Treating spinal cord injuries via laser therapy

Abstract

Aspects for treating spinal cord injuries are disclosed. In a particular aspect, a method includes identifying a neurological level of a spinal cord injury, and activating neurons via laser therapy in which a laser beam is applied to an area proximate to the neurological level. In another aspect, a computer-readable storage medium includes computer-readable instructions for performing various acts. Such acts comprise ascertaining a neurological level of a spinal cord injury, and receiving data corresponding to a severity of the spinal cord injury. The acts further comprise outputting a laser calibration according to the neurological level and the severity. A medical device apparatus is also provided, which includes various computer executable components. The computer executable components include an assessment component configured to receive parameters corresponding to a spinal cord injury, and a calibration component configured to ascertain a laser calibration according to the at least one parameter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that facilitates treating spinal cord injuries, comprising:
 computer-readable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable instructions including instructions for causing at least one processor to perform the following acts:   identifying a neurological level of a spinal cord injury;   activating neurons via laser therapy, wherein a laser beam is applied to an area proximate to the neurological level;   determining one or more application angles of the laser beam, wherein the one or more application angles are determined according to a desired neuron type to be activated; and   communicating instructions to facilitate performing a deliberate tactile stimulation on a dermatome corresponding to the neurological level of the spinal cord injury.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the acts further include calibrating the laser therapy according to at least one of the neurological level of the spinal cord injury or a severity of the spinal cord injury. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 2 , wherein a laser calibration of the laser therapy includes at least one of a pulsed frequency calibration, a power calibration, or a wavelength calibration. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 3 , wherein the acts further include retrieving the laser calibration from a lookup table. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more application angles are determined according to a desired neuron type to be activated more than a different neuron type. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more application angles are anterior angles when the desired neuron type is a motor neuron. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more application angles are posterior angles when the desired neuron type is a sensory neuron. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the deliberate tactile stimulation is a deliberate pain stimulation. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the deliberate tactile stimulation is a deliberate vibration stimulation. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the deliberate tactile stimulation is a deliberate temperature stimulation. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the deliberate tactile stimulation is a deliberate light touch stimulation. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the deliberate tactile stimulation is one or more of a deliberate pain stimulation, a deliberate vibration stimulation, a deliberate temperature stimulation, or a deliberate light touch stimulation. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the deliberate tactile stimulation is performed concurrently with the activating of the neurons. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the application angle is varied between a perpendicular angle and a non-perpendicular angle. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that facilitates treating spinal cord injuries, comprising:
 computer-readable instructions stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable instructions including instructions for causing at least one processor to perform the following acts:   identifying a neurological level of a spinal cord injury;   activating neurons via laser therapy, wherein a laser beam is applied to an area proximate to the neurological level;   determining one or more application angles of the laser beam, wherein the one or more application angles are determined according to a desired neuron type to be activated, wherein when the neuron type is motor neurons, the one or more application angles are anterior angles and when the neuron type is sensory neurons, the one or more application angles are posterior angles; and   communicating instructions to facilitate performing a deliberate tactile stimulation on a dermatome corresponding to the neurological level of the spinal cord injury.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the deliberate tactile stimulation is performed concurrently with the activating of the neurons. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the acts further include calibrating the laser therapy according to at least one of the neurological level of the spinal cord injury or a severity of the spinal cord injury. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein a laser calibration of the laser therapy comprises a pulsed frequency calibration. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein a laser calibration of the laser therapy comprises a power calibration. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein a laser calibration of the laser therapy comprises a wavelength calibration.