PRESENTATION
Triwings®:
the world’s most powerful LED system
Triwings® is an athermic lighting system used for
healing and biostimulation, as well as treating pain and inflammation.
The device provides high power lighting. The practitioner can set each of the
three panels, mounted at the end of an articulated arm, and orient each colour
(yellow, red and orange) independently to specific parts of the body, skull,
knee, arm, etc. The patient does not have to move. This particularity, which is
absolutely unique on the market, reduces illumination time.
The practitioner can also use a visible fibre optic laser (optional extra) for
highly-localised or distal treatments by acupuncture, with an automatic laser
activation function at the detected point.
Triwings® combines different LEDs to obtain fast
treatment on the surface and in deep tissues.
The main treatments
• Stretch marks
Triwings® and Hydroled® are the only
systems in the world that can reduce stretch marks. Treatment consists of
irritating the stretch mark after prior work on the abdomen, when they are
localised at this precise point. Cold light is emitted at specific wavelengths
and restores pigment to the epidermis. On reaching the skin, the light releases
the pigment reserves which are scattered over the body. You need several
sessions, with a weekly maximum of two sessions to achieve a visible result.
A woman's abdomen is restored to its previous appearance, quite naturally:
reduced depth and improvement of the folded aspect. Dr Boisnic's team within the
Dermatology and Cosmetology Research Group, has demonstrated a 50% improvement
in the skin of stretch marks after 15 sessions, each lasting 20 minutes. This is
a first achievement which has been the subject of scientific publications.
• Anti-aging treatments
Cold light triggers subtle modifications. Even if they are not immediately
visible, they are felt immediately by the patient from the first session. LED
treatment is used to work on the skin's texture and tone.
• Post-surgical treatments
Cold light has some remarkable effects on the cellular repair process.
Practitioners obtain extraordinary results in scar reduction. The treatments not
only have an aesthetic effect by recolouring the skin, they also distinctly
improve patient comfort. Burns are reduced. It is therefore much easier to walk
or lift an arm after an operation. The patient must undergo several sessions.
LEDs are also used to eliminate scars caused by jellyfish stings. In this case,
two sessions are enough.
Other treatments
Several studies have also proved the positive effects of cold light in anti-acne
treatment or the reduction of varicose ulcers. Some physicians use their
Triwings® or Hydroled® machines
to attenuate orange peel skin or sunburn.
TECHNOLOGY
LEDs:
A TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH
LED lights are now part of our everyday lives. A LED, or Light Emitting
Diode, is a semiconductor which produces light when electric current passes
through it. The first LEDs, which were red, yellow and green, were developed in
1962. Nowadays, blue, purple and white LEDs are available.
Over time, scientists have managed to design LEDs capable of producing higher
light output than that of incandescent light bulbs and compact fluorescent
lamps. For example, LEDs are used in computer or television screens. They
are gradually replacing both fragile and expensive video projector lamps and car
headlights. Diodes are also used to light up road edges and walls. The most
powerful LEDs are used to light up sea buoys.
LED
manufacturers offer a range of wavelengths ranging from 400 to 700 nm.
Unlike conventional lamps, LEDs do not emit UV light. These characteristics are
especially important in dermatology. Practitioners can use a wide range of
colours and wavelengths to provide appropriate treatments.
In addition to their power, LED lights have a life span ranging from 50 to
100,000 hours (i.e. 20 years). This makes them ten times better than fluorescent
lamps and one hundred times better than incandescent light bulbs. LEDs require
very little energy in order to work, which can lead to significant energy
savings.
Another asset is that standard LEDs barely produce any heat, i.e. they do not
burn fingers or skin. This cold light can be used in a variety of skin
treatments without any risk of burning or other such risks.
LEDs
AND HEALTH
Today, LEDs are being used for medical purposes. Researchers from NASA have
discovered that skin which is poorly exposed to natural light does not
regenerate so well and, as such, healing is difficult. They came up with the
idea of using diodes with wavelengths capable of simulating human cell
regeneration mechanisms. American scientists were inspired by the treatments
developed around fifteen years ago by Russian researchers who were treating
inflammation and healing wounds using a low-powered helium-neon laser.
The use of cold light was thus established.
It was first implemented around ten years ago. Practitioners started to treat
actinic keratosis and cancerous skin lesions by exposing them to a combination
of white light and a photosensitive topical remedy. The results were extremely
convincing and the treatment left no scars. This kind of treatment has come into
general use.
The
equipment is designed by Biophoton and distributed by
Medicaloo for medical and paramedical applications.
For over twenty years, these two players specialising in applying light to
health problems have boasted a reputation in the medical world which is second
to none.
Some of their patents are exploited by such world-class manufacturers as
Matsushita, in Japan.
Their expertise covers the development and manufacture of laser equipment and,
of course, LEDs.
Today, Biophoton and Medicaloo manufacture and market Triwings®
and Hydroled® which revolutionise the use of LED
technology. These two pieces of equipment are unique in the world for the way in
which they combine different yellow, red and blue light.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
- Time programming: from 1 to 99 minutes or seconds
- Frequency programming: continuous or pulsed
- Mode: continuous or pulsed light
- Digital display of all settings
- Preview of treatment area
- Power supply: 90 to 250V, 50/60 Hz
- Dimensions: 185x50x40 Weight: 45 kg
- Choice of 3 colours possible on the same panel
INTERVIEWS
INTERVIEWS WITH DR MICHELE PELLETIER-AOUIZERATE, DERMATOLOGIST AT
TOULON SUR MER.
"We are at the start of a revolution".
For four years, Dr Michèle
Pelletier-Aouizerate has been using LED lamps to treat her patients.
She has been using a Triwings® lamp for 18 months to
take advantage of the power produced by mixing several colours.
Dr Pelletier-Aouizerarte is therefore one of the pioneers of this technology in
France.
In several speeches, she has presented the fruit of her experience to her
colleagues. And estimates what still has to be done.
When did you do your first work?
I spoke at a conference of the Dermatological Surgery Discussion Group on 6
September 2008. My speech was entitled "The various sources of energy used for
skin rejuvenation treatment". It seems to me that, apart from the sources
already well identified, such as nutrition or hot light such as lasers and
lamps, it is essential to include cold light sources which appear only in the
field of these energy sources.
We are only at the beginning of the story. Medical equipment using LED diodes
has only been marketed for barely seven years. And still today, the
Triwings® lamp is the only one capable of mixing several
colours so that we can benefit from the combined power of several wavelengths. I
ended my speech with the question: "Is cold light the dark side of light?"
What are the bases for your observations and experiments?
The first treatments concerned actinic keratosis and cancerous lesions caused by
the combined action of aging and exposure to the sun.
Practitioners used the principles of dynamic phototherapy by coating the
affected areas with a product before exposing them to LED radiation. The results
were very positive. The lesions formed scabs, which fell off without leaving
scars. In fact, this treatment is becoming fairly routine. I therefore judged
that light action could be used with other treatments.
This year I gave a speech entitled "From colour to care: cell respiration". I
considered that after studying the effect of heat, it was time to look at
vibration, i.e. wavelength and hence the coloured light produced by these
diodes.
Indeed, light is the corollary of colour: No light, no colour; which is defined
by its shade, saturation (more or less pure) and its brilliance or luminosity.
Which clinical cases did you present and how was your speech received ?
My presentation left the audience rather doubtful. Nevertheless, I presented
significant clinical cases, backed up with photographs taken before and after
treatment.
During my speech, I presented several cases of treatment of ulcers, scars,
stretch marks, jellyfish stings, treatment of acne and burns. But the message is
hard to put across. I think that even physicians find it hard to understand the
revolution that this method implies. You literally have to think differently.
With light, you can treat a scar without using cream, resorb acne spots without
antibiotic, just through the effect of light vibration on the skin.
Our work is going to evolve a great deal. With light, the physician becomes a
sort of orchestra leader, who must coordinate many factors (wavelengths,
vibrations...) in order to obtain harmonious clinical results.
This work requires the ability to analyse and diagnose problems, combined with a
real knowledge of colours. We are at the start of a process. Major studies are
in progress.
We shall acquire in-depth knowledge, improve protocols and expand our toolkit.
Today we are working with only three colours (yellow, red and blue). Tomorrow,
we shall work with all the colours in the rainbow.
INTERVIEWS WITH DR LINDA FOUQUE, DERMATOLOGIST IN NICE.
Established in Nice, Dr Linda Fouque has been using a Triwings®
lamp for more than a year for treating cancerous lesions and skin rejuvenation.
Until then, she had been using another device but it only produced a single,
yellow light.
Looking for more powerful equipment, which could mix several colours, Dr Fouque
tried a Triwings® lamp for dynamic phototherapy,
particularly for treating cancerous or precancerous skin lesions.
"I noticed that the skin lightened under the effect of the LEDs" Dr Fouque
explained. Wanting to validate this empirical observation, the dermatologist
asked five volunteers to come twice a week for two months to expose their
forearms to cold light.
The experiment was backed by Vincience, a research centre specialising in
extracting and evaluation for the cosmetics industry. Based in Sofia Antipolis,
Vincience lent the dermatologist a special microscope, the VivaScope, which
could be used to examine the epidermis without breaking the skin.The VivaScope studies were performed at Vincience by a specialist team, and the
LED part at Dr Fouque's office. "With this sort of big magnifier, we could
measure the skin pigmentation" Dr Fouque explained.
The volunteers were given
one month of treatment with two sessions per week. The results were compelling
two months after the end of treatment. The practitioner noted significant
effects on the homogenisation of the skin’s pigmentation.
The treatment can therefore be used to combat skin aging. Indeed, with age, skin
pigments are distributed less evenly. "After the treatment, I noted a distinct
improvement in the radiance of the complexion" said Linda Fouque.The
microscopic examination proved the effects of LED treatment on the basement
membrane which forms a junction between the dermis and the epidermis. This
membrane becomes flattened with age. The LEDs gave the basement membrane the
scalloped aspect characteristic of young skin. "The cold light stimulated the
blood vessels to reform", Dr Fouque described. The blood circulates better. The
skin is better irrigated and better oxygenated.
The effects are obvious: the complexion is more luminous and the look less
tired." According to the dermatologist, if the patient wishes to benefit from
the effects of this rejuvenation over a longer period, a monthly session is
recommended.
* Dr Fouque's work is being published in the American journal "Investigative
Dermatology"
INTERVEWS WITH DR SYLVIE BOISNIC, DERMATOLOGIST AND RESEARCH DIRECTOR
AT GREDECO.
(Dermatology and Cosmetology Research Group)
A promising research theme
Dr Sylvie Boisnic is director of research at the Dermatology and Cosmetology
Research Group (GREDECO). This independent unit performs a great deal of
research for industry or manufacturers. GREDECO has developed an innovative
research method: keeping alive human skin obtained from surgical operations and
placed in a culture medium.
"This method, standardised with the aim of restoring
the metabolic conditions existing in vivo, is used to maintain cell viability
and preserve epithelial differentiation, explained Dr Boisnic. So we can rapidly
analyse the efficacy and tolerance of an active substance, a complex product or
radiation such as that from a laser or LED diode, using histology,
immunohistochemistry, biochemistry and electron microscopy."
The laboratory can
thus work directly on tissues without the need for all the precautions necessary
for testing on live volunteers.
Dr Boisnic has been studying cold light for six
years. "At first", she explained, with soft lasers. All the work I have studied,
was effective and free of burns."
Two studies in parallel
GREDECO wanted to study the effect of the LEDs in a Triwings®
lamp on the production of collagen by skin cells. The skin kept alive underwent
accelerated aging with ultraviolet light, to make it uniform at around the age
of 80. The researchers also wanted to work on skin which was altered, as if it
had been permanently exposed to sunlight for years. They performed eight
sessions of exposure to the radiation of LED lamps for 20 minutes at a time, ten
minutes of continuous light and ten in pulsed mode. They also compared the skin
with stretch marks (untreated) and others treated with a lamp. After treatment,
it was noted that the network of elastic fibres in the skin was denser with
longer fibres. The scientists also observed the reorganisation of collagen
bundles which became thicker and there was an increase in collagen synthesis by
the fibroblasts in the experimentally aged skin or the stretch marks.
GREDECO
then exposed five people to LED radiation from a Triwings®
lamp to treat stretch marks. They observed a "statistically significant
improvement in the stretch marks: 46% reduction of the folded aspect, 58% in
depth and 57% in skin extensibility in the region of the stretch marks."
"Overall, the study tells us that the satisfaction scored by the subjects and
the physician was roughly identical at around 60%."
According to Dr Boisnic, it
seems that cold light is all the more effective if it used very early on recent
lesions. The laboratory judges that it is "particularly pertinent to be able to
evaluate the curative role of this type of treatment on very recent stretch
marks. The results may be distinctly superior."