Red + Near Infrared Dimalux, et al

[Twickle Purple]

DimaTech shipped my Dimalux unit today and it should arrive before the weekend. I went ahead and purchased the Red + Near-Infrared (R+NIR) heads along with the Red heads because I have a whole body's worth of steroidal skin I'm hoping to work on too. Red for the Rosacea and R+NIR for the rest. DimaTech is now going to make a unit with extended reach for expanded flexibility and so my hope is to swap the base when that comes on the market in a few months.

I have also purchased a handheld unit with accompany wand probe through eBay (click here this link should show it for about 30 days) (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=006&item=160019265458&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1). I went for this unit because of the console and portability.

And, so I can make the most of it all, I have ordered a few books suitable for the layman (moi):

Click here (http://www.meditech-bioflex.com/contents.html) to see the TOC of one, Low Intensity Laser Therapy in Clinical Practice.

The other two are:

The Laser Therapy Handbook (http://www.prima-books.com/LaserTherapyHandbook.php)

A Practitioners Guide to Laser Therapy and Musculo-Skeletal Injuries (http://www.prima-books.com/ThreeLaserTherapyHandbooks.php)

This should give me a good idea of what to do, except for with the Rosacea, for this we are all here pioneers. My dear husband has agreed to participate completely in this process so that we have two subjects: one normal (him) and one lemon (me). He will be the inaugural test subject to let me know what to expect and so I can test different settings on him (trusting guy, yes?). Thierry at DimaTech has agreed to hold my hand for the first few months as well so that my learning curve is more straight A to Z.

I rescheduled the Gemini treatment I was to have last Thursday due to work conflicts but have found the upper chest area that was treated is developing broken blood vessels that last a few days to almost a week before turning yellow and reabsorbing. A couple to a half dozen crop up every few days. This was the only really painful area during the Gemini treatment and has remained sensitive to the slightest pressure. I am hoping the R+NIR will work to alleviate this issue. I'll post pics of the set up sometime next week.

[DukeCity]

Twickle, - Best of luck and please do take some good pics every so often for the comparison. Will be looking foward to your progress..

[Twickle Purple]

Will do and thanks DukeCity.
I am quite hopeful and excited. :D

[IowaDavid]

I wonder if buying some cheap full-length mirrors might help reflect the light if you're trying to treat your entire body?

[Twickle Purple]

I wonder if buying some cheap full-length mirrors might help reflect the light if you're trying to treat your entire body?

I thought that too! I've been reading more on absorption depths, and as I understand it, proximity is important so I'm not sure if reflected light is effective. I've received the Low Intensity Laser Therapy in clinical practice book today so I will let you know if this is touched on. I'm suspecting that as no system I've seen (I've not seen that many though) is fabricated utilizing mirrors that it likely not effective though. Could be though we are ahead of the curve and just need to do up a design and patent one :lol:

[IowaDavid]

Yeah, proximity is important, of course. :)

But, if you're going to be lying there anyway (I assume you'll be lying down?), the reflected light can only help. Of course, I have no idea what percentage of efficacy this reflected light would have in comparison to the direct light.

[Twickle Purple]

Well, so much for getting all excited! The big unit shipped Tuesday, much later than expected and the smaller units went ground post by mistake. The Dimalux is stuck with customs right now but I think it's more an issue with DHL than anything else. So, no piccies yet...

[Twickle Purple]

Finally received the unit today. I'll get into more details this weekend, once I cool down. :evil:

[banshee]

Best of luck to you Twickle-

I was seriously considering this machine since it takes me 2-3 hours to get all the areas I need to w/my current lamps. That's 45 days a year I'm sitting in front of those things! I've gone long periods w/o them though & my skin gets much worse. The Dimalux is far more affordable than the Omnilux but sadly it's still a fortune to me :cry:

[Twickle Purple]

Thanks banshee,

I must admit to being disappointed. I had expected a professional product -- with the appropriate literature to properly employ it. I've been reading the books I have purchased on LLLT and the experts are adamant and specific in that time and intensity determines exposure/dosing. This is extremely important with a unit of this size. Different parts of the body have different requirements, as do different people. I had been quite vocal in my need for literature, to the point where Thierry at Dimalux assured me that he was just putting the final touches on his literature and, while it may not be printed, he would include something in the package, even if he had to photocopy it. Keep in mind this cost me $10,000 CDN: $9,500 for the unit and $500 tax. My $650 US unit comes with literature and a CD, but hey a photocopy is better than nothing.... Well, with all this in mind, I'm expecting perhaps a wee bit more than the following:

Sent today via e-mail:

I am still working on a pdf for the instructions. I hope to have it completed by mid to late next week. (Note from TP: He said this to me 4 weeks ago too...)

It is very simple to use.

To change the panels.

Make sure the power is turned off. Remove the 2 screws from the back of each head and pull up the white tab on the panels to remove the panels. Insert the new panels and firmly push them in all the way. Make sure the panels are inserted into the guide slots. If some of the leds do not turn on it is usually because the panels are not in all the way. Put the covers back on and replace the screws.

Turn the power on . the power switch is on the back of the unit. You will hear the fans turn on but the lights will not light up until you turn the switch to either on or timer. The on position will turn the light on indefinitely. Turning the switch to time will start the timer. The time is adjust to 10, 20 or 30 minutes.

The power can be adjusted with the power knob and the pulse rate can be adjusted with the pulse knob. (Note from TP: To what?)

There is one more switch that allows you to go from continuous on to pulse.

I personally use the pulse mode on full power and full pulse for 30 minutes every other day. You should probably work up to that gradually to see what you can tolerate.

--

I get more instructions when I buy a hairdryer. :roll:

So, the long and the short of it? This is not a unit marketed to the professional. I will need to go out and buy my own metering devices and figure things out from there, something that I thought spending this much money would mean I wouldn't have to do.

What I have is a basic fabrication with a lot of lights. I do think that the unit price for the amount of lights makes it cost effective, but that's all. You're getting a lot of lights in a stand, not much more really.

In my search for a unit to purchase, I sent an e-mail to this site: http://www.elixa.com/light/arrays.htm asking about costing out a modification of the unit shown at the bottom of their Web page.

Here's my request:

I am very interested in arranging fabrication of a custom 660nm array. Your large array ($695) has 16 squares of grouped LEDs. I would like mine to a total of 18 squares of grouped LEDs and be made up of 6 rectangular hinged panels with each panel being 3
squares. Handles at the outside panels. The unit should be able to stand on it's own when the panels are arranged in a semi-circle.

Here's the reply:
from lights@theledman.net:
I would make the panel you described for 795.00 and I would need a week to get it completed and ready for shipping.

I think this is a very good price, he has a pulsing CD and the net effect would likely be the same as the unit that I spent 10 times more on.

The biggest reason I went with the Dimalux is that they told me that their only competition is the Omnilux (http://www.phototherapeutics.com/), but their professional unit costs many thousands less. This is not a professional unit. It is, as I say, a basic fabrication with a lot of lights. So, with a slightly adjusted mindset, I begin my RLT journey... The upside to this is I will need to become well versed in specifics that I wouldn't have bothered with otherwise. Perhaps this will allow me to more accurately share the experience.

Twickle Purple

[fut]

For 10 grand and an unhappy report - I would return it and purchase the one from Elixa. I recommend the people over there.

[Twickle Purple]

For 10 grand and an unhappy report - I would return it and purchase the one from Elixa. I recommend the people over there.

I wish...

This also comes with the order:

This order is non-cancel-able and non-returnable. Once you have authorize us to charge your card you will not be able to cancel it.

[fut]

For 10 grand and an unhappy report - I would return it and purchase the one from Elixa. I recommend the people over there.

I wish...

This also comes with the order:

This order is non-cancel-able and non-returnable. Once you have authorize us to charge your card you will not be able to cancel it.

Sure, they say that - but it isn't the law. So they are trying to say once they charge your card, they can send you anything and you wont be able to cancel it. If you were sold something that did not meet your expectations you can attempt a charge back with your credit card company. Chances are with these things, the consumer will win. Do a little research if you plan on taking this action. If you say the wrong thing to your CC company you might be stuck with the damn thing!

Good luck!

PS. I ran an e-store for a year so this is why I know this information

[Twickle Purple]

Thanks fut :D

I'm going to keep it. My grumpiness at the onset is subsiding and I'm seeing it for what it is. I've waited so long and really want some relief so I'll work with this. Tomorrow we'll head to Radio Shack and see what we can wrestle up so we can use this thing with measurable dosing.

My husband is still game to be my test subject, so I'll post some pics once we get going. He's even developed a little sympathetic talengiectasia on his cheeks for me. :lol:

[fut]

Thanks fut :D

My husband is still game to be my test subject, so I'll post some pics once we get going. He's even developed a little sympathetic talengiectasia on his cheeks for me. :lol:
:lol:
good luck. looking forward to seeing your progress.

by the way, did you read anything about having to keep the light over your face for a certain amount of time at once? Sometimes I find myself switching my handheld light from one part of my face to another every few minutes while i'm on the computer.

[Quench]

Good on ya for staying positive TP. My tiny little one from Elixa arrived a while ago and so far I've only managed 2 sessions under it.

Life is very hectic right now but I'm going to try my best to set aside 15 min a day to sit under it and document the results.

[Twickle Purple]

I look forward to seeing the results Quench! Maybe we can create some kind of "at-a-glance features and results by device" thread.

I'm going to document a few different consumer systems. I'll cover the basics of each and my impression of the pros and cons. Efficacy is subjective but I've got my husband acting as a test subject as well, to help balance that. I think the units I've purchased are a bit different from what I've seen mentioned previously so it will be great to see and compare all our different units so that anyone looking to make a purchase can make an informed choice.

So far I've received my Dimalux, which is all set up, I'll post a pic below. I've also purchased a unit from eBay, which is taking a while to come because they shipped it snail mail. I've just ordered a custom array from the very good folks at LedMan.net (who I had confused with Elixa, sorry. It's all the same product though. And great customer service!!!) And a Warp10 device from Quantum Devices, Inc. (because these are the folks that started it all with NASA and who claim their unit is unique and the best, etc.)

As a quick overview, below are some pics and links.


Custom Array (http://www.theledman.net/order.html)

The custom array from LedMan is based on the image below. Except it will have both 660nm & 880nm arranged in a checkerboard with 3 squares high x 6 panels wide. Each panel will be hinged for flexibility in application, and there will be handles on the ends. V (my contact at LedMan) is testing out the pulsing CD on this unit because it will have more power than the present iterations, and then make any modifications required. I will be able to customize my pulsing.

http://www.kennedylee.com/TP3/Devices/Elixa.jpg


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The Warp10 (http://www.warp-heals.com/)

This little unit is made by Quantum Devices, Inc., the maker of the NASA arrays and an FDA approved device. They say it is the consumer version of the units that the Navy Seals and Armed Forces carry with them.

http://www.kennedylee.com/TP3/Devices/Warp10.jpg


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The eBay unit

I don't know the manufacturer yet, so I can't tell you anything more than what the picture shows below. It is supposed to come with a bonus red probe as well.

http://www.kennedylee.com/TP3/Devices/Photorejuvenation.jpg


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Dimalux

This unit has arrived. It's the biggie in the bunch, but came with no instruction or literature. I've expressed my opinion on that previously, so going forward it will be measured on the same criteria as the others only.

http://www.kennedylee.com/TP3/Devices/dimalux.jpg


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Here's the set-up so far for the Dimalux. The table has a massage mat under the sheet (the controller hanging off the table is for that), to make the time pass pleasantly. The anti-gravity chair (which has a massager as well) will be used when working with the smaller units.


http://www.kennedylee.com/TP3/Devices/Dimalux-setup.jpg