Using light to regulate uterine contractions

• US 10,118,050 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2016
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc. (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: Florida State Research Foundation Incorporated
• Inventors: Olcese, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Borgeest, Christina M
• Application Number:
  US15/345,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20170050047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/4045 Indole-alkylamines; Amides thereof, e.g. serotonin, melatonin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/095 Oxytocins; Vasopressins; Related peptides
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/06 using light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2800/368 Pregnancy complicated by disease or abnormalities of pregnancy, e.g. preeclampsia, preterm labour

Abstract

A method of regulating uterine contractions comprises suppressing a nocturnal endogenous melatonin level of a pregnant female experiencing uterine contractions at night by exposing the pregnant female during nighttime to a light source emitting blue light. The light source may be a headset. The contractions may be measured while the female is exposed to the blue light.

Claims

1. A method of reducing uterine contractions occurring at night in a pregnant diurnal female experiencing preterm labor, the method comprising:

suppressing the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of a pregnant diurnal female experiencing preterm labor by;

(a) operating a headset being worn by and covering the eyes of the pregnant diurnal female, the headset comprising a first blue light source carried by the headset and remaining over the left eye of the pregnant diurnal female when the headset is worn and a second blue light source carried by the headset and remaining over the right eye of the pregnant diurnal female when the headset is worn;

(b) intermittently directing blue light from the first blue light source onto the left eye of the pregnant diurnal female during the night, the blue light from the first blue light source having a wavelength of about 450 to 500 nm and an intensity of about 1,000 to 10,000 lux; and

(c) intermittently directing blue light from the second blue light source onto the right eye of the pregnant diurnal female during the night, the blue light from the second blue light source having a wavelength of about 450 to 500 nm and an intensity of about 1,000 to 10,000 lux.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light source intensity for each of first and second blue light sources is about 10,000 lux.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the headset is operated between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the headset is operated while recording uterine contractions in the pregnant diurnal female.

5. A method of reducing uterine contractions occurring at night in a pregnant human female experiencing preterm labor, the method comprising:

suppressing the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of the pregnant diurnal female experiencing preterm labor and uterine contractions by directing into the eyes of the pregnant diurnal female during the night blue light from a blue light source; and

measuring the uterine contractions while directing into the eyes of the pregnant diurnal female during the night blue light from the blue light source.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the light source is a headset being worn by and covering the eyes of the pregnant diurnal female, the headset comprising a first blue light source carried by the headset and remaining over the left eye of the pregnant diurnal female when the headset is worn and a second blue light source carried by the headset and remaining over the right eye of the pregnant diurnal female when the headset is worn.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the headset is operated between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising intermittently directing blue light from the first blue light source onto the left eye of the pregnant diurnal female during the night;

and intermittently directing blue light from the second blue light source onto the right eye of the pregnant diurnal female during the night.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the blue light source has an intensity of about 1,000 to about 10,000 lux and a wavelength of about 450 nm to about 500 nm.

10. A method of reducing uterine contractions occurring at night in a pregnant human female, the method comprising measuring uterine contractions at night of a pregnant human female experiencing preterm labor and uterine contractions while suppressing the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of the pregnant human female by intermittently directing into the eyes of the pregnant human female light from a light source having a wavelength effective to suppress the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of the pregnant human female.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the light source is a headset being worn by and covering the eyes of the pregnant human female, the headset comprising a first light source carried by the headset and remaining over the left eye of the pregnant human female when the headset is worn and a second light source carried by the headset and remaining over the right eye of the pregnant human female when the headset is worn.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the headset is operated between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising intermittently directing the light from the first light source onto the left eye of the pregnant human female during the night;

and intermittently directing light from the second blue light source onto the right eye of the pregnant human female during the night.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the wavelength effective to suppress the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of the pregnant human female is a wavelength of about 450 nm to about 500 nm.