The Imperial Standard
Engineered for the dose that actually works.
Every Imperial Lights panel is built around one principle: therapeutic light only works if it's delivered at the right wavelength, at the right intensity, consistently. Here's what's inside, and why it matters.
By the numbers
9
Therapeutic wavelengths
192mW/cm²
Peak irradiance
6,000+
Published PBM studies referenced
50+
Years of PBM research
0
Reported adverse effects in literature
ISO
13485 certified line
Certified to a medical-grade standard
ISO 13485
FDA Facility
FDA 510(k)
UL Listed
CE Marked
RoHS Compliant
FCC Certified
MDSAP
How it works
01
Light becomes energy, at the cellular level
Photobiomodulation starts inside the mitochondria — your cells' power plants. When red and near-infrared light hits cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme that drives energy production, it sets off a chain reaction: nitric oxide clears out, oxygen flow improves, and your cells produce more ATP — the fuel behind everything from muscle repair to immune response.
Nothing is injected, ingested, or altered chemically. It's a photochemical response — the same kind of light-driven biology that's existed in living cells for billions of years.
02
Not all wavelengths reach the same place
Wavelength determines depth. 480–670 nm visible light works at or near the skin's surface — amber tones like 590 nm calm redness and even skin tone, while 630–670 nm supports collagen and visible repair. 810–850 nm travels 15–40 mm into tissue, reaching muscle, joints, and nerve. 1060 nm works thermally on deeper fat layers.
Imperial Lights panels carry 9 calibrated wavelengths across this range, where most consumer panels carry two or three. Each panel's touch screen lets you dial in brightness (1–100%) and flicker (1–10,000Hz) independently per wavelength, so you can target a specific outcome rather than defaulting to a generic glow.
03
Irradiance is the number that actually matters
Forget wattage and LED count — the spec that determines results is irradiance, measured in mW/cm². It's how much light energy actually reaches your skin per second. A poorly engineered panel can be high-wattage and still underdeliver.
Imperial Lights panels are calibrated to up to 192 mW/cm² at the surface and roughly 130–140 mW/cm² at 6 inches, depending on model — inside the therapeutic window, above the point where light does nothing, and below the point where it starts to heat tissue.
04
Built to a standard, not a guess
Imperial Lights panels are manufactured to ISO 13485 standards — the same quality system used for surgical and diagnostic devices, governing everything from design controls to post-market surveillance. The manufacturing line also holds MDSAP certification, recognized by regulators across the US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and Japan.
UL listing confirms North American electrical safety. CE marking confirms European conformity. None of this is marketing language — it's audited, verifiable documentation behind every panel that ships.
What the research shows
SKIN · 630–660NM
Collagen density and visible skin tone
Weiss et al., 2005 — Dermatologic Surgery
A randomized controlled trial found measurable gains in skin tone, complexion, and collagen density from low-level red light exposure, with no adverse effects reported among participants.
View source on PubMed ↗
SKIN · MECHANISM
Fibroblast activity and wound repair
Avci et al., 2013 — Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery
This review traced how red and near-infrared light activates fibroblast growth and collagen synthesis through the same cytochrome c oxidase pathway responsible for cellular energy production.
View source on PubMed ↗
RECOVERY · 810–850NM
Reduced fatigue, faster recovery in athletes
Leal Junior et al., 2010 — Lasers in Medical Science
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, pre-exercise NIR exposure lowered post-exercise creatine kinase markers and reduced muscle fatigue in elite volleyball athletes.
View source on PubMed ↗
RECOVERY · SORENESS
Less soreness, preserved strength post-workout
Baroni et al., 2010 — Journal of Athletic Training
A randomized trial showed NIR exposure before eccentric exercise significantly reduced delayed-onset muscle soreness while preserving strength, compared with a placebo group.
View source on PubMed ↗
JOINTS · INFLAMMATION
Pain reduction in chronic joint conditions
Brosseau et al., 2005 — Cochrane Database
A Cochrane systematic review on low-level laser therapy for rheumatoid arthritis reported significant drops in pain and morning stiffness, with functional improvement over placebo.
View source on PubMed ↗
JOINTS · META-ANALYSIS
22-trial review confirms pain relief in joint disorders
Bjordal et al., 2003 — Physical Therapy Reviews
This meta-analysis of 22 randomized controlled trials found that PBM, delivered at therapeutic doses, meaningfully reduced pain in osteoarthritis and tendinopathy cases.
View source on PubMed ↗
COGNITIVE · 810–830NM
Transcranial light and cognitive function
Hamblin, 2016 — Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery
This review found supporting evidence for improved cognition, memory, and mood from transcranial PBM, across both healthy subjects and patients with brain injury or neurodegenerative conditions.
View source on PubMed ↗
COGNITIVE · PENETRATION
810nm light reaches cortical tissue through the skull
Hennessy & Hamblin, 2017 — Journal of Optics
This review of transcranial PBM confirmed that 810 nm near-infrared light penetrates the skull and produces measurable metabolic activity in cortical neural tissue.
View source on PubMed ↗
SLEEP · 630–660NM
Better sleep, higher melatonin after red light exposure
Zhao et al., 2012 — Journal of Athletic Training
In this randomized trial, female basketball players using whole-body red light therapy for 14 nights showed improved sleep quality, raised melatonin levels, and better endurance versus placebo.
View source on PubMed ↗The research referenced above is shared for educational context. Imperial Lights panels and accessories are wellness devices, not medical devices — they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results will vary. If you have an underlying medical condition or take medication, speak with a healthcare provider before use. All studies cited are peer-reviewed and publicly accessible through PubMed, the US National Library of Medicine's research database.