Circadian rhythm reset method and device

• US 6,623,512 B1
• Filed: 07/22/1999
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Heller, H. Craig, van den Pol, Anthony N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kearney, R.
• Application Number:
  US09/359,531
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 600/26-28, 315/158, 315/200, 315/203, 128/898, 607/89, 607/90, 607/91, 607/88
• 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: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes

Abstract

A method for phase shifting the circadian pacemaker or treating seasonal affective disorder in a subject is disclosed. The method includes exposing the subject'"'"'s eye region to a given-intensity light flash having a flash duration of between about 1-500 msec, at a periodicity of at least about one flash per minute, over a selected time period effective, were the subject exposed to a continuous light pulse of the same intensity for this period, to phase shift the circadian pacemaker or treat the seasonal affective disorder in the subject. Also disclosed is a device for practicing the method.

Claims

1. A method of phase shifting the circadian pacemaker or treating seasonal affective disorder in a subject, comprising

exposing the subject'"'"'s eye region to a given-intensity light flash having a flash duration of between about 1-500 msec, at a periodicity of at least about one flash per minute, over a time period between about 15 and 150 minutes, carried out during hour 18 to hour 24 or hour 12 to hour 18 of the subject'"'"'s circadian time effective, were the subject exposed to a continuous light pulse of the same intensity for this period, to phase shift the circadian pacemaker or treat the seasonal affective disorder in the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light flash duration is between about 1-25 msec.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the light flash duration is between about 1-5 msec.