Handheld Laser Therapy Device.

The problem

The client runs a medical practice using intense pulsed light to treat chronic injuries and other conditions. The price, reliability, and limited flexibility of existing devices drove them to build their own: a handheld laser therapy device with high power output and configurable pulsing patterns.

My work: profile and mitigate power droop from laser diode self-heating, demonstrate that safety compliance standards would be met, and prototype key functionality in parallel with external contract EE and firmware teams.

What I built

• Test hardware and methodology for the thermal measurements: circuit design, layout, firmware, and software to drive laser diodes on a custom PCB and graph thermocouple readings against power settings.
• Integration of production PCBs from contract EE partners. Four boards in the device, each with its own untested firmware. I wrote the integration plan, agreed success criteria with each team, and wrote test firmware to validate communication, connectivity, and laser control.
• A documented compliance process, in coordination with a laser compliance consultant, demonstrating the parameters required to meet 3R safety standards.

The outcome

The device exceeded its original performance criteria and sells well, giving the practice and its customers a flexible tool for both treatment and new research.