METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING AND TREATMENT OF SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

• US 20140277291A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• 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., Flitsch, Frederick A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,289,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/06 using light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

This invention provides for an energized biomedical ophthalmic device and associated method of measuring changes in biomarkers contained in tear film to generate data related to a light therapy regimen used to treat symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder. In some embodiments, the energized biomedical ophthalmic device can include an energized contact lens with a light source in communication with a processor controlling said light source according to the light therapy regimen. The light therapy regimen may be generated or modified by the processor from the measured changes and sometimes from user'"'"'s preferences, and/or additional measurements, including for example, light exposure and/or circadian rhythm of the user.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring and treating seasonal affective disorder symptoms of an individual, the method comprising:

wearing an energized biomedical ophthalmic device;

measuring changes in tear film biomarkers;

correlating the measured changes in tear film biomarkers to associated symptoms of seasonal affective disorder;

generating data from the measured changes related to a light therapy used to treat seasonal affective disorder symptoms; and

implementing generated data into a light therapy regimen.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of creating an intelligent light therapy schedule according to the light therapy regimen and compensating adjustments made based on one or more conditions or settings specific to the individual.

3. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of monitoring light exposure and light intensity the individual'"'"'s ocular environment is exposed to over a period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of monitoring the circadian rhythm of the individual.

5. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising the step of gathering individual'"'"'s preferences to generate data related to the light therapy used to treat seasonal affective disorder.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomarkers include serotonin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomarkers include melatonin.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the biomarkers include interleukin-6.

9. An energized biomedical ophthalmic device comprising:

an energy source;

a light source energized by the energy source;

a biomarker sensor, wherein the biomarker sensor can detect changes in biomolecules contained in the tear film of a user and generate signal data corresponding to the measured changes;

a processor in logical communication with the biomarker sensor, wherein the processor operative to receive and process said signal data to output data related to the control of the light source; and

wherein the light source is controlled by and in proximity to the processor.

10. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device of claim 9, additionally comprising a light sensor in communication with the processor.

11. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device of claim 9, wherein the biomarker sensor comprises an electrochemical microchip with analytical sensitivity.

12. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device of claim 11, wherein the electrochemical microchip with analytical sensitivity is capable of measuring changes of melatonin biomolecules in tear film.

13. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device of claim 11, wherein the electrochemical microchip with analytical sensitivity is capable of measuring changes of serotonin biomolecules in tear film.

14. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device of claim 11, wherein the electrochemical microchip with analytical sensitivity is capable of measuring changes of interleukin-6 biomolecules in tear film.

15. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device of claim 9, wherein the energized biomedical ophthalmic device comprises an energized contact lens.

16. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device claim 15, wherein the energized contact lens comprises a media insert encapsulating the energy source.

17. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device claim 9, additionally comprising an antenna.

18. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device claim 17, wherein the antenna can transmit electrical signals from an exterior controller.

19. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device of claim 9, comprising an energized complementary contact lens comprising the processor in logical communication with a second processor contained in spectacles.

20. The energized biomedical ophthalmic device claim 9, wherein the light source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes.