by James Carroll

Original article  from http://www.sciencecodex.com/light_as_medicine-121445

Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes progressive paralysis by destroying nerve cells and the spinal cord. It interrupts vision, balance and even thinking.

On a suggestion from a colleague, Jeri-Anne Lyons decided to test how the disease responded to a radical therapy – exposure to a certain wavelength of light called near-infrared (NIR). (more…)

Posted in Special Feature | 1 Comment

THOR LLLT research, training and conference news September 2013

Posted on 31 October 2013 by James Carroll

26 papers for you this month starting with a phase III trial of LLLT to prevent oral mucositis in 94 head and neck cancer patients receiving chemoradiation therapy, a controlled clinical trial on 64 diabetic leg ulcers with THOR LED cluster, a clinical trial on 60 patients with diabetic polyneuropathy, a muscle fatigue study, a rat study on acute joint inflammation which confirms that low irradiance (power density) is better than high (as usual) and that the target is the synovia (not the joint) and, finally, a pointless study on hearing loss with a 635nm laser. They used a green 532nm and a red 635nm laser each 7.5mW, applied to the ear, head, and neck for a total of 5 mins. I’m not sure why anyone would think that was going to work!
(more…)

Posted in Research | on THOR LLLT research, training and conference news September 2013

None so blind as the BMJ who will not see

Posted on 31 October 2013 by James Carroll

A few weeks ago (September 2013) the BMJ updated their patient information for neck pain and I quote “There isn’t much specific research that shows drugs help neck pain, but your doctor may recommend one or more of the following” and then they list painkillers (acetaminophen), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants and muscle relaxants. Well, guess what, there was NO mention of LLLT.

Of course I wrote to the BMJ, pointing out there are at least 17 RCTs for LLLT on neck pain and a systematic review in the Lancet and added “What kind of a review did your team do that missed LLLT and yet suggests drug therapies that lack evidence?” and the reply was “The patient leaflets are written from reviews of the evidence on treatments compiled by our scientific and clinical teams for the Best Practice and Clinical Evidence products. The treatments to be included are decided upon with advice from clinical experts in the field. I will forward your message to the teams involved in deciding the scope of the Clinical Evidence and Best Practice topics linked to the neck pain patient leaflet, so that they can consider your comments when they next review the scope of the topic”

Should I respond and what should I say?

I am a fan of the BMJ. They are not usually a slave to the pharma industry and they are not afraid to confront them or any blinkered “business as usual” physicians so I fully expect LLLT to be in next years guidlines (I shall make sure of it). That is my upbeat comment for this month.

Posted in Rants | 7 Comments

Draft: Suggestions for consent before LLLT

Posted on 30 September 2013 by James Carroll

Here are some suggestions to help you develop your patient informed consent form

INTRODUCTION
Photobiomodulation is low intensity laser treatment that has been shown to reduce inflammation, improve healing and reduce pain from back and neck pain, from sports injuries, after surgery and after radiotherapy treatments.

This low intensity laser light is applied to injuries for one minute per treatment site. Multiple sites may need treatment so treatment time can take several minutes.

You will hear a beep when the machine is switched on and occasionally some people feel a warm or tingling sensation

SAFETY
The laser machine is approved use by the United States, Heath Canada, UK, European Union and Australia.

We do not treat over tumours, or the eyes or or directly over the womb of a pregnant mother.

You will be asked to wear specially safety glasses. This is an extra precaution to keep your eyes safe and make sure you cannot see if you are getting the active or sham laser therapy. You must wear them for the entire time the laser therapy machine is switched on. The person giving you the treatment will be also wearing safety glasses.

SIDE EFFECTS
There are no reported significant side effects. Occasionally pain might feel slightly worse for a few hours after treatment.

  • Do you understand that this is a laser and light therapy treatment intended to stimulate healing and relieve pain?
  • The treatment should not be painful and you should feel no significant heat, but you might feel a pleasant warmth.
  • Are you pregnant?
  • Are you epileptic?
  • Do you have any known carcinoma?
  • Are you photosensitive or taking any photosensitising drugs ?
  • Warn patients they may have temporary aggravated symptoms after LLLT

What else ?
Please add your comments and suggestions below

 

Posted in Training | 2 Comments

THOR LLLT research, training and conference news August 2013

Posted on 28 September 2013 by James Carroll

38 papers for you this month starting with a review from Harvard on LLLT for hair loss, a clinical trial on osteoarthritis*, a trial on wound healing post tooth extraction on HIV+ patients* (see rant below), a review of laser vs needles on myofascial trigger points, effect of laser vs needle acupuncture on the CNS, an extensive report on auricular laser acupuncture, a trial using red LED light on muscle activity. I also found 19 LED studies studies that got missed in previous literature watches so I have added those (so you get 57 papers ins all in this literature watch) and that brings the total number of LED research papers in my collection to 260.
(more…)

Posted in Research | on THOR LLLT research, training and conference news August 2013