"I am a physician and I realize this is not a cure, but because of my pain relief, Anodyne has enabled me to go to the grocery store, out to eat and to my doctor’s appointment again. I feel very fortunate."
J. M., MD (Kingsport, TN)
Infrared Therapy Products
Introduction to Infrared Light Therapy
Some might question that something as simple as light can have such a profound biological effect. However, the biological importance of light has been recognized for quite some time.
Sunlight absorbed by chloroplasts in plant cells permits formation of starch. Sunlight absorbed by human skin generates vitamin D. Some wavelengths of light, including near infrared and ultraviolet (UV) light cannot be seen with the human eye, and yet UV causes biologic effects, especially in the skin. Near infrared light also exerts biologic effects.
Mainstream knowledge of infrared light LED technology developed in response to experiments conducted by NASA in the early 1990's. Now, there are many types of infrared and laser therapy devices.
In theory, these devices work under the same principles and laws of physics. However, there differences lie in terms of their methods (wavelength, pulse rate, intensity, etc.), design (total surface area) and their application (handheld or attachable).
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) vs Lasers
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Lasers deliver collimated, coherent light. This simply means that the infrared light is focused in a column and does not disperse as much over the treatment area. Lasers are monochromatic by definition, which means they emit infrared light at one wavelength.
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A light emitting diode (LED) is a semi-conductor device that emits incoherent narrow-spectrum light. Some LED devices are also monochromatic, such as Anodyne® Therapy Systems.
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Infrared Light from both lasers and LEDs disperse once the light contacts body tissue. The depth to which they penetrate has nothing to do with whether the light is lased, but rather has to do with the wavelength and energy density.
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Infrared Light output from LEDs possess all the attributes of laser radiation except coherence. Findings at the cellular level would imply that the property of coherence is largely unnecessary for the clinical effects of these devices.
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At a particular wavelength, light that is emitted out of a LED or a Laser will have similar clinical effects on body tissue. Effects can be further enhanced by increasing the surface area of treatment device, and by increasing the energy density.
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Lasers are usually enclosed behind glass and recessed a few centimeters, where as the LEDs
of Anodyne® Therapy Systems are in direct skin contact.
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Direct
contact minimizes the amount of light refracting off of the
skin, thus increasing the amount of light absorbed by the blood
vessels.
Over the years, some wavelengths of infrared light have been proven to be more effective than other wavelengths in terms of increasing circulation. The wavelength of 890 nm that is used with Anodyne® Therapy Infrared Products has been validated through our published clinical data, and also through independent testing.
Visible red, blue or green light has not been proven in any clinical evaluations to be effective in increasing circulation or decreasing pain. Devices that have both infrared and visible colored lights, can not be as effective as those with all infrared diodes.
The video below is that of a human hand with an Anodyne® Infrared Therapy Pad placed on the palmar aspect. You can see the light passing through the cracks of the fingers, as well as through the skin. However, you can see that the blood vessels are very dark, which means that the light is not passing through, and thus is being absorbed within the blood vessels.
Anodyne® Therapy Infrared Therapy Products are effective because of their temporary effects on increasing local circulation and decreasing pain.
Below is a comparison between Anodyne® Therapy’s diodes, and that of a competitor that states they use diodes twice the power. The graphs represent changes in blood flow, and the taller the bars on the graph, the greater the increase in local blood flow. It is easy to see that when compared to the blood flow increases that Anodyne Therapy Products stimulate, that this competitor is significantly less.
The light-emitting diodes (LEDs) used by Anodyne® Therapy have been tested in millions of patient treatments and our proven clinical outcomes extend to over 6,000 local Anodyne® Therapy Providers.
Anodyne diodes - Circulation increase after 45 minutes
Patient #1 Prescan
Patient #1 Postscan
Left foot +138.8%
Right foot +251.5%
Patient #2 scan
Patient #2 an
Left foot +279.7%
Right foot +254.5%
After evaluating all the attributes of infrared light therapy devices, the one question you must ask yourself is whether the particular specifications of a light therapy device will produce the clinical effects that you want in your practice. At Anodyne®Therapy, we have gone to extensive research to evaluate our particular combination of wavelength, energy and treatment protocols.
There have been 18 published peer reviewed studies published involving Anodyne®Therapy Products specifically, and our compendium of clinical evidence is over 200 pages long.
Many companies will refer their prospective customers to general studies on laser, or infrared light, however, there are no guarantees that a product with different specifications will yield similar clinical results. Initially, referring physicians want to see published clinical data, and we at Anodyne® Therapy, can provide just that.
Why Choose Anodyne® Therapy?
Don't settle for an imitation. Get the unit that physicians and patients ask for by name. You will be surprised at how affordable both our Professional and Home Therapy Systems are, and how comparable they are in price to the 'other systems'.
With an installed base of over 30,000 customers, Anodyne® Therapy has earned the trust of patients, therapists and physicians worldwide. Consider these facts:
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Anodyne® Therapy is the only infrared therapy device with 18 studies published documenting the efficacy of our product design, wavelength, photo-energy output and patented photo energy flexible array application process.
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Nearly 6,000 facilities worldwide offer Anodyne® Therapy including many hospitals and teaching institutions.
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Over 11,000 physicians prescribe Anodyne® Therapy, which means they will be asking for Anodyne® Therapy by name.
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Flexible therapy pads that can be applied anywhere on the body
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Larger surface area than most infrared therapy devices
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Hands free modality
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Neither operators treating with, nor patients receiving Anodyne Therapy need to use protective eye-wear
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Both 8 pad and 4 pad models are lightweight and portable
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Home units available for patients with chronic conditions
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Anodyne® Therapy Step Up Marketing Program - takes out the guesswork of marketing
Mainstream knowledge of infrared light LED technology developed in response to experiments conducted by NASA in the early 1990's. Now, there are many types of infrared and laser therapy devices.
