SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADMINISTERING LIGHT THERAPY

• US 20120209355A1
• Filed: 12/09/2009
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Witt, Erik Kurt, Kirby, Mark Toddman, Colbaugh, Michael Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,393,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/18 Rapid eye-movements [REM]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

A sleep mask is configured to provide light therapy to a subject. The sleep mask may provide a comfortable delivery mechanism for the light therapy, and may deliver the light therapy to the subject while the subject is asleep, in the process of going to sleep, and/or waking from sleep. In one embodiment, the sleep mask includes one or more of a shield, a strap, a first lighting module, and/or a second lighting module.

Claims

1. A system configured to provide light therapy to a subject as the subject sleeps, the system comprising:

one or more lighting modules configured to provide radiation to the eyes of the subject;

one or more sensors configured to generate one or more output signals that convey information about the current sleep stage of the subject; and

a processor configured to control the one or more lighting modules such that the one or more lighting modules provide radiation to the eyes of the subject, wherein the processor varies causes the intensity of the light provided to the eyes of the subject by the one or more lighting modules to vary based on the one or more output signals that convey information about the current sleep stage of the subject.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor controls the one or more lighting modules such that the one or more lighting modules provide light at (i) a first intensity if the one or more output signals indicate that the subject is experiencing REM sleep, and (ii) a second intensity if the one or more output signals indicate that the subject is experiencing non-REM sleep, and wherein the first intensity is less than the second intensity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a sensor configured to generate an output signal that indicates a distance between the eye of the subject and the sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a sensor configured to generate an output signals that indicates a core body temperature.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises an EEG sensor.

6. A method of providing light therapy to a subject as the subject sleeps, the method comprising:

providing radiation to the eyes of the subject;

determining the current sleep stage of the subject; and

adjusting the intensity of the radiation directed to the eyes of the subject based on the current sleep stage of the subject.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein adjusting the intensity of the radiation directed to the eyes of the subject based on the current sleep stage of the subject comprises (i) adjusting the intensity of the radiation to a first intensity if the subject is experiencing REM sleep, and (ii) adjusting the intensity of the radiation to a second intensity if the subject is experiencing non-REM sleep, and wherein the first intensity is less than the second intensity.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating an output signal that indicates a distance between the eye of the subject and the sensor, wherein determining the current sleep stage of the subject comprises determining the current sleep stage of the subject based on the generated output signal.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating an output signals that indicates a core body temperature, wherein determining the current sleep stage of the subject comprises determining the current sleep stage of the subject based on the generated output signal.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating one or more output signals that indicate electrical activity produced by the brain of the subject, wherein determining the current sleep stage of the subject comprises determining the current sleep stage of the subject based on the generated output signal.

11. A system configured to provide light therapy to a subject as the subject sleeps, the system comprising:

means for providing radiation to the eyes of the subject;

means for determining the current sleep stage of the subject; and

means for adjusting the intensity of the radiation directed to the eyes of the subject based on the current sleep stage of the subject.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the means for adjusting the intensity of the radiation directed to the eyes of the subject based on the current sleep stage of the subject comprises (i) means for adjusting the intensity of the radiation to a first intensity if the subject is experiencing REM sleep, and (ii) means for adjusting the intensity of the radiation to a second intensity if the subject is experiencing non-REM sleep, and wherein the first intensity is less than the second intensity.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for generating an output signal that indicates a distance between the eye of the subject and the sensor, wherein the means for determining the current sleep stage of the subject comprises means for determining the current sleep stage of the subject based on the generated output signal.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for generating an output signals that indicates a core body temperature, wherein the means for determining the current sleep stage of the subject comprises means for determining the current sleep stage of the subject based on the generated output signal.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising means for generating one or more output signals that indicate electrical activity produced by the brain of the subject, wherein the means for determining the current sleep stage of the subject comprises means for determining the current sleep stage of the subject based on the generated output signal.