Photoreceptor system for melatonin regulation and phototherapy

• US 20010056293A1
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Progressive Lighting and Radiometrics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Progressive Lighting and Radiometrics, LLC
• Inventors: Brainard, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,678,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 treating or preventing a light responsive disorder in a mammal, comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of light to said mammal, said light being generated by a light system, wherein said light system emits a balance of wavelengths to stimulate a circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system of said mammal, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -505 nm.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein said light responsive disorder is at least one of the group of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a sleep disorder, circadian disruption, eating disorders, menstrual cycle disorders, non-specific alerting or performance deficits, hormone-sensitive cancers, or cardiovascular disorders.

3. A method of treating a light responsive disorder in a mammal, comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of light to said mammal, said light being generated by a light system, wherein said light system excludes emission of a balance of wavelengths to stimulate a circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system of said mammal, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -505 nm.

4. The method of

claim 3

, wherein said light responsive disorder is at least one of the group of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a sleep disorder, circadian disruption, eating disorders, menstrual cycle disorders, non-specific alerting or performance deficits, hormone-sensitive cancers, or cardiovascular disorders.

5. A light system, comprising at least one light source, said light source emitting a balance of wavelengths to stimulate a mammalian circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -505 nm.

6. A light system, comprising at least one light source, said light source excluding emission of a balance of wavelengths to stimulate a mammalian circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -505 nm.

7. A transparent composition, comprising at least one light filtering component, said light filtering component specifically transmitting a balance of wavelengths for stimulating a mammalian circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system, said balance of wavelengths having a peak transmittance ranging from 425 -505 nm.

8. A translucent composition, comprising at least one light filtering component, said light filtering component specifically transmitting a balance of wavelengths for stimulating a mammalian circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system, said balance of wavelengths having a peak transmittance ranging from 425 -505 nm.

9. A transparent composition, comprising at least one light filtering component, said light filtering component specifically blocking a balance of wavelengths for stimulating a mammalian circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -505 nm.

10. A translucent composition, comprising at least one light filtering component, said light filtering component specifically blocking a balance of wavelengths for stimulating a mammalian circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -505 nm.

11. A method of treating a light responsive disorder in a mammal, comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of light to said mammal, said light being generated by a light system, wherein said light system comprises at least one light source and at least one transparent material component, said light source emitting light through said transparent material component, said transparent material component comprising at least one light filtering component, said light filtering component specifically transmitting a balance of wavelengths to stimulate a circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system of said mammal, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -505 nm.

12. The method of

claim 11

, wherein said light responsive disorder is at least one of the group of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a sleep disorder, circadian disruption, eating disorders, menstrual cycle disorders, non-specific alerting or performance deficits, hormone-sensitive cancers, or cardiovascular disorders.

13. A method of treating a light responsive disorder in a mammal, comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of light to said mammal, said light being generated by a light system, wherein said light system comprises at least one light source and at least one translucent material component, said light source emitting light through said translucent material component, said translucent material component comprising at least one light filtering component, said light filtering component specifically transmitting a balance of wavelengths to stimulate a circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system of said mammal, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -505 nm.

14. The method of

claim 13

, wherein said light responsive disorder is at least one of the group of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a sleep disorder, circadian disruption, eating disorders, menstrual cycle disorders, non-specific alerting or performance deficits, hormone-sensitive cancers, or cardiovascular disorders.

15. A method of treating a light responsive disorder in a mammal, comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of light to said mammal, said light being generated by a light system, wherein said light system comprises at least one light source and at least one transparent material component, said light source emitting light through said transparent material component, said transparent material component comprising at least one light filtering component, said light filtering component specifically blocking a balance of wavelengths to stimulate a circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system of said mammal, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -505 nm.

16. The method of

claim 15

, wherein said light responsive disorder is at least one of the group of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a sleep disorder, circadian disruption, eating disorders, menstrual cycle disorders, non-specific alerting or performance deficits, hormone-sensitive cancers, or cardiovascular disorders.

17. A method of treating a light responsive disorder in a mammal, comprising administration of a therapeutically effective amount of light to said mammal, said light being generated by a light system, wherein said light system comprises at least one light source and at least one translucent material component, said light source emitting light through said translucent material component, said translucent material component comprising at least one light filtering component, said light filtering component specifically blocking a balance of wavelengths to stimulate a circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system of said mammal, said balance of wavelengths having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425 -5055 nm.

18. The method of

claim 17

, wherein said light responsive disorder is at least one of the group of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a sleep disorder, circadian disruption, eating disorders, menstrual cycle disorders, non-specific alerting or performance deficits, hormone-sensitive cancers, or cardiovascular disorders.

19. A light meter system for quantifying light which stimulates a mammalian circadian, photoneural, or neuroendocrine system under normal conditions or which provides light therapy, said light meter system comprising at least one light metering device configured to match wavelength sensitivity of mammalian photoreceptors for circadian and neuroendocrine regulation, said wavelength having a peak sensitivity ranging from 425-505 nm.