Whole‐organ transdermal photobiomodulation (PBM) of COVID‐19: A 50‐patient case study

Abstract

A nonrandomized 50‐person case study of COVID‐19‐positive patients was conducted employing (for the first time) a regimen of whole‐organ deep‐tissue transdermal dynamic photobiomodulation (PBM) as a primary (or exclusive) therapeutic modality in the treatment of coronavirus. Therapy sessions comprised algorithmically alternating red (650 nm) and near‐infrared (NIR; 850 nm) LEDs with an average irradiance of 11 mW/cm 2 dynamically sequenced at multiple pulse frequencies. Delivered via 3D bendable polymeric pads maintaining orthogonal optical incidence to body contours over 1,000 cm 2 , a single 84‐minute session concurrently delivered 20 kJ to the sinuses and 15 kJ to each lung at skin temperatures below 42°C. Therapeutic outcomes observed include significant reductions in the duration and severity of disease symptoms. Acute conditions including fever, body aches (BA) and respiratory distress comprising paroxysmal coughing; lung congestion, dyspnea and hypoxia; sinus congestion; acute eye inflammation; and extreme malaise were eliminated in 41/50 patients within 4 days of commencing PBM treatments with 50/50 patients fully recovering within 3 weeks with no supplemental oxygen requirements. SpO 2 concentrations improved as much as 9 points (average 2.5 points) across the entire study population. The PBM sessions required to completely resolve COVID‐19 conditions appears monotonically correlated to the time‐to‐treatment (TTTx)—the delay between the onset of a patient's symptoms and commencing PBM therapy. In contrast, acute inflammatory symptoms were resolved within 4 days irrespective of TTTx.

The Emerging Role of Photobiomodulation in COVID-19 Therapy Part II

“…Although numerous papers discuss the treatment of acute COVID-19 using PBM, most papers provide a survey or meta-analysis of data gleaned from only ten published case studies. Summarized in chronological order in Table 2, photonic optical delivery in case reports include conformal LED pads 259,260,261,262 ; laser scanners 263,264,265 ; handheld probes 266 ; and rigid LED panels 267 . In addition to laser scanning, one study 257 also employed handheld probes to treat organs not accessible by beam scanning.…”

“…Chronologically, the first case PBM of human COVID studies commenced in March of 2020 in Texas using conformal 3D-bendable LED pads (manufacturer Applied BioPhotonics aka ABP) 259 , and in Massachusetts using a laser scanning solution (ASA laser) 263 . Specifically, in February, ABP issued a warning to all its clients 268 (including the Texas clinic) concerning the spread of a highly transmissible dangerous contagion.…”

“…Study Cohorts. Among the treated patients, 50 Biophotonics 259 . Although the device manufacturer participated in curating the data for publication, the application of all therapeutic PBM sessions and the corresponding patient data collection were exclusively performed by the patients' attending physicians without manufacturing involvement or third-party intervention.…”

Effect of near‐infrared and blue laser light on vero E6 cells SARS‐CoV‐2 infection model

“…PBMT was delivered through LED pads applied directly on skin in a whole organ dynamic approach of 84 min session on sinus and lungs, the treatments were performed every 2–3 days for a maximum of three sessions in patients with mild–moderate disease. The symptomatic acute condition relief observed included breathing improvement, elimination of sinus congestion, reduction of dry coughing, fever, and severe eye inflammation and occurred in less than 2–3 days [ 6 ].…”

Clarification: Whole‐organ transdermal photobiomodulation (PBM) of COVID‐19: A 50‐patient case study

“…A reader of this research article [ 1 ] raised concerns about the accuracy of the Conflict of Interest statement.…”