Veterinary Laser Therapy Advantages of the Apollo

There are two distinct types of laser treatment in veterinary medicine, Laser Therapy and Laser Surgery.

Laser Therapy uses low doses of photons to stimulate healing while
reducing pain and inflammation. Laser Therapy is a unique, extremely
gentle, form of treatment with the ability to stimulate tissue healing and is
virtually without side effects. It is very different from Laser Surgery because
Laser Therapy avoids heating the tissue, which can cause cell and tissue
damage. It is often called “cold laser” therapy because it avoids the heat
which constitutes the uniqueness of Laser Surgery.

Laser Surgery uses lasers as part of a surgical procedure. Laser Surgery
uses heat to cut, burn, and coagulate tissue for therapeutic benefit. As the
temperature of tissue gets hotter, hyperthermia may contract, constrict, or
destroy blood vessels and other connective tissues. Laser surgery is an
effective alternative to using a scalpel and lessens the risk of infection.
These “hot lasers” can also be used for skin resurfacing, treating the eye,
prostate, cardiovascular system and other anatomical regions.

Advantages and Side Effects of Heat
One advantage of a hot laser is that many patients like the feeling of
warmth and the fact that heat is analgesic.1 However, these hot lasers do
pose additional risk. Especially when treating an animal with long or dark
fur or skin, hot lasers can cause heating of the fur or tissue and cause pain
or damage.

However, the heat that so effectively blocks pain, may become a problem
because it can retard tissue repair and cause burns.2 As the heat
increases, it initially produces tissue overheating, followed by tissue
damage. The side effects of hot lasers can vary from something resembling
a sun burn to serious burns of the animal’s skin or fur.

One other worry is that hotter lasers may be more likely to stimulate cancer
growth than colder lasers. Recent studies have noted that cooler lasers did
not increase cancer growth but hotter lasers, with higher power densities,
increased melanoma growth.3

It is the collimation and power that differentiates between hot and cold
lasers and creates these side effects.
 

Collimation and Divergeance
Collimation means that the beam is narrow and does not diverge.
Collimation is a common characteristic of laser pointers and most hot
lasers. A hot laser usually produces a high powered, narrow collimated
stream of photons.

A cold laser, even if it is very powerful, has a wider, more fan-like spread.
Just the way a powerful, narrow stream from a shower head hurts when it
hits the skin, the hot laser produces a narrow stream of light that creates
heat. Cold lasers, on the other hand, are not collimated. They have a beam
that diverges at an angle of approximately 30-40º, which softens the force,
just the way broad stream from a shower feels more comfortable when
striking the body.
 

Treatment Time
It would seem logical that hot lasers would have shorter treatment times
than cold lasers. However, hot lasers often have treatment times that are
the same or longer than powerful, cold lasers. Researchers at
Massachusetts General Hospital, noted that treatment times were similar
for hotter and colder lasers, regardless of how powerful they were! This
occurs because either type of laser can require the same amount of
treatment time to modify the patient’s nervous and circulatory systems, in
spite of the dose.4

In addition, it has been proven that 65-80% of the photons can be lost by
bouncing off the skin.5 That is why, a cool laser like the Apollo that makes
direct contact with the animal’s skin or coat and can be left on a spot for an
extended period of time, increasing the amount of photons that penetrate
deep in the body. In addition, the fact that a hot laser must be continuously
moving means that it is hard to get a lot of photons in one area. It is easy
with a powerful, cool laser like the Apollo. But, it cannot be accomplished
with a hot laser where you need to keep the probe moving to prevent burns
or tissue heating.

Depth of Penetration
Many doctors have questions about the depth of penetration of a laser.
One myth that is promulgated by unscientific hot laser proponents is that
having a powerful laser increases the depth of penetration. This is untrue.
Studies clearly show that most lasers in the 700 to 900 nm wavelength
penetrate about 3-5 cm, regardless of the power. It has been well
established that depth of penetration is determined primarily by
wavelength.6

Reflection
One problem that occurs with all lasers, but especially with hot lasers is
that the light can be reflected off the skin, reducing the number of photons
that enter the body. This reflection occurs when a laser cannot be pressed
deep into the connective tissues. The outer layer of skin contains melanin,
collagen and elastin that act like a natural barrier. In fact, if a clinician treats
the patient from a distance, there can be a loss of 20% to 80% of the
photons.7 Studies show that pressing the head of the laser deep into the
tissue can reduce reflection by 80%.8

When using a hot laser, it is important to be very careful that you do not
heat the skin or fur. This superheating can create damage to superficial
and deeper structures, even blood cells.9 This damage is proportional to
the amount of heat and can create cell nucleus and DNA damage.10
It has been established that hot lasers increase local blood perfusion,
called a “blood barrier”, and this restricts laser penetration.11 Luckily, we
know how hot is too hot. Researchers have concluded that the temperature
range from 109°-129°F (39°C to 60°C) creates microscopically visible
coagulation of tissue, cells and fluids.12

APOLLO VETERINARY PATIENT TALKING POINTS

1. The Apollo is powerful enough for fast results, cool enough that you do not have to worry about shaving the animal. Just push the fur aside if the animal has a thick coat and treatment multiple points above and around the problem area.
2. The animal’s owners will be impressed with the fast results and safe application of the Apollo.
3. An Apollo, powerful Class 4 Laser places the doctor on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine and adds a powerful “natural therapy” to their available treatment regimens.
4. The average clinician sees a 15-20% increase in business within the first year.
5. A waist belt and holster is available for the clinician who needs the utmost in portability. This allows you to walk around the office and treat horses or cattle without the worry of dangerous movements by the animal.
6. The portable can treat for 2 hours on a single, overnight charge, which is approximately 40 three minute treatments.
8. Because of the portability of the PT it can be taken to different treatment rooms, or shared in a large clinic.
9. Because the DT can treat with two channels simultaneously, it can
produce up
to 8,000 milliwatts with one patient or treat two patients simultaneously. Or,
add an point probe for fast and effective results similar to acupuncture
without needles!
11. 810 nm wavelength and rounded lens for deep penetration into
muscles,joints, nerves and disks.
12. The PT can be shared by many doctors or therapists in a multi-clinician
practice.
13. So lightweight it can be carried from room to room or taken out to a
stable or ranch. The 3,000 mW portable unit can fit in a holster so that
equine treatment is safe and easy. This gives the doctor the utmost in
power and portability.
14. The portable is the only Lightweight Class 4, Portable Laser with a
user-replaceable battery.
15. Comes with the exceptional text and training guide, Veterinary Laser
Therapy.
16. Very dependable with a two year parts and labor warranty.
17. The Apollo is one-third the cost of the typical class 4 laser.

SPECIAL ADVANTAGES OF THE APOLLO:
1. The Apollo is a true class 4 cool laser and does not produce any
significant amount
of heat, unlike other “hot” class IV laser.
2. Hot lasers can cause burns which exposes the doctor to liability.
3. The Apollo is easy to use and safe for you and your staff. It requires
minimal staff
training with almost no worry of injury. The Apollo rarely causes flare-ups
4. The cool, deep power of the laser is ideal for post-surgical conditions to
reduce pain
and inflammation and deep seated disk, joint, ligament, and bone
disorders.
5. If the clinician needs to treat over gauze bandages, they will absorb
about 75% of the
photons. That is another reason to buy a powerful laser that will place them
on the
leading edge of joint replacement physical therapy.
6. Because the Apollo is safe and easy to use, it requires minimal staff
training with
no worry of injury. Training aids is a breeze.
7. Because of the portability it can be used for home health, shared in a
large clinic,
or taken into an athletic training room at a race track or competition.
8. The Apollo does not produce any significant amount of heat, like other
“hot” lasers. Hot lasers can cause burns and expose the clinician to liability.
9. Unlike other class 4 lasers, the Apollo is value priced and is less than
half the cost of the typical class 4 laser.
 

1 Denegar, C.( 2010). Preferences for heat, cold, or contrast in patients with knee
osteoarthritis affect treatment response. Clin Interv Aging, 5, 199–206.
2 Eells JT. (2006). Effect of multiple exposures of low-level laser therapy on the cellular
responses of wounded human skin fibroblasts.Photomed Laser Surg. Dec; 24(6):705-
14.
3 Frigo, L. (2009)The effect of low-level laser irradiation (In-Ga-Al-AsP - 660 nm) on
melanoma in vitro and in vivo, BMC Cancer 2009, 9:404
4 Castano AP (2007) Low-level laser therapy for zymosan-induced arthritis in rats:
Importance of illumination time. Lasers Surg Med. Jul;39(6):543-50.
5 Al-Watban FAH (1996): Therapeutic lasers effectiveness and dosimetry
6 Tuner, J., & Hode, L. (2010). The Laser Therapy Handbook. Grangesberg, Sweden:
Prima Books,118.
7 Al-Watban FAH (1996) Biomedical Optical Instrumentation and Laser Assisted
Biotechnology, Therapeutic laser effectiveness and dosimetry. New York. Kluwer
Academic Publishers. 171-183.
8 Tuner, J., & Hode, L. (2010). The Laser Therapy Handbook. Grangesberg, Sweden:
Prima Books, 121
9 Lapotko, D (2005) Spectral evaluation of laser-induced cell damage with photothermal
microscopy, Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, Volume 36 Issue 1, Pages 22 – 30.
10 Xiangduo K. Comparative analysis of different laser systems to study cellular
responses to DNA damage in mammalian cells. Nucleic Acids Res. 2009 May; 37(9):
e68.
11 Yu-Chih H. Blood Flow Dynamics After Laser Therapy of Port Wine Stain Birthmarks,
Lasers Surg Med. 2009 October; 41(8): 563–571.
12 Zachary J, (2006). Lesions of ultrasound induced lung hemorrhage are not consistent
with thermal injury. Ultrasound Med Biol. November; 32(11): 1763–1770.