Laser Therapy Products West, Inc. Training & Distribution 200 Auto Center Court Modesto, CA 95356
Office:	(209) 527-5433
Accounts:	(209) 523-9999
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Member of North American Association for Laser Therapy

Laser History and Background

The History of Light Therapy

The importance of light as a therapeutic application predates recorded history. Light and its influences on biological processes have been known since ancient times. The sun worship of Ancient Egyptians and sunbathing practices of Ancient Greeks are historical proof of the power of light therapy throughout early civilization.

Light and luminous energy are generally considered to be essential to the development of life and sustenance of all living things on the planet. Light is intrical to production of plant sugars and oxygen in the photosynthesis cycle of plants. Solar energy drives weather activity and the oceans currents.

Natural Light in Therapeutic Application

The natural sources of light from the sun have been analyzed and studied through time leading to medical devices using light in therapeutic application. The first medical application of light radiation was the discovery that UV radiation could cure rickets and acne vulgaris. This led to the invention in marketing of UV generating therapeutic devices.

With the subsequent discovery that UV radiation was carcinogenic, these devices were outlawed in the 60s. Infrared radiant heat lamps have been used for decades for the relaxation of muscle spasm and vasodilation. The discovery of lasergenerated light in the 1960s created a new medical application for highly concentrated light sources.

The History of Therapeutic Lasers

L.A.S.E.R. is the acronym for Light Amplification by Simulated Emission of Radiation. The generation of laser occurs when an energized electron drops to a lower energy state, and thus releases a photon. These photons in turn collide with other atoms releasing more photons.

K-Laser as shown through an infrared scope

A laser generating source may be crystal, gas, semiconductor, or dye. The light generated by laser has unique characteristics and properties. The laser beam is highly monochromatic and the emitted light wavelength is largely parallel and coherent. This differs from light emitted from an light emitting diode or incandescent bulb. The light emitted from an incandescent bulb travels in all directions from the source and contains multiple wavelength of light in various colors and intensities.

In the mid 1960s after the discovery of ruby-generated laser by Hughes Laboratory researcher Theodore Maiman, Ph.D., lasers were initially designed for use in military and industrial applications.

In 1966, Dr. Leon Goldman discovered that a Q-switched ruby laser could whiten a tattoo, and thus the first medical application of laser was reported.

A Hungarian professor of medicine named Andre Mester, M.D., discovered that accelerated wound healing occurred with low intensity laser irradiation of wounds. Dr. Mester is considered the father of laser therapy. He published multiple papers throughout the 60s, 70s, and 80s on scientific investigation and therapeutic application of ruby laser and helium neon laser.

In the late 1970s diode lasers were invented. This allowed low-cost, high-wattage lasers to become marketable and revolutionized modern society for their application in ranging from scanners to CD players, to optical transmission of data. Most lasers today are diode lasers either using gallium aluminum arsenide as a substrate or gallium arsenide as a semiconductor substrate.

The most common wavelengths are in the 790-to-970 nanometer ranges. The K-laser is a revolutionary medical therapy laser utilizing dual gallium aluminum arsenide lasers specifically engineered for the highly therapeutic near-infrared wavelengths 970 nm and 790 nm. These wavelengths have significant unique properties for cell stimulation and pain suppression. The K-laser is a medical breakthrough therapy device with unparalleled applications and treatment outcomes.

Laser Hazard Classification

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) classifies lasers by their wattage level and their potential for biological hazard. There are four primary classifications of laser power (class I through IV), with a sub-classification of class III lasers into classes IIIa and IIIb.

Laser Classifications

Class I Lasers are those with no biological hazards and are widely found in many common devices, such as optical scanners or optical data transmission devices and many other low wattage laser devices.
Class II Lasers (<1 mw) are also considered non-damaging for brief exposure. Class II lasers are extensively used for industry and technology.
Class IIIa Lasers (1- 5 mw), have limited controls such as an on/off switch and direct eye contact should be avoided. For IIIb lasers, (5-500 mw), it is suggested that goggles be used, especially with lasers above 100 mw, in particular because, direct retinal exposure may be damaging, however diffuse reflections are thought to be nondamaging.
Class IV Lasers are high-wattage lasers above 500 milliwatts and are capable of producing significant eye hazards from direct and scatter radiation. Thermal injury is possible with high wattage lasers if the exposure time exceeds the thermal recovery time of the tissue being treated. Therefore, adequate training is necessary as well as appropriate personal safety eyewear.

Additional safety measures for class IV lasers include operation of the laser in a closed room with controlled access and laser locks to avoid tampering or unauthorized use of the laser. Proper safety goggles and extensive training materials are provided with a purchase of K-laser devices for the laser safety officer and laser operator. Safety protection goggles are included for the patient. Additional goggles and specialized safety gear is available from Laser Therapy Products.

The Advantage of Laser Therapy Over Other Physical Therapy Modalities

The therapeutic application of laser is not based primarily on the development of heat, but on the photobiological effects of coherent laser radiation on cells and mitochondria. This biological effect is termed "photobiomodulation."

The Positive Effect of Laser Light on Tissues

This positive effect of laser light on tissues is a unique property of laser therapy and is not duplicated by any other conventional physical therapy modality. The list of positive effects is extensive; research has documented that laser promotes tissue remodeling, neurological recovery and improved function, improved quality of life in chronic pain states, improved flexibility, faster wound healing, and faster bone deposition in fracture.

The primary of biological action of laser results from stimulation of electron chain transport mechanisms in the mitochondria, cell membranes and epithelial tissues. This action causes the release of vasodilating chemicals, the stimulation of DNA and RNA synthesis, an increase in enzyme production, an increase of superoxide dismutase activity, normalization of tissue pH, and increased ATP production. The increase of vasodilation and improved microcirculation will increase the supply of cellular nutrition promoting tissue repair and tissue remodeling.

Significant reduction in edema is also noted with studies demonstrating reduced lymph node congestion, reduced lymphedema, and reduction in extremity circumference and extremity swelling following laser treatment.

There are currently thousands of studies surrounding the use of laser for photobiomodulation and suppression of pain. The therapeutic applications of laser are expanding and new uses are being discovered every day. The Class IV Laser is the most affordable high power laser on the market, with many features that shorten treatment times and improve ease of use.