7 replies to this topic

[paul]

Hi, I need some advice I recently bought the folowing on ebay, 830nm 300mW Infrared Focusable Laser Dot Module
I have used it twice over left frontal, parietal and temporal cortex aimimg in particularly for broccas region about 10 mins each time. It produces a very small focused dot, I placed the tip of the laser touching my scalp and moved it around slowly. Is this laser too strong as have noticed it will burn hair/ carpet when focused on for a couple of seconds. Has put me into a very energetic state unlike anything else I've tried. kept me awake all last night, and been very productive and happy all day, feel a little bit manic on it, but in a nice way. This could all well be a placebo effect or as a result other nootropics I'm taking ( sunifiram around 250mg daily (experimented extensively with the dose and have found higher doses for to be more effective without side effects, I'm taking memantine to prevent any glutamate hyper excitability), Also on cerebrolysin 20ml daily and I'm using a DIY tdcs daily.) Im worried that 300mW is too strong and may cause damage, so does anyone know if this is safe or if I should switch to a 200mW laser. I'm not sure what the difference is between the two, can anybody with a bit of physics knowledge help me out and explain?, many thanks

[mait]

Hi! If You are using the laser device do you un-focus the lens to make dot as big as possible instead of focused one - this might help?

[peakplasma]

300mw is strong but it should be okay. I have an 830nm 200mw btw.

What essentially matters is the power density (mw/cm²) so just make sure to keep the dot focus to an area >1cm² and don't touch the skin directly to the lens as this may cause burns. Also, keep in mind the energy density (j/cm2) delivered; with a 300mw laser you should apply it for only 2/3s of the time as the 200mw unit.

[paul]

Thanks for reply, I will try and work out a way to un focus the dot as at the moment it is very smal, about 2.5mm squared. The power density equation is very helpful I guess what I will need is a concave lens, I don't think there is a way to adjust the laser ( it is the standard small black one that you see on eBay with only an open shutter or closed shutter option abeled at the lens. I slept well last night and feel normal today I will wait until I work out a way to do this before frying my brain again!

[lostfalco]

"The level of light exposure at the skin was well below the irradiance allowed by the ANSI standard of 320 mW/cm^2"

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm....les/PMC2796659/

Comments--Peak is right on. If your laser is 300mW but it's very focused then the energy density is going to exceed acceptable limits. You're almost certainly gonna be ok because they usually set limits like this well below the danger threshold...but I wouldn't risk it.

[peakplasma]

Thanks for reply, I will try and work out a way to un focus the dot as at the moment it is very smal, about 2.5mm squared. The power density equation is very helpful I guess what I will need is a concave lens, I don't think there is a way to adjust the laser ( it is the standard small black one that you see on eBay with only an open shutter or closed shutter option abeled at the lens. I slept well last night and feel normal today I will wait until I work out a way to do this before frying my brain again!

Are you sure the top doesn't unscrew to change the focus? I adjust the focus on mine by unscrewing the top a little.

[Izan]

wow, 20 ml/day of cerebrolysin. impressive.

Edited by izan82, 02 June 2013 - 01:33 AM.

[Amorphous]

I have the 808nm 200mW one. However, it seems like the laser produce a line rather than a dot when unfocused. If I turn the Len on the top of the laser to get closer to the diode, it will produce a small dot and I can smell the burn when it is pointed to a wood desk. Actually, I can also do that by varying the distance between the laser and the desk. I also have the 830nm 300mW which is a much smaller device. The focus can be adjusted by simply turn the head of the laser. It can also burns wood when it is focused as a tiny point. I guess the approach is to unfocus it as much as possible and then direct the light to the area of personal interest. I haven't tried it yet. I am thinking tdcs may be a lot safer for stimulating a particular area of the brain. I have tried the led which seems nice but not convenient. Light relief is more flexible and easier to go hand free; however, there are 4 blue light there which bother me a bit. I am thinking to open up the flexible holder and replace the blue light with all infrared light but then it will destroy the plastic holder.