Hand-held programmable ocular light therapy apparatus and methods

• US 9,138,595 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Savage, Kent W., Powell, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US11/170,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20060009822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,736 Days
• Field of Search: 606 2- 19, 607 88- 94
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 an eye of a subject to treat a disorder that is responsive to ocular light therapy, the light therapy apparatus comprising:

a power supply;

a hand-held light output device configured to have outside dimensions in each direction of less than 10 inches and comprising a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) devices coupled to the power supply to power the plurality of LED devices; and

a programmable data processor coupled to the power supply and the hand-held light output device and configured to control light emissions from the hand-held light output device to emit a selected spectrum of visible light with a light emission in an effective range of 1,000 lux to 2,000 lux at a distance of 6 to 12 inches.

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

3. The light therapy apparatus of claim 2, wherein the software or firmware configures the programmable data processor to provide a ramping function to progressively increase light intensity emitted from the hand-held light output device to simulate a sunrise at dawn or to progressively dim light intensity emitted from the hand-held light output device to simulate a sunset at dusk.

4. The light therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the programmable data processor includes a timing function to control the amount of time that the hand-held light output device provides light to the subject.

5. The light therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand-held light output device provides light having at least forty percent blue light with wavelengths in a range of approximately 435 nm to 500 nm.

6. The light therapy apparatus of claim 5, wherein the hand-held light output device provides light having a peak wavelength of 465 nm to 470 nm with a half-peak bandwidth of as low as approximately 435 nm and as high as approximately 500 nm.

7. The light therapy apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a lens in the hand-held light output device configured to provide the blue light.

8. The light therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hand-held light output device is configured to provide light limited to substantially solely blue light with wavelengths in a range of 435 nm to 500 nm.

9. The light therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a portable battery.

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

11. The light therapy apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled to the programmable data processor and configured to display data and messages from the processor.

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

13. The light therapy apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a memory coupled to the programmable data processor to store data relating to the operation of the light output device.

14. The light therapy apparatus of claim 13, wherein the memory stores a light therapy program for controlling operation of the programmable data processor.

15. The light therapy apparatus of claim 14, wherein the data input device is configured to receive input to control the programmable data processor to control the hand-held light output device.

16. The light therapy apparatus of claim 14, wherein the light therapy program includes a diagnosis program configured to develop a personalized light therapy program based on data input to the programmable data processor or the memory by way of the data input device.

17. The light therapy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LED devices are arranged in a matrix to direct therapeutic light to the eye of the subject.

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

a power supply;

a hand-held light output device having outside dimensions in each direction of less than 10 inches and coupled to the power supply and comprising a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) devices powered by the power supply; and

a data processor coupled to the hand-held light output device and configured to control light emissions from the plurality of LED devices to emit a selected spectrum of visible light with a light emission in an effective range of 1,000 lux to 2,000 lux at a distance of 6 to 12 inches.

19. The light therapy device of claim 18, further comprising a lens in the hand-held light output device configured to provide the blue light.

20. The light therapy device of claim 18, wherein the hand-held light output device is configured to provide light limited to substantially solely blue light with wavelengths in a range of approximately 435 nm to 500 nm.

21. The light therapy device of claim 18, wherein the power source comprises a portable battery.

22. The light therapy device of claim 18, wherein the power source comprises an adaptor or transformer.

23. The light therapy device of claim 18, wherein the hand-held light output has a visible blue color.

24. The light therapy device of claim 18, wherein the light output has a peak output wavelength of 465 nm to 470 nm, with a half-peak bandwidth of at least approximately 435 nm and at most approximately 500 nm.

25. The light therapy device of claim 18, wherein the data processor is configured to vary the intensity of the light output.

26. The light therapy device of claim 25, 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.

27. The light therapy device of claim 18, 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.