Tattoo For U

Question:

>There are no diode lasers that can produce UV frequencies that are >beneficial for psoriasis, 308-311 nanometer range. The only source of >true narrow band 308 nm uv is the excimer laser. Clinical results of >Photomedex’s XTRAC laser have been excellent – 75% clearing in about 7 >sessions.

Don’t forget your full disclosure:    "…I’ve helped finance this company [Photomedex] over     the years, own the stock, but hopefully remain objective!"    - EPeterson, Aug 2, 2001 – Dave W. http://psorsite.com/

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Regarding the use of semiconductor diodes as a source of > ultraviolet energy, has there been any recent publication > of the use of these in phototherapy?  Is it possible for > ultraviolet diodes to be used or is there such a thing? > I don’t have any certain ideas yet as to whether or not > these are practical, but they could be mounted in a wand > or something that can be placed nearer the scalp for > spot treatment. > Treating limited areas with effective exposure resulting from sufficient > intensity and duration.  LED’s are long life, compact, and more powerful > when clustered or arrayed.  Maybe just precisely the efficient device needed > for the job? > And when you’re bored, used to hand draw artwork on larger areas of > psoriasis with such a UV beam as your pen.  Sorta like a reverse tattoo by > creating normalized paths (reverse mutilation) on the skin that could be > used to display explanations for those that love to stare and can read too. > Some possibilities here. > I know that semiconductor diode lasers are available, > but those are too powerful and focused.  Perhaps there > is already some research into calibrating the amount of > electrical energy applied to the ultraviolet diodes to > get an equivalent "joule" rating similar to some > flourescent tubes. > As far as I know, ultraviolet diodes (as they are > individual electronic components) do not need any sort > of prescription to purchase. > Do you mean to suggest that fragile glass light bulbs and heavy picture > tubes are on the way out and we might live to see the day?  It’s amazing, > the incredible variety of visible light LED’s designed for the consumer > market alone.  A specialized device with medical application where reliable > calibrated performance is a factor, that could influence pricing on such > exotic items.  Ultraviolet LED’s are not cheap by comparison as it is, but > mass production is on the side of the end user.  No prescriptions, but > disclaimers usually must be read and signed prior to purchase. > Anyways, I thought I’d mention it as it might have been > a topic at a psoriasis support group meeting (not one > of the topics of the meeting, just mentioned by an > attendee in Seattle?).  The University of Washington > has something going with diodes in the treatment of > psoriasis, but I don’t know anymore on it. > Lafiel > I’ve been interested in this light source technology for the last couple > years.  There is continued good results being reported using near-infrared > to stimulate cells and more.  I would imagine that some percentage of > psoriasis patients would find that valuable,  because being contrary is the > abnorm factor that doesn’t surprise me here.  The wavelength of light > emission from these LED’s can be customized over a very wide range, and the > technology is evolving rapidly.  This suggests more than just a solid state > highly efficient UV-IR light source for phototherapy, ect.  Maybe testing > for unusual and better results using pulses, or LED arrays shifting emission > frequencies rapidly, and other intensity/modulation/duration tricks that > aren’t part of the standard light treatment protocol with it’s known > limitations.  Who can say what desired effects might be discovered when > superior technology and more imaginative experimentation juggle the > variables with those photons or futons?  Shining a better light on psoriasis > to make it invisible, closer to the enlightenment we seek?  A medical > quality light source without the ritual of prescription… sounds like > heresy to me.  Underground distribution networks would be like moles eating > into the hi-priced pharmed garden crop.  It could never be allowed to be, > the LED police would be monitoring the controlled spectrum, strong examples > would be set, and we would be the illuminati in hiding from the regulators. > Now to the real fun, something of what the new breed of LED’s is beaming to > us this month. > -Dan >   In the late 1990s, lab studies on cells showed that near-infrared > wavelengths can boost the activity of mitochondria, the crucial powerhouses > in cells… > http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992525 > Lasers can open a temporary doorway into cells so that DNA can get inside, > researchers in Germany report. This technique might hasten gene therapy by > making it easier to get new genes into living cells without harming them…. > http://www.nature.com/nsu/020715/020715-7.html

There are no diode lasers that can produce UV frequencies that are beneficial for psoriasis, 308-311 nanometer range. The only source of true narrow band 308 nm uv is the excimer laser. Clinical results of Photomedex’s XTRAC laser have been excellent – 75% clearing in about 7 sessions.

Response:

[snip] >I know that semiconductor diode lasers are available, >but those are too powerful and focused.

[snip] Actually, that’s one thing a lens would be good for – to spread the beam out, thus dropping the power per unit area, which is how such things would be dosed: not just in joules, but in joules per centimeter-squared. Of course, UV lasers are already being used to treat psoriasis.  You can find some info on my web site, under "excimer laser":    http://members.aol.com/psorsite/uv.html But those are expensive and large(ish) machines.  Since J. has already covered the lack of a UV diode in the proper, therapeutic wavelength, I suppose we’ll just have to wait until diode technology meets our needs for a 312 nanometer laser diode. I’d be willing to bet a couple bucks that someone out there is already working on it, or something very close, simply for the reason that a shorter wavelength means you can use a laser to do "smaller" things.  The farther into the UV spectrum you get, for example, the smaller the geometric size of a ‘bit’ on some future generation of DVDs will be, and thus the greater the storage capacity.  So a UVB laser diode of sufficient power would have large commercial potential completely aside from any therapeutic device for us psoriatics. [snip] >As far as I know, ultraviolet diodes (as they are >individual electronic components) do not need any sort >of prescription to purchase.  

[snip] No, and if there is a large number of other, non-medical uses for them, they probably never will.  What *would* require a prescription is a device that is specifically designed to deliver a particular dose of UV light to the skin of a patient with psoriasis.  That’s the difference.  If 312 nm laser diodes become a cheap reality, I have little doubt that there will be circuit diagrams and suchlike for "home UV therapy wands" on the Internet in no time flat, but such "garage therapies" come with many risks.  For most people, a prescription-only device will be much safer.  (Oh, and if someone starts selling homemade devices – instead of just the plans – and claiming they’d be good for psoriasis, they’d be breaking the law, anyway, by marketing an unapproved medical device.) – Dave W. http://members.aol.com/psorsite/

Response:

Regarding the use of semiconductor diodes as a source of ultraviolet energy, has there been any recent publication of the use of these in phototherapy?  Is it possible for ultraviolet diodes to be used or is there such a thing? I don’t have any certain ideas yet as to whether or not these are practical, but they could be mounted in a wand or something that can be placed nearer the scalp for spot treatment. I know that semiconductor diode lasers are available, but those are too powerful and focused.  Perhaps there is already some research into calibrating the amount of electrical energy applied to the ultraviolet diodes to get an equivalent "joule" rating similar to some flourescent tubes. As far as I know, ultraviolet diodes (as they are individual electronic components) do not need any sort of prescription to purchase.   Anyways, I thought I’d mention it as it might have been a topic at a psoriasis support group meeting (not one of the topics of the meeting, just mentioned by an attendee in Seattle?).  The University of Washington has something going with diodes in the treatment of psoriasis, but I don’t know anymore on it. Lafiel

Response:

>Regarding the use of semiconductor diodes as a source of >ultraviolet energy, has there been any recent publication >of the use of these in phototherapy?  Is it possible for >ultraviolet diodes to be used or is there such a thing? >I don’t have any certain ideas yet as to whether or not >these are practical, but they could be mounted in a wand >or something that can be placed nearer the scalp for >spot treatment.

http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/leduv.htm They are only "near-UV", which is not the same wavelength historically used for treatment.  They are expensive for the amount of light they produce (but I love these new white LED flashlights anyway!).   http://www.physlink.com/Education/AskExperts/ae300.cfm Still, you might gang up a few to build a device good for zapping individual spots of psoriasis without affecting the surrounding skin. I’d still be dubious because the wavelength is too long, but some maniac can try it and y’never know. J.

Response:

> Regarding the use of semiconductor diodes as a source of > ultraviolet energy, has there been any recent publication > of the use of these in phototherapy?  Is it possible for > ultraviolet diodes to be used or is there such a thing? > I don’t have any certain ideas yet as to whether or not > these are practical, but they could be mounted in a wand > or something that can be placed nearer the scalp for > spot treatment.

Treating limited areas with effective exposure resulting from sufficient intensity and duration.  LED’s are long life, compact, and more powerful when clustered or arrayed.  Maybe just precisely the efficient device needed for the job? And when you’re bored, used to hand draw artwork on larger areas of psoriasis with such a UV beam as your pen.  Sorta like a reverse tattoo by creating normalized paths (reverse mutilation) on the skin that could be used to display explanations for those that love to stare and can read too. Some possibilities here. > I know that semiconductor diode lasers are available, > but those are too powerful and focused.  Perhaps there > is already some research into calibrating the amount of > electrical energy applied to the ultraviolet diodes to > get an equivalent "joule" rating similar to some > flourescent tubes. > As far as I know, ultraviolet diodes (as they are > individual electronic components) do not need any sort > of prescription to purchase.

Do you mean to suggest that fragile glass light bulbs and heavy picture tubes are on the way out and we might live to see the day?  It’s amazing, the incredible variety of visible light LED’s designed for the consumer market alone.  A specialized device with medical application where reliable calibrated performance is a factor, that could influence pricing on such exotic items.  Ultraviolet LED’s are not cheap by comparison as it is, but mass production is on the side of the end user.  No prescriptions, but disclaimers usually must be read and signed prior to purchase. > Anyways, I thought I’d mention it as it might have been > a topic at a psoriasis support group meeting (not one > of the topics of the meeting, just mentioned by an > attendee in Seattle?).  The University of Washington > has something going with diodes in the treatment of > psoriasis, but I don’t know anymore on it. > Lafiel

I’ve been interested in this light source technology for the last couple years.  There is continued good results being reported using near-infrared to stimulate cells and more.  I would imagine that some percentage of psoriasis patients would find that valuable,  because being contrary is the abnorm factor that doesn’t surprise me here.  The wavelength of light emission from these LED’s can be customized over a very wide range, and the technology is evolving rapidly.  This suggests more than just a solid state highly efficient UV-IR light source for phototherapy, ect.  Maybe testing for unusual and better results using pulses, or LED arrays shifting emission frequencies rapidly, and other intensity/modulation/duration tricks that aren’t part of the standard light treatment protocol with it’s known limitations.  Who can say what desired effects might be discovered when superior technology and more imaginative experimentation juggle the variables with those photons or futons?  Shining a better light on psoriasis to make it invisible, closer to the enlightenment we seek?  A medical quality light source without the ritual of prescription… sounds like heresy to me.  Underground distribution networks would be like moles eating into the hi-priced pharmed garden crop.  It could never be allowed to be, the LED police would be monitoring the controlled spectrum, strong examples would be set, and we would be the illuminati in hiding from the regulators. Now to the real fun, something of what the new breed of LED’s is beaming to us this month. -Dan   In the late 1990s, lab studies on cells showed that near-infrared wavelengths can boost the activity of mitochondria, the crucial powerhouses in cells… http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992525 Lasers can open a temporary doorway into cells so that DNA can get inside, researchers in Germany report. This technique might hasten gene therapy by making it easier to get new genes into living cells without harming them…. http://www.nature.com/nsu/020715/020715-7.html

Response: