Device and method for providing phototherapy to the brain

• US 7,303,578 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pthera,Llc
• Original Assignee: PhotoThera, Inc.
• Inventors: De Taboada, Luis, Streeter, Jackson
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay; David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/682,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20040138727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 606/3, 606 9- 16, 607 88- 93, 804/20
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/007 for cooling the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0617 Hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

A therapy apparatus for treating a patient'"'"'s brain is provided. The therapy apparatus includes a light source having an output emission area positioned to irradiate a portion of the brain with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light. The therapy apparatus further includes an element interposed between the light source and the patient'"'"'s scalp. The element is adapted to inhibit temperature increases at the scalp caused by the light.

Claims

1. A therapy apparatus for treating a patient'"'"'s brain, the therapy apparatus comprising:

a light source having an output emission area positioned to irradiate a portion of the brain with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light, wherein the efficacious power density is between about 0.01 mW/cm² and about 100 mW/cm² at a depth of approximately 2 centimeters below the patient'"'"'s dura; and

an element adapted to be interposed between the light source and the patient'"'"'s scalp, the element adapted to inhibit temperature increases at the scalp caused by the light, wherein the element is adapted to apply pressure to at least a portion of the scalp, thereby blanching the portion of the scalp and decreasing absorption of the light by blood in the scalp.

2. The therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light passes through the element prior to reaching the scalp.

3. The therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the element is adapted to contact the patient'"'"'s scalp.

4. The therapy apparatus of claim 3, wherein the element is attached to the light source and is adapted to conform to the scalp so as to position the light source relative to the scalp.

5. The therapy apparatus of claim 4, wherein the element is mechanically adjustable so as to adjust a position of the light source relative to the scalp.

6. The therapy apparatus of claim 4, wherein the element is mechanically adjustable so as to fit the therapy apparatus to the scalp.

7. The therapy apparatus of claim 6, wherein the element comprises a bag containing a material adapted to conform to contours of the scalp.

8. The therapy apparatus of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the element is within an optical path of the light from the source to the scalp.

9. The therapy apparatus of claim 8, wherein the element is substantially optically transmissive at the wavelength and is adapted to reduce back reflections of the light.

10. The therapy apparatus of claim 9, wherein the element is adapted to fit to the scalp so as to substantially reduce air gaps between the scalp and the element in the optical path of the light.

11. The therapy apparatus of claim 9, wherein the element comprises a material having a refractive index which substantially matches a refractive index of the scalp.

12. The therapy apparatus of claim 11, wherein the material comprises glycerol.

13. The therapy apparatus of claim 11, wherein the material comprises silica gel.

14. The therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the element is adapted to cool the scalp by removing heat from the scalp.

15. The therapy apparatus of claim 14, wherein the element comprises a conduit adapted to contain a coolant which flows through the conduit near the scalp, is heated by the scalp, and which flows away from the scalp.

16. The therapy apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coolant circulates between the element and a heat transfer device, whereby the coolant is heated by the scalp and cooled by the heat transfer device.

17. The therapy apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coolant comprises water.

18. The therapy apparatus of claim 15, wherein the coolant comprises air.

19. The therapy apparatus of claim 14, wherein the element comprises a non-flowing material which is thermally coupled to the scalp.

20. The therapy apparatus of claim 19, wherein the non-flowing material is pre-cooled prior to treatment of the brain.

21. The therapy apparatus of claim 19, wherein the non-flowing material comprises a gel.

22. The therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the element is adapted to diffuse the light prior to reaching the scalp.

23. The therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the irradiated portion of the brain comprises the entire brain.

24. The therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is wearable over multiple concurrent days.

25. A therapy apparatus for treating brain tissue, the therapy apparatus comprising:

a light source positioned to irradiate at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s head with light having a wavelength and power density which penetrates the cranium to deliver an efficacious amount of light to brain tissue, wherein the light has a power density of between about 0.01 mW/cm² and about 100 mW/cm² at a depth of approximately 2 centimeters below the patient'"'"'s dura; and

a material which inhibits temperature increases of the head, the material adapted to contact the head and to apply pressure to at least the irradiated portion of the patient'"'"'s head, thereby blanching the irradiated portion.

26. The therapy apparatus of claim 25, wherein the light source is adapted to irradiate a predetermined area of the head.

27. The therapy apparatus of claim 26, wherein the predetermined area of the head is a substantial fraction of the total area of the head.

28. A therapy apparatus for treating a patient'"'"'s brain, the therapy apparatus comprising:

a light source adapted to irradiate at least a portion of the brain with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light, wherein the efficacious power density is between about 0.01 mW/cm² and about 100 mW/cm² at a depth of approximately 2 centimeters below the patient'"'"'s dura; and

an element adapted to inhibit temperature increases at the scalp, wherein the element is adapted to apply pressure to at least a portion of the scalp to blanch the portion of the scalp, wherein at least a portion of the element is in an optical path of the light from the light source to the scalp.