Hand-held programmable ocular light therapy apparatus and methods

• US 20060009822A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Powell, Steven D., Savage, Kent W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,138,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/084 Supporting bases, stands for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0627 Dose monitoring systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0655 Tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

In one of many possible embodiments, a light therapy apparatus is provided for delivering ocular light to a subject to treat a disorder that is responsive to ocular light therapy. The apparatus comprises a power supply, a hand-held light output device having light sources powered by the power supply, and a programmable data processor coupled to the power supply and the light output device. The programmable data processor is configured to control light emissions from the hand-held light output device. In some embodiments, the plurality of light sources may provide a light output having at least forty percent blue light with a wavelength range of approximately 435 nm to 500 nm. In some embodiments, the programmable data processor is configured to control light emissions in accordance with user-defined light therapy programs.

Claims

1. A light therapy apparatus for delivering ocular light to a subject to treat a disorder that is responsive to ocular light therapy, comprising:

(a) a power supply;

(b) a hand-held light output device, wherein the light output device includes a plurality of light sources powered by the power supply; and

(c) a programmable data processor coupled to the power supply and the light output device for controlling light emissions from the hand-held light output device.

2. The light therapy device of claim 1, wherein the programmable data processor includes software or firmware configured to vary the intensity of the light output.

3. The light therapy device of claim 2, wherein the software or firmware is configured to provide a ramping function to progressively increase light intensity emitted from the light output device to simulate a sunrise at dawn or to progressively dim light intensity emitted from the light output device to simulate a sunset at dusk.

4. The light therapy device of claim 1, wherein the programmable data processor includes a timing function for controlling the amount of time that the light output device provides light to the subject.

5. The light therapy device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources comprise a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources.

6. The light therapy device of claim 5, wherein the light output device provides light having at least forty percent blue light with wavelengths in a range of approximately 435 nm to 500 nm.

7. The light therapy device of claim 6, wherein the light output device provides light having a peak wavelength of 465 nm to 470 nm with a half-peak bandwidth of plus or minus approximately 30 nm.

8. The light therapy device of claim 6, wherein the blue light is provided by a plurality of LED light sources emitting blue light.

9. The light therapy device of claim 6, further comprising a lens in the light output device configured to provide the blue light.

10. The light therapy device of claim 1, wherein the light output device provides light limited to substantially solely blue light with wavelengths in a range of 435 nm to 500 nm.

11. The light therapy device of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

12. The light therapy device of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises an adaptor or transformer.

13. The light therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the programmable data processor for displaying data and messages from the processor.

14. The light therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a data input device coupled to the programmable data processor to provide data to the processor.

15. The light therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a memory coupled to the programmable data processor to store data relating to the operation of the light output device.

16. The light therapy device of claim 15, wherein the memory includes a light therapy program for operating the light output device.

17. The light therapy device of claim 16, wherein the light therapy program is provided by the subject using the data input device.

18. The light therapy device of claim 16, wherein the light therapy program includes a diagnosis program for developing a personalized light therapy program based on data provided by the subject using the data input device.

19. The light therapy device of claim 1, wherein the hand-held light output device comprises a plurality of cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) tubes powered by the power supply.

20. The light therapy device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of CCFL tubes provides light having at least approximately forty percent blue light with wavelengths in a range of approximately 435 nm to 500 nm.

21. A hand-held light therapy device for delivering ocular light to treat a disorder that is responsive to ocular light therapy, comprising:

(a) a power supply;

(b) a light output device comprising a plurality of light sources powered by the power supply; and

(c) a data processor coupled to the light output device for controlling light emissions from the light output device;

(d) wherein the light output device is configured to provide a light output having at least approximately forty percent blue light with a wavelength range of approximately 435 nm to 500 nm.

22. The light therapy device of claim 21, wherein the blue light is provided by a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) light sources emitting blue light.

23. The light therapy device of claim 21, further comprising a lens in the light output device configured to provide the blue light.

24. The light therapy device of claim 21, wherein the light output device provides light limited to substantially solely blue light with wavelengths in a range of approximately 435 nm to 500 nm.

25. The light therapy device of claim 21, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

26. The light therapy device of claim 21, wherein the power source comprises an adaptor or transformer.

27. The hand-held light therapy device of claim 21, wherein the light output has a visible blue color.

28. The hand-held light therapy device of claim 21, wherein the light output has a peak output wavelength of 465 nm to 470 nm, with a half-peak bandwidth of plus or minus approximately 30 nm.

29. The hand-held light therapy device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of light sources comprises a plurality of LEDs.

30. The hand-held light therapy device of claim 21, wherein the data processor is configured to vary the intensity of the light output.

31. The hand-held light therapy device of claim 30, wherein the data processor is configured to provide a ramping function to progressively increase the light output to simulate a sunrise at dawn or to progressively dim the light output to simulate a sunset at dusk.

32. The light therapy device of claim 21, further comprising a memory coupled to the data processor, the memory having a light therapy program stored therein, and a data input device for the subject to provide data to the data processor.

33. A method of light therapy wherein ocular light is provided to a subject to treat a disorder that is responsive to ocular light therapy, comprising:

delivering ocular light to the eyes of a subject by a hand-held light output device powered by a power supply; and

modifying the ocular light output from the hand-held light output device using a programmable data processor coupled to the power supply and the light output device.

34. The light therapy method of claim 33, further comprising varying the light intensity of the light output.

35. The light therapy method of claim 34, further comprising providing a ramping function to progressively increase light from the light output device to simulate a sunrise at dawn or to progressively dim light from the light output device to simulate a sunset at dusk.

36. The light therapy method of claim 33, further comprising controlling the amount of time that the light output device provides light to the subject using the programmable data processor.

37. The light therapy method of claim 33, further including alerting the subject when a condition occurs for the hand-held output device using an alarm device coupled to the programmable data processor.

38. The light therapy method of claim 33, wherein the delivered ocular light comprises at least approximately forty percent blue light with wavelengths in a range of approximately 435 nm to 500 nm.

39. The light therapy method of claim 38, wherein the delivered ocular light has a peak wavelength of 465 nm to 470 nm with a half-peak bandwidth of plus or minus approximately 30 nm.

40. The light therapy method of claim 38, wherein the blue light is provided by a plurality of LED light sources emitting blue light.

41. The light therapy method of claim 38, further comprising a lens in the light output method providing the blue light.

42. The light therapy method of claim 38, wherein the light output device provides light limited to substantially solely blue light with wavelengths in a range of approximately 435 nm to 500 nm.

43. The light therapy method of claim 33, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

44. The light therapy device of claim 33, wherein the power source comprises an adaptor or transformer.

45. The light therapy method of claim 33, further comprising displaying data and messages from the data processor using a display coupled to the data processor.

46. The light therapy method of claim 33, further comprising providing data to the programmable data processor using a data input device coupled to the programmable data processor.

47. The light therapy method of claim 46, further comprising storing data relating to the operation of the light output device using a memory coupled to the programmable data processor.

48. The light therapy method of claim 47, further comprising storing a light therapy program in the memory.

49. The light therapy method of claim 48, further comprising providing the light therapy program by the subject using the data input device.

50. The light therapy method of claim 48, further comprising storing a diagnostic program in the memory.

51. The light therapy method of claim 50, further comprising providing data to the diagnostic program using the data input device coupled to the programmable data processor.

52. The light therapy method of claim 51, further comprising providing a personalized light therapy program in response to data provided to the diagnostic program.

53. The light therapy method of claim 48, further comprising determining the light therapy program using a source external to the light output device.

54. The light therapy method of claim 53, further comprising using a diagnostic program external to the light output device.

55. The light therapy method of claim 54, wherein the diagnostic program is accessed on the internet.

56. The light therapy method of claim 53, wherein the diagnostic program is accessed by an electronic device external to the light output device.

57. A light therapy method for delivering ocular light to treat a disorder that is responsive to ocular light therapy, comprising:

delivering the ocular light to the eyes of a subject by a hand-held light output device operated by a power supply, wherein the delivered ocular light includes at least approximately forty percent blue light with a wavelength range of 435 nm to 500 nm; and

modifying the ocular light from the hand-held light output device using a data processor coupled to the light output device.

58. The light therapy method of claim 57, further comprising providing the light output in a visible blue color.

59. The light therapy method of claim 57, further comprising providing data to the unit using a data input device.

60. The light therapy method of claim 57, further comprising providing the light output with a peak output wavelength of 465 nm to 470 nm with a half-peak bandwidth of plus or minus approximately 30 nm.

61. The light therapy method of claim 57, wherein the blue light is provided by a plurality of LED light sources emitting blue light.

62. The light therapy method of claim 57, further comprising a lens in the light output method providing the blue light.

63. The light therapy method of claim 57, wherein the light output device provides light limited to substantially solely blue light with wavelengths in a range of 435 nm to 500 nm.

64. The light therapy method of claim 57, further comprising providing the light output in a ramping function to progressively increase the light output to simulate a sunrise at dawn or progressively dim the light output to simulate a sunset at dusk.

65. The method of light therapy of claim 57, further comprising inputting data to the data processor indicative of the state of the subject, and calculating the amount and/or timing of light to be delivered to the subject.

66. The method of claim 57, wherein the disorder treated comprise any of the following:

jet lag, circadian rhythm problems, seasonal affective disorders, depression, sleep disorders, shift-work disorders, post- and ante-partum depression, pre-menstral syndrome, late luteal phase dysphoric disorder (LLPDD), bulimia and eating disorders, and/or chronic fatigue.

67. The method of claim 57, wherein the disorder treated is a circadian rhythm problem caused by time shifts due to travel, comprising inputting data to the data processor indicative of the status of the subject and the travel to be taken, and calculating output data using the data processor to indicate the light therapy to be given to the subject.