Method of using multi-probe laser device

Abstract

A method of using a hand-held laser device that can simultaneously provide two or more types of low level laser therapy treatments to two or more areas of a patient's body simultaneously. The device enables laser light of different pulse repetition rates, different beam shapes and spot sizes to be applied to a patient's body. The device includes two or more laser sources. In the preferred embodiment, two semiconductor diode laser sources simultaneously provide two separate laser beams from separate probes, one laser beam producing laser light at a first pulse repetition rate and the other producing laser light at a second pulse repetition rate.

1 . A method of treating a patient with low-level laser therapy comprising: 
 a) providing a multi-probe laser device comprising a first probe and a second probe wherein each of the probes further comprises: 
 i. one or more laser energy sources housed within each probe;  
 ii. one or more laser beams emitted from each laser energy source; and  
 iii. an optical arrangement for receiving and transforming each of the laser beams into a desired spot shape;  
   b) retaining the first probe within a user's hand during treatment, holding the first probe so that the laser beam emitted therefrom impinges a first desired location on a patient's body, and freely moving the first probe relative to the surface of the skin of the patient's body during treatment; and    c) simultaneously with retaining the first probe, retaining the second probe within the user's other hand during treatment, holding the second probe so that the laser beam emitted therefrom impinges a second desired location on the patient's body, and freely moving the second probe relative to the surface of the skin of the patient's body during treatment.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein freely moving the first probe relative to the surface of the skin of the patient's body during treatment causes the laser beam emitted to not be continuously maintained at an acupressure point.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first probe emits a laser beam at a first wavelength and the second probe emits a laser beam at a second wavelength.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the optical arrangement consists of a lens.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the optical arrangement comprises a collimating lens and a rod lens.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the optical arrangement comprises a convex lens and a prism.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the multi-probe laser device further comprises one or more control circuits for controlling the pulse repetition rate of each laser beam.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the pulse repetition rate of at least one of the laser beams is such that the laser light emitted is substantially continuous.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising a first laser beam having a first pulse repetition rate and a second laser beam having a second pulse repetition rate wherein the first pulse repetition rate and the second pulse repetition rate are different.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising a first laser beam having a first pulse repetition rate and a second laser beam having a second pulse repetition rate wherein the first pulse repetition rate and the second pulse repetition rate are the same.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the laser energy sources is less than one watt.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the laser energy sources is a semiconductor diode.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one laser energy source generates a laser beam having a wavelength in the visible range.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the wavelength of the laser beam is in the red range of the visible spectrum.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one laser energy source generates a laser beam having a wavelength in the infrared range.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one laser energy source generates a laser beam having a wavelength in the ultraviolet range.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the desired spot shapes is substantially linear.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the desired spot shapes is substantially circular.  
   
   
       19 . A method of treating a patient with low-level laser therapy comprising: 
 a) providing a multi-probe laser device comprising a first probe and a second probe wherein each of the probes further comprises: 
 i. one or more laser energy sources housed within each probe;  
 ii. one or more laser beams emitted from each laser energy source; and  
 iii. an optical arrangement for receiving and transforming each of the laser beams into a desired spot shape;  
   b) retaining the first probe within a user's hand during treatment, scanning a first area of a patient's body; and    c) simultaneously with retaining the first probe, retaining the second probe within the user's other hand during treatment, scanning a first area of a patient's body, wherein the orientation of the first probe changes continually during treatment relative to the orientation of the second probe.    
   
   
       20 . A method of treating a patient with low-level laser therapy comprising: 
 scanning a first area of a patient's body with laser light emitted from a first hand-held laser probe device in a first scan pattern without touching the patient with the first hand-held laser probe device while simultaneously scanning a second area of the patient's body with laser light emitted from a second hand-held laser probe device with a second scan pattern without touching the patient with the second hand-held laser probe device.