Portable electronic device

• US 9,364,683 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valkee Oy
• Original Assignee: Valkee Oy
• Inventors: Nissil, Juuso, Aunio, Antti
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, YOGESH P
• Application Number:
  US12/440,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20100042188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,205 Days
• Field of Search: 607 88- 93, 604/20, 381321-331, 180/130, 180/135
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0628 including a radiation sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

The portable electronic device includes radiation elements (104A, 104B) for directing optical radiation energy non-invasively at intracranial nerve tissue of a user through an external auditory canal of the user of the portable electronic device to stimulate the user'"'"'s intracranial nerve tissue. Stimulation may have a metabolic and/or nervous response, which appears as a change in alertness, diurnal rhythm and in concentrations of several hormones and brain transmitters.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device configured to penetrate into a user'"'"'s external auditory canal comprising:

an optical radiation source comprising a plurality of LEDs;

radiation means for directing optical radiation energy from the optical radiation source non-invasively at intracranial nerve tissue of a user through an external auditory canal of the user of the portable electronic device to stimulate the user'"'"'s intracranial nerve tissue, the radiation means comprising a light guide connected to the optical radiation source for guiding optical radiation from the optical radiation source into the external auditory canal, the radiation means also comprising an ear adapter having a proximal adapter end including an optically permeable part, the ear adapter having a distal adapter end longitudinally separated from the proximal adapter end by a longitudinally extending adapter sidewall, the adapter sidewall having a lateral cross-sectional area which is substantially constant longitudinally between the distal adapter end and the optically permeable part; and

a controller which is connected to the radiation means and to the optical radiation source and includes processing programs configured for controlling spectral distribution via individually controlling current to at least two of the plurality of LEDs.

2. The portable electronic device of claim 1, comprising a control unit comprising the optical radiation source connected to the controller, the control unit connected to a light guide which guides the optical radiation from the optical radiation source to the radiation means.

3. The portable electronic device of claim 2, wherein the control unit is spaced apart from the ear adapter, and the control unit and ear adapter are connected together by at least one light guide.