Light therapy modality

• US 8,465,531 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valkee Oy
• Original Assignee: Valkee Oy
• Inventors: Aunio, Antti, Nissil, Juuso
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPITZ, JEFFREY BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US13/074,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 607 88- 90, 351/51
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

A method of light therapy includes non-invasive, intra-cranial administration of bright light via the ear canal of a subject by using a light intensity of 0.7-12 lumens, and a treatment time of 1-15 minutes. A medical device including radiation elements for directing the light via the ear canal for use in the light therapy is described.

Claims

1. A method of treating a subject in need of light therapy, said method comprising

providing a medical device, comprising an optical radiation source and a light guide, for directing light directly into the ear canal of the subject,

directing non-invasively, intra-cranially via both of the subject'"'"'s ear canals bright light having an intensity of 6.0-8.5 lumens for a treatment time of 8-12 minutes once a day for at least five times a week for at least three weeks, with the bright light having a primary light spectrum peak in the blue region;

and

reducing depressive symptoms of the subject via direction of light directly into the ear canals of the subject.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bright light has a secondary light spectrum peak in the green region.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bright light is directed using at least one light-emitting ear plug which at least partially penetrates into the ear canal.

4. The method of claim 1, including the step of showing, via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) testing, SAD-related increased functional connectivity in the subject'"'"'s brain after the step of treating a subject suffering from SAD has commenced.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bright light has a primary light spectrum peak between 450 and 475 nm.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the bright light has a secondary light spectrum peak between 495 and 570 nm.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of reducing depressive symptoms of the subject via direction of light directly into the ear canal of the subject includes treating a subject suffering from at least one of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar affective disorder, and atypical depression.

8. The method of claim 7, including the step of treating a subject suffering from SAD during the season when SAD is symptomatic.

9. The method of claim 7, including the step of showing, via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) testing, SAD-related increased functional connectivity in the subject'"'"'s brain after the step of treating a subject suffering from SAD has commenced.