Method and apparatus for applying light therapy

• US 7,850,720 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Jungen, Ron Shefi
• Original Assignee: Peter Jungen, Ron Shefi
• Inventors: Shefi, Ron, Jungen, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Farah; Ahmed M
• Application Number:
  US11/901,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20080077199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 607/88, 607/91, 351/123, 600/476
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0613 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment

Abstract

A method and apparatus for light therapy, which is a method using light for treating diseases and/or maintaining the health of a living organism. The method comprises delivering a light modulated at a specific frequency and intensity for a specified duration to the whole body or a portion of the body of the living organism. Disclosed herein are different sequences of light therapy useful for assisting the recovery from e.g., disease, injury, or malfunction. The improvement in health of the living organism after each treatment is observed. If necessary to increase the improvement in health, the sequence of light may be repeated in one session (such as two back-to-back sequences of treatment in one sitting in one day), and/or the organism may be treated over a period of time, such as receiving the sequence of light every 3 to 5 days, etc., until improvement is observed, the health problem is resolved, or a sense of improved well being is experienced by the treated organism. The living organism is preferably an animal, and is more preferably a human. Also described are devices and electronic systems for delivering such light therapy. Further described are methods for optimizing the light therapy. An electronic circuit supplies and controls timing, repetition rate, intensity and application of the light.

Claims

1. A portable light device for treating a subject with light comprising:

a light source emitting light pulses at a plurality of predetermined intensities, repetition rates, duty cycles and durations, wherein said light source is mounted to direct said light pulses onto said subject; and

;

a controller for modulating the intensities, repetition rates, duty cycles and durations of said light pulses.

wherein said predetermined pulse repetition rates are stepped in a series of steps between an upper pulse repetition rate chosen between around 92 kHz to around 73 kHz and a lower pulse repetition rate chosen between around 76 kHz to around 64 kHz;

wherein a particular intensity between around 9000 lux to around 15,000 lux controlled by duty cycle is provided for each of said steps;

and wherein, each of said steps has a duration of from around 2 minutes to around 6 minutes.

2. The portable light device of claim 1 wherein said light source directs light onto an area of said subject'"'"'s body, the area being chosen from the group consisting of whole body, partial body and an area of 1 to 10 inches in diameter.