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Category Archives: Special Feature
Lasers at the olympics
I know of at least 3 teams using THOR lasers at the London Olympics
GB, USA and Australia.
Who else do you know here with a THOR ?
Posted in Special Feature
on Lasers at the olympics
Two tigers and a bear get THOR LLLT / Low Level laser Therapy
As you probably know, LLLT / Low Level laser Therapy can be used on horses, dogs and cats. What about big cats and grizzly bears?
(more…)
Posted in Special Feature, Veterinary
2 Comments
How Photobiomodulation Therapy Works (video cartoon)
A short introduction to how the Photobiomodulation behind THOR lasers effects the body.
PBM Therapy has a photochemical effect (like photosynthesis in plants). One of the main mechanisms of action occurs in the mitochondria (the cellular power plant inside every cell). The effect depend on the application of the correct wavelength and density of light, delivered to the target tissues for an appropriate period of time (typically between 30 – 60 seconds). Pulses can improve tissue repair and anti-inflammatory effect, analgesia is best achieved with a continuous beam.
Read more about How Photobiomodulation (PBM Therapy) works.
Posted in Information Videos, Special Feature, Video of the Week
on How Photobiomodulation Therapy Works (video cartoon)
The THOR LLLT Treatment Protocols Library
The Treatment Protocol Library is available only to THOR Customers and/or people who have attended a THOR training course in the last 3 years. All treatments are based on our four step method which includes treatment of the injury, trigger points, lymphatics and nerve roots.
A quick insight into navigating the THOR treatment library, where our customers can learn how to apply our PBM treatments, and download these for future reference.
Posted in Information Videos, Special Feature, Video of the Week
2 Comments
Many diodes make light work
Having just posted a feature on Prof. Jan Bjordal and the WALT dosage recommendations (read here), I am thinking about dose and cluster probes.
The advice from them is that the correct energy should be applied, that the whole pathology should be treated and, in some cases, there is a power density limit.
At our training course last weekend, someone asked how our LED cluster probe treatment dosage can be compared with the WALT guidelines which are based on single probe treatments. For example, the guidelines for treating a tennis elbow is one or two points, 4 joules per point, max 100mW/cm2.
With our 69 LED cluster probe, for example, the total power applied seems very high (1390 mW). It delivers 4 joules in less than 3 seconds. But this energy is delivered over a very wide area (28 cm2), not over a single point as in the WALT guidelines.
If we divide the 1390 mW power delivered by the area covered of 28 cm2, we get 50mW/cm2. So each cm2 gets 50mW, in which case 4 Joules is achieved at every square cm in 1min 10 seconds. That seems reasonable at first.
We conducted studies on a pig and on a cadaver and found that at 3 cm and 5 cm deep. our 69 LED cluster has the same power density at depth as our 200mW laser which has a surface power density of 5,000mW/cm2. The study showed that light at 50mW/cm2 from the LEDs on the surface scatters and then accumulates at depth to achieve the same density as our single 200mW laser. A 200mW laser delivers 4 joules in 20 seconds but with its surface power density of 5,000mW/cm2, it is considered too strong for treating a tennis elbow (as it exceeds the recommended power density maximum of 100mW/cm2). However, the LED cluster probe has a lower surface power density (so doesn’t exceed the WALT guidelines) but maintains a suitable power density several cm down, to deeper the target tissues.
I think that cluster probes achieve the best of both worlds, they have a lower surface density light than most lasers and yet the same subcutaneous density at depth and over a larger area too, so the whole pathology gets a more even treatment.
I would love you to leave me some feedback. If you use our LED clusters what is your clinical experience? and if you are a physicist what formulas might explain this?
I’m thinking that many diodes make light work, better.
Please leave a comment
Posted in Special Feature
1 Comment
Are “Superluminous Diodes” better or different than super bright LEDs ?
Peter Jenkins (PJ) and I are competitors in business but friends in search of the truth about LLLT devices, mechanisms, treatment method and dose. We have different strengths and one of Peters is his nose for BS and willingness to dig up the truth and write about it on public forums.
I was cruising the net as you do reading blogs and PR nonsense about LLLT when I read for the thousandth time a reference to “Superluminous Diodes”. So I dropped PJ a line to ask for his view on the use of these terms, and with his permission I am publishing his response:
On 1/26/11 1:58 PM, “James Carroll” wrote:
PJ
Just want to make sure we are on the same page on this …
Superluminous Diodes are a marketing hype term used exclusively by the LED therapy / LLLT industry and no better than LEDs right ?
On 26 Jan 2011, at 11:21, Peter A Jenkins wrote:
There are such devices – correctly called ‘superluminescent diodes’ – but they are rarely used in LLLT/LEDT due to their cost.
Superluminescent diodes are a crossover-type device that essentially operates like an edge-emitting laser diode at the lasing threshold, so it’s not lasing but is producing a beam that is of better quality and higher intensity/brightness than that of an LED.
They’re usually used in imaging operations where monochromaticy is desired but the coherence is not (due to the ‘noise’ of the speckle field).
Typically those devices used for LEDT are what the LED industry generally calls ‘super-bright’, although some Chinese LED producers occasionally – and incorrectly – use the terms ‘super luminous’ and ‘superluminescent’ to mean the same thing.
Googling “superluminous diode” shows up 2330 results, most of which are about LEDT/LLLT, which shows the limited application of the term.
OR, the short answer…
Pretty much.
Posted in Rants, Special Feature
on Are “Superluminous Diodes” better or different than super bright LEDs ?
What makes THOR probes special (why we test LEDs)
Posted in Information Videos, Special Feature, Video of the Week
on What makes THOR probes special (why we test LEDs)