LOW LEVEL LIGHT THERAPY FOR ENHANCEMENT OF NEUROLOGIC FUNCTION BY ALTERING AXONAL TRANSPORT RATE

• US 20110144723A1
• Filed: 06/16/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Photothera IP Holdings, Inc., Pthera,Llc
• Original Assignee: PhotoThera, Inc.
• Inventors: Taboada, Luis De, Streeter, Jackson
• Granted Patent: US 9,993,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

Methods of altering the rate of axonal transport are provided in several embodiments. Some embodiments alter axonal transport in a patient in need of an enhancement of axonal transport to alleviate symptoms of a disease or injury. The methods further include delivering electromagnetic radiation to at least one portion of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system of a patient sufficient to effect an alteration in axonal transport in the patient.

Claims

1. A method for enhancing axonal transport in an impaired neuron, the method comprising:

providing a low level light therapy (LLLT) device, wherein said LLLT device has a light emitting surface that emits light energy;

identifying one or more neurons having impaired axonal transport; and

delivering light energy to said one or more neurons,

wherein the light energy has a wavelength between 800 nm and 815 nm,

wherein the light energy has an irradiance at the light emitting surface of about 1400 mW/cm² to about 4200 mW/cm², and

wherein the light energy enhances one or more of the velocity of axonal transport, the average distance of axonal transport, and the total distance of axonal transport, thereby enhancing axonal transport of said one or more neurons.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy has an irradiance at or within about one centimeter of said one or more neurons of about 20 mW/cm² to about 60 mW/cm².

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the light energy has an irradiance at or within about one centimeter of said one or more neurons of about 50 mW/cm².

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the axonal transport in said one or more neurons is impaired by at least about 10% as compared to axonal transport in a healthy neuron.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein axonal transport of said one or more neurons after LLLT is comparable to axonal transport in healthy neurons.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancement of axonal transport enhances transport of one or more mitochondria along an axon of said one or more neurons.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy has a wavelength of 810 nm.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more neurons comprises at least one of a peripheral neuron, sensory neuron, motor neuron and inter neuron.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more neurons are associated with cognitive function.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a patient having Parkinson'"'"'s disease, and delivering said light energy to said patient.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising

identifying a patient having a neurological impairment,

wherein said neurological impairment is selected from the group consisting of:

Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, Huntington'"'"'s disease, dopaminergic impairment, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and

delivering said light energy to said patient.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhancement of axonal transport comprises increasing the rate of axonal transport.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein enhancing the rate of axonal transport comprises accelerating the clearance of a substance from the neuron.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the rate of axonal transport in response to the delivery of said light energy and adjusting said light energy in response to the determined rate of axonal transport.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy is delivered continuously.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy is delivered in pulses.

17. A method for enhancing axonal transport in a neuron, the method comprising:

providing a low level light therapy (LLLT) device, wherein said LLLT device has a light emitting surface that emits light energy;

delivering the light energy to at least one neuron;

wherein the light energy has a wavelength between 800 nm and 815 nm,

wherein the light energy has an irradiance at or within about one centimeter of said one or more neurons of about 20 mW/cm² to about 60 mW/cm²; and

wherein the light energy enhances axonal transport in said neuron by enhancing one or more of the following;

velocity of axonal transport, average distance of axonal transport, and total distance of axonal transport.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the light energy is delivered in pulses at a frequency ranging from about 80 to about 120 Hertz.

19. A method for enhancing neuronal axonal transport in a patient having one or more symptoms of Parkinson'"'"'s Disease, the method comprising:

providing a low level light therapy (LLLT) device, wherein said LLLT device has a light emitting surface that emits light energy;

identifying a patient with one or more symptoms of Parkinson'"'"'s Disease, delivering light energy to said patient,

wherein the light energy has a wavelength between 800 nm and 815 nm,

wherein the light energy has an irradiance at the light emitting surface of about 1400 mW/cm² to about 4200 mW/cm² configured for delivering light to a plurality of neurons in said patient;

wherein the light energy enhances one or more of a velocity of axonal transport in said neurons, an average distance of axonal transport in said neurons, and a total distance of axonal transport in said neurons, thereby enhancing axonal transport in said neurons and improving one or more symptoms of Parkinson'"'"'s Disease.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein one or more of said neurons are dopaminergic neurons and the enhanced axonal transport increases the delivery of dopamine to the synapse of said dopaminergic neurons.