SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TREATING SYMPTOMS OF RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME

• US 20110054573A1
• Filed: 08/27/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brigham Young University (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
• Original Assignee: Brigham Young University (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
• Inventors: MITCHELL, Ulrike
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for reducing effects of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a subject. The method includes identifying, on the subject, a body region affected by RLS, placing an emitter unit in direct contact with skin of the body region, wherein the emitter unit includes at least one emitter that emits near-infrared light, and activating the emitter to emit an effective amount of near-infrared light for inducing release of nitric oxide from hemoglobin or generation in the endothelium. Also disclosed is an emitter unit that is placed in direct contact with a subject'"'"'s skin associated with RLS to reduce the effects of RLS. The emitter unit emits an effective amount of near-infrared light directed to the subject'"'"'s skin to induce release of nitric oxide from hemoglobin or generation in the endothelium, and a module configured to toggle the emitter unit between a transmitting and a nontransmitting mode.

Claims

1. A method of reducing effects of restless legs syndrome in a subject, the method comprising:

identifying, on the subject, a body region affected by restless legs syndrome;

placing an emitter unit in direct contact with skin of the body region, wherein the emitter unit comprises at least one emitter that emits near-infrared light; and

activating the at least one emitter to emit an effective amount of near-infrared light for inducing release of nitric oxide from at least one of hemoglobin and the endothelium within the body region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one emitter is aimed at the skin.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective amount of near-infrared light has a wavelength between approximately 700 nanometers and 1000 nanometers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one emitter further comprises an array of emitters.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the array of emitters is doubly flexible along an x axis and a y axis.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the array of emitters is adjustable to contours of the skin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitter unit further comprises an automatic shut-off timer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitter unit further comprises a temperature sensor and a module configured to turn off the at least one emitter if the temperature sensor indicates an overheating condition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one emitter transmits via at least one of adjustable intensity and adjustable frequency.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitter unit further comprises a gripping area that contacts the skin.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the emitter unit further comprises an insulating cover.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one emitter is at least one light emitting diode.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one light emitting diode does not directly contact the skin.

14. An emitter unit for reducing the effects of restless legs syndrome in a subject by placing the emitter unit in direct contact with a portion of the subject'"'"'s skin associated with a body region affected by restless legs syndrome, the system comprising:

at least one emitter adjustable to contours of the subject'"'"'s skin that emits an effective amount of near-infrared light directed to the subject'"'"'s skin for inducing release of nitric oxide from at least one of hemoglobin and the endothelium within the body region, wherein the effective amount of near-infrared light has a wavelength of approximately 700 nanometers and 1000 nanometers; and

a module configured to toggle the at least one emitter between a transmitting mode and a nontransmitting mode.

15. The emitter unit of claim 14, wherein the at least one emitter further comprises an array of emitters.

16. The emitter unit of claim 15, wherein the array of emitters is doubly flexible along an x axis and a y axis.

17. The emitter unit of claim 14, wherein the at least one emitter is at least one light emitting diode.

18. The emitter unit of claim 14, wherein the emitter unit further comprises an automatic shut-off timer.

19. The emitter unit of claim 14, wherein the emitter unit further comprises a temperature sensor and a module configured to turn off the at least one emitter if the temperature sensor indicates an overheating condition.