LIGHT THERAPY SYSTEM INCLUDING SPECTACLE FRAMES AND CONTACT LENSES

• US 20120215291A1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Published: 08/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Pugh, Randall B., Neeley, William Chester, Towart, Robertson, Peeters, Mario Jozef Joanna, Drinkenburg, Wilhelmus, Miletic, Aleksandar
• Granted Patent: US 9,248,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/93
• 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: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/04 Illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

The present invention provides for eyeglasses used together with contact lenses to deliver light therapy to the wearer. The eyeglass lenses or frames feature an embedded light source in logical and electrical communication with power, sensors, processors, and other components contained within the eyeglasses. The eyeglass lenses or frames project light into complimentary contact lenses which refract, diffract or reflect light into the wearer'"'"'s eyes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for administering light therapy, the apparatus comprising:

a spectacle frame suitably sized for wearing on a human being and securing one or more optical lenses;

one or more light sources fixedly mounted to provide light onto a contact lens on an eye of a wearer of the spectacle frame; and

a contact lens comprising a portion for receiving the light provided.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source emits blue light at wavelengths of 450 to 500 nanometers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the light source emits blue light at wavelengths of 470 to 480 nanometers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the light source emits between about 2,000 to 3,000 lux of light.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source emits green light at wavelengths of 475 to 525 nanometers.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the light source emits green light at wavelengths of 490 to 510 nanometers.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the light emits between about 300 to 400 lux of light.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein apparatus comprises one or light pipes.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the one or more light pipes comprise fiber optic pathways.

11. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the light source emits the blue light onto at least a portion of the one or more optical lenses.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the light source emits the blue light onto at least a portion of the one or more optical lenses.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a mechanism for controlling an amount of light provided to the eye of the wearer of the spectacle frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the mechanism for controlling an amount of light may be adjusted by the wearer of the spectacle frame.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the mechanism for controlling an amount of light may be adjusted by a processor executing digital software.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the mechanism for controlling an amount of light may be adjusted based upon an amount of melatonin measured in the blood of a wearer of the spectacle frames.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the mechanism for controlling an amount of light may be adjusted based upon an amount of ambient light to which a wearer of the spectacle frames is exposed.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 additionally comprising a sensor attached to the spectacle frame for measuring an amount of ambient light, wherein the sensor provides an electrical signal to the processor indicative of an amount of ambient light.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising a power source in electrical communication with the one or more lights sources.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the power source comprises a rechargeable battery.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact lens comprises a portion for diffracting the light received from the light source.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contact lens comprises a portion for focusing the light received from the light source.

23. An apparatus for administering light therapy, the apparatus comprising:

a spectacle frame suitably sized for wearing on a human being and securing one or more optical lenses;

one or more energy sources fixedly mounted to the spectacle frame and capable of providing power to a contact lens on an eye of a wearer of the spectacle frame; and

a contact lens comprising a light source powered by the power provided by the energy source.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the light source emits blue light at wavelengths of 450 to 500 nanometers.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the light source emits blue light at wavelengths of 470 to 480 nanometers.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the light source emits between about 2,000 to 3,000 lux of light.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the light source emits green light at wavelengths of 475 to 525 nanometers.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the light source emits green light at wavelengths of 490 to 510 nanometers.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the light emits between about 300 to 400 lux of light.

30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes.