Photoreceptor system for melatonin regulation and phototherapy

• US 7,678,140 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progressive Lighting and Radiometrics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Progressive Lighting and Radiometrics, LLC
• Inventors: Glickman, Gena, Brainard, George
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US09/853,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20010056293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,232 Days
• Field of Search: 607 88- 91, 600 26- 27, 351/200, 351/203, 351/44, 351/41, 351/49, 250/226, 356/213, 356/217, 356/218, 356/221, 356/227, 396/57
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0627 Dose monitoring systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0642 Irradiating part of the body at a certain distance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0666 for redirecting light to the treatment area
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0667 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/06 using light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

The present invention involves a light system for stimulating or regulating neuroendocrine, circadian, and photoneural systems in mammals based upon the discovery of peak sensitivity ranging from 425-505 nm; a light meter system for quantifying light which stimulates or regulates mammalian circadian, photoneural, and neuroendocrine systems. The present invention also relates to translucent and transparent materials, and lamps or other light sources with or without filters capable of stimulating or regulating neuroendocrine, circadian, and photoneural systems in mammals. Additionally, the present invention involves treatment of mammals with a wide variety of disorders or deficits, including light responsive disorders, eating disorders, menstrual cycle disorders, non-specific alerting and performance deficits, hormone-sensitive cancers, and cardiovascular disorders.

Claims

1. A method of at least treating or preventing at least one light responsive disorder in at least one mammal, said method comprising the steps of:

utilizing at least one light source, said at least one light source emitting optical radiation;

causing said optical radiation to be commonly therapeutically effective in humans by employing a pre-established spectral composition that has been pre-identified as a maximally potent spectral composition in the regulation of at least one of the human circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine systems, said pre-established spectral composition comprising at least one enhanced spectral region comprising at least one peak of emitted light within the range of 435-488 nm;

exposing at least a portion of the retina of at least one eye of at least one mammal to said pre-established spectral composition of optical radiation such that said light source is not mounted on the body of said at least one mammal;

stimulating the photoreceptor system for at least one of the circadian, photoneural or neuroendocrine systems of said at least one mammal;

and, enabling at least the treatment or the prevention of at least one light responsive disorder in said at least one mammal.

2. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising providing at least one light filtering component in conjunction with said at least one light source;

and

causing said at least one light filtering component to transmit therapeutically effective optical radiation.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said method further comprises providing at least one transparent composition in conjunction with said at least one light filtering component.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said method further comprises providing at least one translucent composition in conjunction with said at least one light filtering component.

6. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising

enabling the prevention of at least one light responsive disorder in said at least one mammal.

7. The method of claim 6, said method further comprising providing at least one light filtering component in conjunction with said at least one light source;

and

causing said at least one light filtering component to transmit therapeutically effective optical radiation.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said method further comprises providing at least one transparent composition in conjunction with said at least one light filtering component.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said method further comprises providing at least one translucent composition in conjunction with said at least one light filtering component.

5. The method of 2 wherein said light filtering component further comprises at least one translucent composition.