Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
  • A61N5/06—Radiation therapy using light
  • A61N5/0613—Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
  • A61N5/0618—Psychological treatment
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M21/00—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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
  • A61M21/00—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
  • A61M2021/0005—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 by the use of a particular sense, or stimulus
  • A61M2021/0044—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 by the use of a particular sense, or stimulus by the sight sense
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
  • A61N5/06—Radiation therapy using light
  • A61N2005/0635—Radiation therapy using light characterised by the body area to be irradiated
  • A61N2005/0643—Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
  • A61N2005/0645—Applicators worn by the patient
  • A61N2005/0647—Applicators worn by the patient the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
  • A61N2005/0648—Applicators worn by the patient the applicator adapted to be worn on the head the light being directed to the eyes

Definitions

• This invention relates to apparatus and treatments for phototherapy and in particular to more convenient treatments for affecting the neuroendocrine system, circadian rhythms and circannual rhythms in humans.
• Phototherapy the use of light as a treatment, has been successfully used to treat a number of diseases including psoriasis and rickets. More recently, scientists have discovered that sunlight plays a critical role in the regulation of circadian and circannual rhythms in humans. Accordingly, increased attention is being paid to the use of phototherapy in diseases influenced by daily and seasonal rhythms. Phototherapy has been demonstrated to have significant effects in the treatments of several diseases of particular interest to psychiatrists, including affective illness and chronolbiological disorders.
• One currently prescribed treatment for phototherapy is to have patients sit approximately three feet from a light box which typically has dimensions of about 2* by 4* . These light boxes are generally awkward and cumbersome to use. Furthermore, the patients are required to sit in one spot for approximately one to five hours, depending on their specific therapy. This has been found to be restrictive and limiting. Additionally, these devices are difficult to transport due to their size and weight and generally require an external power source.
• an improved phototherapeutic device and phototherapy method are provided.
• the invention is designed to stimulate the neuroendocrine and circadian systems circannual of the patient with a very bright light of at least 200 lux.
• This light is portably mounted to a portion of the patient's body, preferably the head, and is directed towards the patient's eyes.
• the light preferably uses a full white light spectrum and is supplied with power by a battery which is preferably rechargeable.
• the invention also may chose to deflect heat generated from the light away from the person wearing the unit. It is envisioned that the light can be equipped with a dimmer switch or rheostat so that the user may reduce the intensity of the bulbs.
• the device can be equipped with filters, such as dichroic filters, neutral density filters and those filters designed to block or screen designated radiation, such as infrared or ultraviolet light. Such filters can be interposed between the lamp of the light and the user's eyes.
• a phototherapeutic device and method which permit uninterrupted patient activity during treatment.
• the device can be used for the treatment of depression, such as SAD, or used by healthy people involved in shift work to overcome resistance by their internal clocks.
• Shift work challenges the normal biological rhythms of human beings. People who change work shifts often report psychological discomfort and negative health consequences. Accidents and health related absenteeism are often higher among shift-workers due to the stress in changing schedules.
• the use of the phototherapeutic device of this invention may prove beneficial in resetting the person's biological clock when he or she changes shifts.
• an estimated 20-25% of the work force in the United States is involved in some form of shift work.
• the phototherapeutic device of this invention may be useful for people who travel by plane over multiple time zones. Such travelers experience a malady known as "jet-lag" which can debilitate the traveler for one to four days after the flight. As with shift workers, the device of this invention might be used for a more rapid, effective resetting of the internal biological clock, allowing prevention or quicker recovery from jet lag.
• an object of this invention to provide a portable, head-mounted phototherapeutic device for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of a preferred portable phototherapeutic device of this invention, equipped with a side-mounted battery pack, dimmer switch, light source and heat deflector;
• FIG. 2 is perspective illustration of another preferred, portable, phototherapeutic embodiment having a top-mounted battery pack and front-mounted light source;
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another photo- therapeutic embodiment of this invention including a front mounted light source and filter; and FIG. 4 : is a transverse view of another phototherapeutic embodiment of this invention which includes a front mounted light source and remote battery pack for providing a lighter weight construction.
• FIG. 1 there is shown a portable phototherapeutic device 10 having a heat deflector .16. and head mounting device 5.
• the device .3-0 s provided with a light source .12. and battery pack JL4.. It becomes readily apparent that this device 10. overcomes the problems of excessive size and weight and limited mobility by being light weight, self- contained and head-mounted.
• the device 10 can also be fitted with a rheostat Ig. for permitting a patient to adjust the intensity of the light source 12.
• FIG. 2 An alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 2 which describes a phototherapeutic device 0. having a light source mounted on an extension of the head mounting means 5..
• the battery pack 24. of this embodiment 2J) is located along the top portion of the head mounting means j.
• a phototherapeutic device 3_p_ having a radiation shield ⁇ 36. is described.
• the light source 3_2., of this embodiment is attached to the head mounting means 5.
• Disposed between the eyes of the user and the light source 32 is a filter designed to block or screen designated radiation, such as infrared or ultraviolet light.
• the filter 3 could also be a dichroic or neutral density filter.
• a light-weight phototherapeutic device 43 having a remote battery back 4 .
• the light source 4_2. is disposed on a mounting means 4J3., which can generally assume the shape of a sun visor.
• the device £0 is equipped with a member 4j5 which can correspond to a radiation filter and/or a heat deflection shield.
• a strap 48. can be provided for adjustment to various head sizes.
• the light sources JL2, £2., 32 or 42 preferably comprises an incandescent lamp, preferably a quartz halogen lamp.
• the intensity of the illuminance produced by these lamps 1J2, _2, 3Z, and £2. should be at least 200 lux, although more preferable ranges include from about 200 lux to about 10,000 lux, from about 1000 lux to about 3000 lux, from about 1500 lux to about 2700 lux, and most preferably from about 2000 lux to about 2500 lux. The latter range has been recognized as acceptable. For instance, studies of phototherapy with S.A.D. patients have concluded that bright light (2500 lux) is significantly more effective as an antidepressant than the intensity of light ordinarily found in a home or office (100-300 lux) . See F.M. Jacobsen, "Seasonal Affective Disorder and the Use of Light as an Anti-Depressant", Directions in Psychiatry. Vol. 6, 1986 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
• One acceptable treatment for the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder could be to expose patients to the bright artificial light produced by the phototherapeudic devices of this invention for a period of 5 to 6 hours per day. It is understood that the anti- depressant effects could appear within 2 to 6 days after the commencement of"treatment, and a relapse often could occur 2-4 days after light treatment is discontinued.
• this invention provides portable, light-weight phototherapeutic devices for stimulating a patient's circadian system and associated neuroendocrine parameters.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
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• Psychology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
• Hospice & Palliative Care (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
• Anesthesiology (AREA)
• Developmental Disabilities (AREA)
• Hematology (AREA)
• Psychiatry (AREA)
• Social Psychology (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Radiation-Therapy Devices (AREA)
• Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)

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• 1989
  • 1989-03-07 CA CA000592963A patent/CA1327231C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1989-03-07 CA CA000617066A patent/CA1339384E/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1989-03-08 JP JP1503356A patent/JP2513876B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1989-03-08 EP EP19890903619 patent/EP0386161A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1989-03-08 WO PCT/US1989/000934 patent/WO1989008475A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (2)

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