Class 3 Vs Class 4 Laser

The foundation of class iv laser therapy is based on the delivery of a therapeutic dose of joules to a large area of target tissue reducing variability in outcomes.

Class 3 vs class 4 laser.

1 from 1 to 4 99 mw into a 7mm aperture e g pupil of the eye or 2 five times the class 2 limit of 2 5 mw cm2 which works out to be 12 5 mw cm2. It will be listed either in arabic numerals 1 2 3r 3b 4 or in roman numerals i ii iiia iiib iv. Most laser products are required by law to have a label listing the class. More absorption plus therapeutic effect.

A high energy laser can administer low doses. Class iv laser companies use class 3b evidence to promote their products because they don t have much of their own. Others offer pulsing to allow for heat dissipation. One thing remains certain current scientific and clinical research proves that class 3b lasers are best suited for therapeutic applications and class 4 lasers are best suited for tissue destruction.

3b lasers are safer. Thus a class 3b laser can penetrate deeper into tissue than a class iv laser and can therefore saturate the target faster. The therapeutic vector dose of laser is the energy joules administered. The fda defines a class iiib laser as a device with a power output between 5 500mw 0 005 0 5w and a class iv laser as a device with a power output above 500mw 0 5w.

There is zero published evidence to show that a class 4 laser penetrates deeper than a high powered 3b laser. In 2003 the fda approved the first class 4 laser greater than 0 5 watts for the relief of minor muscle and joint pain. Class 3r is either. The second method is used by lasersafetyfacts to determine nohd.

Dr lothar lilge on class 4 laser youtube. Laser classes lasers are classified for safety purposes based on their potential for causing injury to humans eyes and skin. If the class iv laser is in the 940 980nm wavelength range then it will penetrate less than a class 3b laser in the 800nm to 900 nm range. The heat buildup by class 4 is negative and some manufacturers add cooling to the beam.

The effect of laser is achieved on the tissues that absorb the applied energy. 3b laser systems cost less. Class 3b lasers are also considered as biomodelators and class 4 as surgical lithic. Maximum power output is separate from wavelength so you might find class iiib and class iv lasers with the same wavelength.

Early fda approved therapy lasers were class 3b lasers maximum 0 5 watts. The pressure will also lead the laser probe closer to the target.