LightNeedle - RJ Laser

Gerhard Litscher
Department 0( Biomedical Engineering and Research in Anesthesia and Critical Care, University 0( Graz, Austria
This study comprises scientific-theoretic fundamental investi~ations of laserneedle@ technology, a new
and painless method of acupuncture stimulation. Laserneedlesfß> are not inserted in the skin, but are merely
placed on the surface of the acupuncture point. The study documents the significant changes in peripheral
microcirculation (p = 0.005) and surface temperature of the skin (p = 0.02) induced by laser, in 22 healthy
volunteers (mean age 24.4:1: 2.6 years). In addition, a randomised cross-over study to characterise the
specific changes in cerebral blood flow velocity with laserneedleil;) acupuncture (p < 0.001) is presented.
These results provide important information for characterising the effects of laserneedleil;) acupuncture.
[Neurol Res 2003; 25: 000-000] 2003, in press
Keywords: Laserneedlelgl acupuncture; High-Tech Acupuncturelgl; computer-controlled laserpuncture;
transcranial Doppler sonography; near-infrared spectroscopy; laser Doppler flowmetry
INTRODUCTION
By stimulating acupuncture points with laserbeam and/
or needles, specific effects can be achieved at the
periphery and in the brain. For the first time, these effects
can be characterised and quantified with modern
biomedical equipment and cerebral monitoring
methods 1-37.
Laserneedle@-acupuncture represents a new, painless
method for primary optic stimulation of acupuncture
points, whose effects were first described in international
scientific literature in the year 20023,31-34,36,37. The goal
of this stud~ is to convey current knowledge regarding
laserneedle acupuncture from a theoretic-experimental
point of view, based on the scientific studies
mentioned above.
METHODS
The multi-parameter monitoring methods described in
our study comprise investigations with laserneedle@
acupuncture in regard to peripheral effects (temperature
and microcirculation), as weil as central effects (blood
flow velocity and regional cerebral oxygenation).
Laserneedle@.acupuncture
Für the first time, laserneedle@ acupuncture allows
the simultaneaus stimulation of individual acupuncture
point combinations. Thus, variations and combinations
of acupuncture points are possible on the body, ear or
hand (Figure 1). More details regarding this method and
its technical realisation can be found in previously
publ ished stud iesJl-J4,J6,J7 .
--
Correspondence and reprint requests to: Prof. Dr G. Litscher,
Departrnent of Biomedical Engineering and Research in Anesthesia
and Critical Care, University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, A-8036
Graz, Austria. [gerhard.litscher@uni-graz.at] Accepted for publication
June2003.
(C) 2003 Forefront Publishing Group
0161-6412!03/00000{}-ü7
Thermography
The thermography system used in our study to
determine surface temperature of the hand includes a
Therma CAMTM P60 infrared camera (Flir Systems Inc.,
Portland, OR, USA) in connection with a computeraided
warmth visualisation system for real time video
recording and analysis (Tracer Plus, Flir Systems Inc.).
The infrared camera (distance to the measuring point
on the hand 0.5 rn) was connected to a notebook via
interface. For these investigations, a total of 20 min per
volunteer with a resolution time of 3 min were registered
and analysed. The registered temperatures were shown
color-coded on a display which yielded color pictures of
the color distribution.
Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF)
A laser Doppler monitor DRT4 (Moor Instruments,
Millwey, Axminster, England) was used to determine
flux (product of concentration and velocity of erythrocytes)
and temperature (selective measurement).
Specified performance of the probe was 1 mW. Cutoff
frequencies were 20 Hz and 22.5 kHz. The temperature
measurement unit (5°C to sa°C) had a resolution of
0.2°C. Several measurement probes are available for the
DRT4 monitor. Derivatives documented in this study
were performed with a DPIT probe (diameter 8 mm,
length 7 mm).
Mu'tidirectional transcrania' Doppler-sonography
(TCD)
In this study, Doppler sonographic signals were
simultaneously registered in the left anterior cerebral
artery (ACA) and the right posterior cerebral artery (PCA)
with a Multi-Dop T System (DWL Elektronische Systeme
GmbH, Sipplingen, Germany). Two 2-MHz probes were
applied with a multi-functional construction2,11. Seg-
Neurological Research, 2003, Volume 25,