Hi Amy,

I'm all for DIY,  but there are a couple of drawbacks of using an off-the-shelf laser.

1.  Most off-the-shelf lasers are Class III.... These can be 4 to 5 mW of power.   We use a Class II laser which is 0.65 mW.  The risk of eye damage with a Class III laser is real. 

2.  Finding a way to hold down the button with a clip to turn it on and off can be cumbersome.  If the laser is not easy to use it won't get used.

3.  The laser should be on an adjustable arm so that it can point up, down and side to side.  That way the person can adjust the angle of the laser as they move their position throughout the day (for example, tilt back in their wheelchair).

4.  It may be initially cheaper to use an off the shelf  laser.  However, over the long haul, it's MUCH cheaper to use an adapted laser.

Off-the-shelf laser pointers use button batteries. The "continuous on" battery life of the average off the shelf laser pointer is about 2 -3 hours.  That means after 2-3 hours of continuous use you need to put in new batteries. 

The Low Tech Solutions laser uses conventional AA batteries.   The "continuous on" battery life of my new laser modules  is over 210 hours.  So, over the long haul, you are going to spend a lot more money on batteries (not to mention the inconvenience of having to frequently change the batteries.)  Our laser can also use rechargeable AA batteries.

I'm a big fan of DIY, but if you are going to create a DIY laser, make a Class II laser which is eye safe, and make one which will accept AA batteries.  It will be much cheaper over the long haul.

Sincerely,

Margaret

Margaret Cotts   
Assistive Technology Specialist

 
Phone: (510) 681-3639 
Fax: (510) 842-1748



On Wednesday, September 11, 2019, 10:23:07 AM PDT, Wright, Amy <xxxxxx@atriumhealth.org> wrote:


We have used basic (less than $10) laser pointers with a clamp or clip of some sort to keep the button pressed on a hat or headband.  DIY!  😊

 

Amy Wright, MCD, CCC-SLP

Speech-Language Pathologist

Neurosciences Institute Neurology – Charlotte

Office: 704-355-0867 | Fax: 704-446-6084

 

Atrium Health

Carolinas HealthCare System is Atrium Health

 

From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com <xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 1:08 PM
To: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com
Subject: RE: laser head mouse

 

WARNING: This email originated from outside of Atrium Health (owner-at+amy.wright=xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com).

 

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I have used this in the past

 

cadan assistive technologies: low tech solutions

laser pointer head mounted   phone numner :  800 370 0047

 

http://store.lowtechsolutions.org/laser-pointer-eyeglass-mounted/

 

 

Brianna L. Cain, MOT, OTR/L, ATP

Occupational Therapist

Louis A. Johnson

VA Medical Center

1 Med Center Drive

Clarksburg, WV 26301

Phone: (304)623-3461 Ext. 3935

 

 

From: xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com <xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com> On Behalf Of Burgess, Joanna
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2019 1:00 PM
To: 'xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com' <xxxxxx@alsa.simplelists.com>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] laser head mouse

 

Hello,

 

There may have been a previous post about this, but does anyone know where to find the small (affordable) laser pointers that pALS can mount to glasses and/or a headband, etc. for use with a static communication board? I have a family that is not going to go the route of SGD, but could benefit from this and can’t afford an expensive option.

 

I know the ones I can find that are designated for this seem to be about $130, but I’ve had people make their own in the past for much less money.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Joanna

 

Joanna C. Burgess MA, CCC-SLP

Manager of Inpatient Rehabilitation Services- Hillcrest

Speech-Language Pathologist

 

UC San Diego Health

Rehabilitation Services

200 W. Arbor Drive #8775

San Diego, CA 92103

T: 619-543-2393 F: 619-543-7864

Pager: 619-290-4851

xxxxxx@ucsd.edu

health.ucsd.edu

 

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