Healing with Lasers
Eduardo Gonzalez
Professor Rick Birdwell
Tech. Writing 2311-202
April 24, 2015
Abstract This paper was written with the purpose to inform people of the uses of Low Level Laser Therapy as well as provided insight on the potential of this technology. This includes misconceptions and facts, healing of both external and internal wounds and the reduction of pain. Some knowledge over lasers and cells will be necessary to understand this paper. My sources are both secondary and tertiary sources composed of scholar journals and internet articles as well. In order for the reader to understand the terms in this paper, key terms will be provided and a glossary as well in the end of the paper.
Key Terms Central Nervous System (CNS) Cerebral Cortex Collagen Cytokine
GaAlAsP diode laser GGT Hemoglobin Interleukin Irradiate LASER LLLT
Milliwatts (mW) nm Nerve Graft Osteoblast Osteogenesis
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Placebo Effect Thalamus Thalassemia Intermedia
β thalassemia Ulcers
Table of Contents
Cover Page…………………………………………………………………………………….i
Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………….ii
Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………………..iii
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………........1
LLLT: Misconceptions and Facts……………………………………………………………..1
Reducing and Eliminating
Here, a laser of specific wavelength is targeted on a particular area of the skin. The light from the laser beam is absorbed by the flawed outer layer of the skin and results in its vaporization. With the removal of the outer layer, the new, healthier underlying skin develops.
It was developed by Professor Jorge C. Gerlach and colleagues of the Department of Surgery at the University of Pittsburg’s McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine. The skin cell gun is an electronically controlled pneumatic device which is considered to be a sophisticated paint spray gun. The patient’s own damage-free skin cells are first taken via biopsy. From the biopsy sample, healthy stem cells are then isolated. Those stem cells are then mixed with an aqueous solution then sprayed onto burn areas of the patient’s body. For burn victims, the skin cell gun cuts healing to days as oppose to weeks and months. Deaths of burn victims due to infection have reduced and pain management has increased. Technology currently has not developed enough for the skin cell gun to treat third degree victims but there is hope for it in the near future (Edwards,
New England Laser Lipo is a clinic that performs minimally-invasive procedures. Smart lipo is one of the procedures performed at this clinic. This is a procedure that is performed under local anesthesia and it permanently destroys fat cells. It can also help tighten the skin and tighten the skin. Smart lipo reduces fat with laser-assisted lipolysis. The Food And Drug Administration first approved this procedure in 2006.
Zheng, Z., Kang, H., Lee, S., Kang, S., et al. (2014). Up-regulation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 9 expression and FGF-WNT/β-catenin signaling in laser-induced wound healing. Wound repair and regeneration. 22(5): 660-665.
According to The American Cancer Society, 43.92% of males and 38% of females have the risk of developing cancer during his/her lifetime (“Lifetime Risk,” 2013). External beam therapy is a common cancer treatment that is distributed from a machine and is focused on the cancer inside the patient (External Beam Therapy, 2014). The treatment is a lot like getting an x-ray only the treatment is more time-consuming and uses a high dosage of radiation which is measured in units called Gray (Gy) (“External Beam Therapy” n.d.). Some of the machines for external beam therapy include linear accelerators, cobalt machines, and orthovoltage X-ray machines (Hopkins, n.d.). The type of machine used on each patient will be decided by the radiation oncologist (Hopkins, n.d.). The machine will not touch the patient and as you read further you will learn it does not hurt, and the radiation cannot be seen, felt, or smelled (“Lifetime Risk”, 2013). External Beam Therapy is an effective and safe treatment plan used to treat cancer.
Our specialist will discuss the process and risks during a consultation. Complications after the procedure are very rare. Endovenous laser treatment is safe and
Our ability to restore damaged tissues and organs today relies on three large categories of interventional
The therapeutic properties of light have a long history. The ancient Indians discovered, in 1,000 BCE that light therapy, in addition to psoralens, a plant compound, could cure vitiligo (Barr, H. et al., 2002). In the early 20th century, Niels Finsen’s and his wife’s treatment of lupus vulgaris with ultra-violet light notably earned them the Nobel Price (Barr, H. et al., 2002). A more modern application of light’s theraputic properties is photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy destroys tumours through the use of a photosensitizer, oxygen, and light in a wavelength specific to the photosensitizer (Brown & Ibbotson, 2009, p. 251; Barr, Kendall, Reyes-Goddard & Stone, 2002, p. 136). First, the photosensitizer is administered (Brown & Ibbotson,
Cosmetic, plastic and general surgeons commonly perform laser skin resurfacing to improve the appearance of their patients' skin. The technology available to these professionals today enables precise control of the laser equipment, even in tender or difficult areas of the body.
Ultrasound has been used as a therapeutic modality for decades. Depending on the frequency and duration of the ultrasound there has been speculation of possible effects of healing of a wide variety of conditions. Some including fractures, tendinopathies and overall healing of tendon and muscular injuries. Therapeutic ultrasound is a deep penetrating agent that produces changes in tissue through either thermal or non-thermal mechanisms6. Ultrasound uses acoustical energy, depending on the frequency and wavelength of the energy ultrasound can be used for imagining, therapeutic deep tissue heating or tissue destruction6.
Laser skin resurfacing is also known as a laser peel or lasabrasion is the use of a laser beam to treat the problematic part of the skin like acne scarring, age spots, wrinkles or other blemishes. Laser resurfacing rejuvenates the skin's epidermis and dermis, removing damaged skin and encouraging the growth of collagen. Other skins irritations that laser resurfacing can heal are warts, uneven skin tone, liver spots, chicken pox scars etc.
The biological effect of laser on live tissues depends on many factors and variables. Also light penetration and absorption in biological tissue are dependent on several variables, and one of the most important is the wavelength of the laser. Different wavelengths have been used for treatment of TMDs: 632.8 nm neon–helium (He–Ne) laser, 670nm, 690nm, 780 nm, 830 nm, 890 nm, wavelengths of 830 nm to 904 nm and 904 nm13, 14. In the current study the Diode laser of 870 nm wavelength was used in continuous mode.
Before any session, the patient will need fill out a consultation. This is done because to provide any medical issues that may prevent the doctor from doing the treatment, everyone’s skin is different thus adjustments to the laser are needed. The doctor will evaluate the complexion and the darkness of the melanin, then has to take safety precautions such as special glasses to protect the eyes from the laser, and provide Epidermal cooling to reduce pain and side effects. Two Epidermal cooling strategies are Cryogen spray that is directly sprayed before or after the laser beams onto the skin and Forced Air Cooling on the skin at -34o c. There are five possible machines that may be used; The Ruby Laser, Alexandrite Laser, Diode Laser, Nd:YAG Laser and
Laser acupuncture has some advantages over the needle method. Patients who are afraid of needles prefer laser acupuncture. Use of a laser makes it a non-invasive and a septic procedure, which significantly reduces the pain and recovery time associated with invasive treatments. Generally, laser acupuncture can treat the same range of complaints as needle acupuncture [7].
This article details the use of lasers as a fat loss tool, which in this case worked on the patients better than usual exercise methods. The researchers provided background information on the use of lasers to treat injury and help with fat loss. They explained that using a laser and exerting a beam of 635nm to 680nm with a 10mW diode. This beam causes no temperature on the surface, it touches, but the adipose tissue under that area developed pores in the fat cells that leaked out the fat, which was picked up by lymphocytes and used in lipectomy and energy use throughout the body. These lasers have also been used to treat injury such as muscle tears and strains. The lasers would vascularize muscles and allow nutrients to enter to further speed up the recovery process.