Light irradiation having a wavelength of 380-1200 nm was found to have beneficial healing properties on the nervous system. By the method, the regeneration of an injured spinal cord is induced by transplanting a nerve graft into an injured site of the spinal cord and post-operatively irradiating with light having the above specified wavelength.
Methods for specifically inactivating myelin proteins which inhibit nerve regeneration are described. These methods are useful to promote axon regeneration.
Administration of tumor necrosis factor to the site of injured central nervous system axons will result in facilitation of the regeneration of axons across the site of the injury. Recombinant human tumor necrosis factor is the preferred substance for such use.
A method for the treatment of spinal cord transection using low level laser therapy in combination with allogenic implants. In one embodiment, embyronal nerve cells are cultured in vitro and transplanted to a site of spinal cord transection. The site is surgically closed and LLLT applied to a treatment point on the skin adjacent the transection site. To apply LLLT, a therapist applies pressure adequate to blanch the skin at the treatment point, and applies laser energy having a wavelength of about 630 nm to about 904 nm, with laser apparatus having a mean power output of about 100 mW to about 500 mW, at a dosage of about 1 joule/point, up to and including about 30 joules/point. Treatment times, total dosage, and number of treatment points are determined by the therapist or clinician trained in LLLT.
A medical device (1) of a biocompatible material for use in the treatment of a gap or defect in the central nervous system, which device has a proximal end (5) and a distal end (6) comprising openings (7). The device is adapted to enable connection of nerve fibers of gray and white matter between the proximal end (5) and distal end (6) thereof in predetermined openings (7). The device is of a substantially cylindrical form, or a substantially flat or plate like form and is made of plastic. The openings (7) in at least one end (5, 6) bear distinctively different indicia thereby to indicate whether nerve fibers of gray matter or nerve fibers of white matter are to be inserted therein.
Biological tissue of a living subject is irradiated with optical energy at a wavelength and at a power dissipation level to cause the amount of optical energy absorbed and converted to heat in the tissue to be within a range bounded by a minimum absorption rate sufficient to elevate the average temperature of the irradiated tissue to a level above the basal body temperature, but which is less than the absorption rate at which tissue is converted into a collagenous substance. According to this method, a therapeutic, warming effect is produced within the irradiated tissue, but without causing tissue damage by thermal overheating. The method of using a low level reactive laser system from 100 milliwatts to 800 milliwatts in either a pulsed or continuous mode with optical energy produced by a Nd:YAG laser at a fundamental wavelength of 1064 nanometers has been found to reduce pain in soft tissues, reduce inflammation and enhance the healing of tissue by stimulation of microcirculation without subjecting the living tissue to damaging thermal effects. The energy density of the irradiated tissue is limited to the range of from about 1 joule per square centimeter to about 15 joules per square centimeter.
