Excellence in Engineering

The Respond Laser is known as a cold, or soft, laser. It does not burn or cut, but embellishs the target area with energy. The term "laser" is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Lasers Treat: Acute or Chronic Ligaments, Tendons, Muscles, Feet, Abscesses, Scar tissue, Sore backs, Wounds, Stifles & Hamstrings, and Hocks & Knees to name a few uses.

The Laser, by definition, is a unique light, coherent, and one pure, brilliant color. Providing a strong, penetrating beam. The laser beam we use, provided by gallium arsenide continueous wave laser diodes, is in the infrared spectrum. It is invisible to the human eye. The laser promotes healing in soft tissue and bone. Research, in the last several years, has confirmed and explained why. Accelerated tissue repair. The laser energy is absorbed by the tissue cells. Promoting the production of adeneizene triphosphate, the energy or gasoline of our body. This allows the cells to expel waste and replace nutrients faster. Also, we see a rapid formation of collagen, a clear sticky substance that is natures repair material. Desensitizing nerve cells. The laser light changes the electrical potential across cell membranes. Taking the cells farther away from the pain threshold. Also the laser light increases the amount of endorphins, natures own pain killer, more powerful than opiates. Lymphatic system activation. The laser light doubles the size of lymphatic ducts. This moves out the dirty protein, that we see as fluid retention and swelling. Thus, the laser quickly reduces swelling. Formation of new capillaries. Grows them quicker than with normal healing. This eliminates or reduces the amount of scar tissue.

History: Laser Therapy was introduced in North America in the middle 1970's by Dr. Lloyd McKibbin, D.V.M., of Wheatley, Ontario. He brought back to his clinic, a single, 2 watt diode, laser from France. The healing power of this device astonished horsemen and veterinarians alike. Soon different companies were making similar devises. The first major change was to add more diodes so as to extend the coverage area, and speed up treatment time. The next major change was in 1986, when Don Hudson invented The Respond Laser. He turned the laser world upside down when he introduced the Model 2400. Gone was the bulky, low powered laser of the past, the future was here. He wanted power and penetration, and he got it! He went to a 10 watt diode, instead of the 2 watt standard diode. The problem was designing a firing circuit powerful enough to fire the 10 watt diode (for a brief instance, this takes as much power as a starter on your automobile). He achieved his goal, and has upgraded the circuitry several times since. The result, treatment times of 5 to 10 minutes, compared to 20 to 30 minutes. Much like computer technology has leaped ahead. July, 1997, the Respond Laser, Model 2400 XL, was introduced, the Super Laser, with 30 watt diodes. The instruction guide talks in 30 second and minute intervals in treatment time, plus penetration of 8"+. And now, we The Ultimate, all digital, all continuous wave diodes. The 2400XL has four 75mW in the ultra wide head, and 500mW in the High Power Laser Probe. The New Impulse has two 50mW diode in the ultra wide head, and 100mW in the probe. Now we can treat in seconds!

You will notice most of the papers and demonstration treatments were using the original Model 2400. Like computers, we have added more power in the newer models.

Laser Classifications How much power is enough? Can there be too much?

Lasers are classified based upon power. Think of laser power as you think of roller skates, scooters, cars and jet planes. The graph shows the number of seconds required to deliver 12J, 20 Joules and 30 Joules. A 500mW laser like the 2400XL’s emits 100 times faster than a 5mW and 10 times faster than a 50mW laser. More power gets you there (or in the case of laser, delivers a therapeutic treatment dosage) faster. Usually, the more power you get, the faster you get there, and the more expensive it is. As with personal transportation, there is a practical limit to going faster.

Class I lasers at 5mW can be used to stimulate tissue, however, the long period of time needed to generate an average dosage of 4 Joules/cm2, 800 seconds, is prohibitive.

Class IIIb lasers are usually 500mW or less, and are designated by the U.S. FDA as non-significant risk devices. Professional laser therapy devices fall within the IIIb category. A 50mW therapy laser can generate 4 joules in 80 seconds, while a 500mW laser will generate 4 Joules in 8 seconds. For laser therapy, they go “fast enough.”

You can also go “too fast,” with Class IV lasers. They produce powers above 500mW, and at 7000mW (or 7 Watts) go so fast that FDA requires a warning label that states the laser device has the potential to ignite materials on contact, causing injury. In addition, the FDA web site states, “WARNING: Direct eye contact with output beam from the laser will cause serious damage and possible blindness….Avoid direct exposure to the laser light. The intensity of the beam can easily cause flesh burns or ignite clothing”.

Respond Lasers are designed to provide the owner with a safe device (Class IIIb lasers are considered non-significant risk devices), that do not heat the tissue, and yet provide enough energy to permit a rapid treatment.

We have chosen 904nm as the wavelength for our veterinary products due to the enhanced penetration characteristics at the higher wavelengths. This permits more laser energy to penetrate deep into joints and muscles. This graph demonstrates relative penetration at 904 compared to lower wavelengths where more energy is absorbed at the surface of the tissue. It shows that 904nm has roughly 4 times the penetration capability when compared to wavelengths at 620 or 630nm. Penetration peaks at about 904nm which is why we have chosen this wavelength.

any potential eye hazard can be determined. The output at 20cm from the laser output demonstrates that this laser is a non-significant hazard.

Placement of danger logo is a requirement of U.S. federal law if you are advertising a laser therapy system. If this logo does not appear with the advertisement for a product, then it is either not a laser system, or it is not complying with federal law

Respond has a first class service department, with a trained staff, and complete parts inventory. This permits a strict 2 business day turn around for an analysis of problems, with 99% of service completed, and shipped back to the customer within 3 business days.