What's going on with this "new" laser wavelength of 1064nm? Find out how this wavelength compares to more traditional PBM wavelengths like 830nm, as well as the reasons to use 1064nm in this research review!

"There are a few reasons for utilizing a 1064 nm laser. First, the absorption of water at 1064 nm is relatively weak, lower than that at 950-1000 nm and comparable to that at 900 nm (see the following figure). Second, light at this wavelength can penetrate deeper in tissue than other wavelengths shorter than 1000 nm used for LLLT because of lower light scattering. For example, 1064 nm light penetrates the human hand better than 660 nm or 980 nm, and comparable to 830 nm [data of Karl H. Norris, from The Science of Photobiology (KC Smith, ed., Plenum Press, 1977; p. 400)]. Since our future application of LLLT targets on transcranial laser stimulation or photobiomodulation, it is definitely beneficial if the light can penetrate deeper in tissue. Third, the wavelength 1064 nm is still at the upper absorption band of the redox state of CCO 1 meaning that a 1064 nm laser will be absorbed to stimulate the reduction-oxidation reaction of CCO, as we needed for this study. Fourth, this project wished to examine whether the 1064-nm laser was able to stimulate or generate a reasonable amount of changes in HbO and CCO concentrations, even using a non-optimal laser wavelength. For future studies, given the absorption spectra of water and redox state of CCO, it might be optimal to use a laser near the absorption peak of CCO (e.g., at ~830 nm) where water absorption is also lower than that at 1064 nm."

REFERENCE: Supplementary Information for 

Interplay between up-regulation of cytochrome-c-oxidase and hemoglobin oxygenation induced by near-infrared laser 

Xinlong Wang1#, Fenghua Tian1#, Sagar S. Soni1, F. Gonzalez-Lima2*, Hanli Liu1* 

1Department of Bioengineering, the University of Texas at Arlington, 

500 UTA Blvd, Arlington, TX 76010 

2Department of Psychology and Institute for Neuroscience, the University of Texas at Austin, 

108 E. Dean Keeton Stop A8000, Austin, TX 78712 

#: equal contribution 

*gonzalezlima@utexas.edu; *hanli@uta.edu
 

Read the primary study referenced in this episode here.
Images viewed in this episode:

• Impact of laser light on tissue 
• Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Absorption of melanin and hemoglobin
• Water absorption 

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