A device called NeuroThera is being tested in clinical trials to treat stroke patients and other patients with brain injuries. The handheld device, about the size of a telephone receiver, delivers high-intensity infrared energy to a patient’s head when it’s held to the scalp. The idea is that the infrared energy delivered via laser will stimulate inactive mitochondria in brain cells — the small bits of protein that serve as power suppliers to cells. Once the energy-starved brain cells start receiving power again from the mitochondria, they should be able to resume function. More at WFTV Orlando
Category Archives: Laser Medicine
Laser beams to the brain reveal seizures
Vibrating people’s brains with laser beams could pinpoint the focus of epileptic seizures faster and more easily than the lengthy scans or surgery used today, US researchers say.
Epilepsy is the most common brain disorder and affects about 1% of the population. It occurs when nerve cells in a certain area of the brain fire more rapidly than usual, leading to seizures.
Only about two-thirds of people with epilepsy can be treated with drugs, with surgery the only option for the rest. Surgical cure rates are poor and recurrence rates high – especially for “neocortical seizures” that occur in the brain’s outer layers.
More at New Scientist Tech
Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation
First Coast Trends - Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Surgery Helps Women Reclaim Their Sex Lives
“They’ve lost the tone in the vagina, and, even though sometimes it looks relatively normal, it is stretched out to the point where you can’t develop the tightness or the friction that would lead to more enjoyment of intercourse,” Debrakeleer said.
Laser vaginal rejuvenation is a one-to-two-hour outpatient procedure that builds muscle tone, strength and control.
Debrakeleer said it is basically a modification of a gynecological surgery used to treat bladder leakage, which is also a problem for women after having children.
“What we are doing is taking, finding the muscles that have either been stretched out and bringing them back together or torn apart literally and bringing them back together surgically,” Debrakeleer said.
The result is more sensation and more enjoyment.
P.L.E.A.S.E. = Painless Laser Epidermal System
Pantec Biosolutions AG, a company based in Liechtenstein, has just unveiled its laser-based, needle free, and painless intra epidermal drug delivery technology called P.L.E.A.S.E.®. The platform, introduced at the recently held Drug Delivery Partnerships 2008 conference in San Diego, is designed to deliver large molecular weight drugs and vaccines via specialized laser micro-poration technology. via: medgadget
Press Release: Pantec Biosolutions presented new drug delivery platform and supporting preclinical data at Drug Delivery Partnerships 2008
Biolase Announces FDA 510(k) Clearance of Its Waterlase(R) MD Laser System for Dermatology
BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLTI), the world’s leading dental laser company, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowing it to market a version of its Waterlase® MD Laser System for use in dermatological applications as well as general and plastic surgery.
Jake St. Philip, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our singular operational focus today is executing in the dental suite and building on the success of our hard- and soft-tissue dental laser franchise. That said, FDA clearances such as we announced today only serve to build on our proprietary intellectual assets and add value that can be monetized through licensing, partnerships and in some cases future product offerings. We are very pleased with the new indications and applaud the scientific and regulatory teams for this accomplishment.”
TRIA At-Home Laser Hair Removal Device Cleared by FDA
SpectraGenics, a leader in light-based therapeutic beauty devices, today announced over-the-counter (OTC) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their patented hand-held laser hair removal device designed for at-home use. The TRIA is the first hair removal laser to enter the U.S. home-based device market, an industry projected to grow exponentially over the next three years. more…
video clips of lasik eye surgery
Lasik is frightening, but does work to improve the vision of eyes.
Here is another popular one.
Laser Light for Stroke Treatment
PhotoThera, a company out of Carlsbad, California, is currently conducting clinical trials of their experimental laser system for the treatment of strokes. Using a near-infrared laser that is capable of reaching the brain through the scalp, it is thought that the light can help reinvigorate cells in the ischemic milieu. via: Medgadget
