Intranasal Red Light Probe For Treating Alzheimer's Disease

• US 20110022130A1
• Filed: 06/24/2010
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: DiMauro, Thomas M., Holy, Chantal, Lilienfeld, Sean, Attawia, Mohamed
• Granted Patent: US 8,734,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0607 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities

Abstract

A method of treating disease in which intranasal red light devices are used to shine red light upon the brain structures in the basal prefrontal cortex.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient having a basal prefrontal cortex, comprising the step of:

a) irradiating the basal prefrontal cortex with an effective amount of light having a wavelength of between 600 nm and 1000 nm,

wherein irradiation is carried out with between about 0.2 J/cm² and 50 J/cm² energy and for a duration on the order of minutes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the light has a wavelength of between about 650 nm and about 1000 nm.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the light has a wavelength of between about 600 nm and about 700 nm.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the light irradiates an anterior portion of the basal prefrontal cortex.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiation increases the energetic activity of cytochrome oxidase.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiation induces sprouting in the basal prefrontal cortex.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiation is carried out via a light implant.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the implant contacts the skull of the patient.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the light is in the near-infrared range.