Low level light therapy for enhancement of neurologic function

• US 8,025,687 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pthera,Llc
• Original Assignee: PhotoThera, Inc.
• Inventors: Streeter, Jackson, DeTaboada, Luis
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, III; Henry M
• Application Number:
  US12/435,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20090216301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 128/898, 606 2- 19, 607 88- 94
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

A method for treating a subject having Parkinson'"'"'s disease or Alzheimer'"'"'s disease is provided. The method includes noninvasively delivering light energy having a wavelength of about 630 nanometers to about 904 nanometers to the brain of the subject. Delivering the light energy can include (i) irradiating the scalp with light energy having an incident power density between about 10 mW/cm² to about 10 W/cm² and (ii) transmitting a portion of the light energy through the scalp and the skull to the brain, wherein the transmitted light energy has a power density of at least about 0.01 mW/cm² at a depth of approximately 2 centimeters below the dura.

Claims

1. A method for treating a subject having a loss of neurologic function caused by Alzheimer'"'"'s disease, the method comprising:

identifying a subject having a loss of neurologic function caused by Alzheimer'"'"'s disease;

noninvasively delivering light energy having a wavelength of about 630 nanometers to about 904 nanometers to the brain of the subject,

wherein delivering the light energy comprises irradiating the scalp with light energy having an incident power density less than about 1000 mW/cm² for a time period of about 30 seconds to about 20 minutes such that a portion of the light energy is transmitted through the scalp and the skull to the brain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy has a wavelength of about 780 nanometers to about 840 nanometers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the incident power density is greater than about 500 mW/cm².

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted portion of the light energy has a power density in the range of about 0.01 mW/cm² to about 100 mW/cm² at a depth of approximately 2 centimeters below the dura.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted portion of the light energy has a power density in the range of about 0.01 mW/cm² to about 15 mW/cm² at a depth of approximately 2 centimeters below the dura.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the light energy comprises placing a light source in contact with the scalp.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the light energy is pulsed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the neurologic function of the subject is enhanced after the irradiation the scalp as compared to the neurologic function of the subject prior to the irradiation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the loss of neurologic function comprises a loss of motor function.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the loss of neurologic function comprises cognitive impairment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the loss of neurologic function comprises dementia.