Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device that emits light tuned to diagnose and / or have a therapeutic effect against motor-related neurological disorders. [Solution] Blue to green light and green light are useful for treating motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms. Deep red light and near-infrared radiation can promote the repair of retinal cells and / or neurons that may be involved in motor-related neurological disorders. Amber, orange, and red light can enable the early diagnosis of motor-related neurological disorders.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Cross-reference of related applications Priority is claimed in the earlier U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 491,864, filed on May 31, 2011, entitled "LIGHT-EMITTING APPARATUSES FOR TREATING AND / OR DIAGNOSING MOTOR-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS," the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a device that emits light. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device that emits light that is tuned to diagnose and / or have a therapeutic effect against a motor-related neurological disorder. The phototherapy device of the present invention can be configured to direct light into the eye of a patient. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] The present invention relates to a light-emitting device comprising a light source, electrical components for operating the light source, and a housing for mounting the light source and electrical components. Furthermore, the light-emitting device may include controls that work in conjunction with one or more of the electrical components to allow a user to control the operation of the light source. The controls may provide the user with basic control over the light source, i.e., the ability to turn the light source on / off. Furthermore, the controls may provide the user with the ability to perform more complex functions, which may include, but are not limited to, the ability to adjust the intensity of the light emitted by the light source, the ability to adjust the color(s) of the light emitted by the light source, including the ability to adjust the spectrum(s) of the light emitted by the light source, and the ability to control the duration of operation of the light source.

[0004] In some embodiments, the control of the light-emitting device of the present invention may include one or more processing elements, such as a pre-programmed microcontroller or one or more microprocessors. The processing elements of the light-emitting device of the present invention communicate with the electronics of the light-emitting device and indirectly with the light source. Thereafter, the processing elements can control the operation of the light source. In embodiments in which the control of the light-emitting device of the present invention includes processing elements, the light-emitting device may also include associated input and output elements, and in some embodiments, may include communication elements.

[0005] In one embodiment, the present invention includes a light-emitting device configured to emit light tuned to address motor-related neurological disorders. In various embodiments, such a light-emitting device may emit visible light having at least one intensity peak at a predetermined wavelength that will treat motor-related neurological disorders, the symptoms of motor-related neurological disorders, and / or promote the repair of retinal cells that may contribute to motor-related neurological disorders and / or the repair of neurons that may be involved in motor-related neurological disorders.

[0006] Examples of wavelengths used to treat motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms include, but are not limited to, blue-to-green wavelengths of light and green wavelengths of light, which are also referred to herein as “blue-to-green light” and “green light” for simplicity. Without limiting the scope of the present invention, “green light” refers to a narrow bandwidth of light (i.e., light of a single wavelength of visible green light or light of a narrow range of wavelengths of visible green light), and also to a broader spectral light (e.g., white light, a mixture of other polychromatic light (i.e., multi-color light)) whose intensity peak is at one or more wavelengths of green light. Also, “blue-to-green light” refers to light It includes narrow bandwidth and polychromatic light whose intensity peaks are located at one or more wavelengths of blue to green light.

[0007] Deep red and near-infrared light wavelengths (e.g., 650nm–900nm) can activate mitochondrial repair, and therefore can activate cellular repair, including retinal cells and / or neurons, of which mitochondria are a part. Furthermore, light can address many cases of movement-related neurological disorders by using it to activate the repair of retinal cells and / or neurons in the substantia nigra of the eye.

[0008] The light-emitting device can be configured to emit visible light (e.g., blue to green light and / or green light, deep red light and / or near-infrared radiation, etc.) at levels (e.g., intensity, photon density, irradiance, etc.) that treat one or more motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms. In various embodiments, one or more therapeutic wavelengths of light can be administered at levels above the corresponding levels of such wavelengths under standard indoor lighting, which are referred to herein as “environmental levels.” In some embodiments, one or more therapeutic wavelengths of light can be administered at levels above the average levels of these wavelengths of light under standard indoor lighting. These average levels are referred to herein as “average environmental levels.”

[0009] A light-emitting device configured to treat one or more motor-related neurological disorders may be configured to emit one or more wavelengths of light at a lower intensity than the environment that alleviate (e.g., enhance, worsen, etc.) the symptoms of the one or more motor-related neurological disorders. The symptom-worsening wavelengths should be considered to include visible red wavelengths and also to include one or more visible orange and amber wavelengths of light. In some embodiments, such a light-emitting device may emit healing light and further emit symptom-worsening wavelengths of light at a lower intensity than the environment. In other embodiments, such a light-emitting device may emit healing light without emitting any or substantially any symptom-worsening wavelengths of light.

[0010] In some embodiments, where the light-emitting device is configured to emit one or more therapeutic wavelengths of light at a higher level than the environment, the light-emitting device may emit one or more symptom-aggravating wavelengths of light at or below the environment level. In other embodiments, the light-emitting device may emit one or more therapeutic wavelengths of light at a higher level than the environment, and may also substantially not emit light of the wavelength that exacerbates at least one symptom of light, or may not emit light of the wavelength that exacerbates at least one symptom of light at all. Thus, a light source may be configured to emit light consisting only of one or more wavelengths of light that address at least one motor-related neurological disorder and light that does not reveal or exacerbate the symptoms of at least one motor-related neurological disorder, or even light consisting only of these.

[0011] In another embodiment, the light-emitting device of the present invention can be configured to facilitate the early diagnosis of motor-related neurological disorders. In various embodiments of such a device, amber, orange, and / or red light is emitted at a higher level than the ambient light. One or more symptom-aggravating wavelengths of light can be administered at a higher level than the ambient light to a patient exhibiting certain symptoms (including early symptoms) that may indicate a motor-related neurological disorder, but this does not provide a definitive diagnosis of the motor-related neurological disorder. Administering one or more symptom-aggravating wavelengths of light at a higher level than the ambient light to such a patient can make the patient's symptoms more pronounced or cause the patient to temporarily exhibit symptoms that have not previously been present, thereby enabling an earlier diagnosis of the motor-related neurological disorder. When a patient susceptible to the disease is exposed to one or more symptom-exacerbating wavelengths of light at a higher level than the environment, one or more motor-related neurological disorders may manifest as symptoms of at least one motor-related neurological disorder, thereby allowing for the diagnosis of motor-related neurological disorders in otherwise asymptomatic patients.

[0012] In embodiments where a light-emitting device is configured to emit one or more wavelengths that cause the patient to exhibit symptoms of at least one motor-related neurological disorder, for example, when a patient is thought to be susceptible to illness or to have at least one motor-related neurological disorder, the light source of the diagnostic device may be configured to emit light consisting only of one or more symptom-enhancing wavelengths of light, or even light consisting only of these, along with wavelengths of light that do not cancel out the symptom-enhancing wavelengths. Such a diagnostic device should not emit any wavelengths of light that have the power to heal at least one motor-related neurological disorder, should not emit substantially any wavelengths of light that have the power to heal at least one motor-related neurological disorder, or should not emit substantially any amount of any of the wavelengths of light that have the power to heal at least one motor-related neurological disorder below the ambient level.

[0013] Various features and advantages of different aspects of the present invention, and other features and advantages of other aspects of the present invention, should become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description, accompanying drawings and accompanying claims. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This figure shows an embodiment of a light-emitting device according to the present invention, in which the light-emitting device is configured to supply light of at least one wavelength that provides a therapeutic effect to patients suffering from at least one motor-related neurological disorder. [Figure 2A] This diagram illustrates light sources composed of different light-emitting elements of different colors or bandwidths. [Figure 2B] This diagram illustrates light sources composed of different light-emitting elements of different colors or bandwidths. [Figure 2C] This diagram illustrates light sources composed of different light-emitting elements of different colors or bandwidths. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates an embodiment of a light-emitting device that includes a light source that emits multicolored light. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] FIG. 1 presents a schematic view of a light-emitting device 10 incorporating the teachings of the present invention. Broadly speaking, the light-emitting device 10 of the present invention includes a light source 30 and one or more controls associated with the light source 30. The light source 30 can include one or more light-emitting elements 32, each of which can be any suitable type of light-emitting device known in the art (e.g., light-emitting diode (LED), fluorescent lamp, cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL)). Collectively, the light-emitting elements 32 of the light source 30 can be configured to emit light of one or more desired wavelengths, each wavelength having a higher intensity or photon density than the environment. In various embodiments, the light source 30 of the light-emitting device 10 is configured to emit one or more wavelengths of light adjusted to address one or more movement-related neurological disorders at a level, intensity, photon density, or irradiance higher than the environment. In some embodiments, the light emitted by the light source 30 can be adjusted to address one or more first-stage symptoms of one or more movement-related neurological disorders. Also, the light emitted by the light source 30 can be adjusted to address one or more second-stage symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, insomnia, hypersomnia, etc.) of one or more movement-related neurological disorders. Furthermore, the light emitted by the light source 30 can be adjusted to exclude wavelengths of light that can exacerbate one or more first-stage or second-stage symptoms of one or more movement-related neurological disorders, or to include them at least in an amount lower than the environment.

[0016] In some embodiments, the light source 30 can be adjusted to exclude wavelengths of light that can exacerbate one or more first-stage or second-stage symptoms of one or more movement-related neurological disorders, or to include them at least in an amount lower than the environment. can be done.

[0017] For reference, for the purposes of this disclosure, the levels of various wavelengths of light are considered "higher than the environment" when their levels exceed the same levels of the same wavelengths of light present in standard indoor lighting. Conversely, for the purposes of this disclosure, the levels of various wavelengths of light are considered "lower than the environment" when their levels are lower than the same levels of the same wavelengths of light present in standard indoor lighting. Standard indoor lighting is generally referred to as so-called "white light," or more precisely, "polychromatic light" with an intensity of 50 to 500 lux. The term "ambient" refers to a single light source... When used in the context of multiple wavelength levels, it can refer to the levels of various wavelengths of light present in a particular type of polychromatic light at one ambient intensity (e.g., 50 lux, 500 lux, and intensities between 50 lux and 500 lux), the average level of various wavelengths of light present in one or more types of polychromatic light at two or more ambient intensities, or the upper and lower levels of one or more wavelengths at the upper and lower ends of the range of ambient intensity for polychromatic light from one or more sources.

[0018] At approximately 50 lux, standard indoor lighting (incandescent and / or fluorescent) is 3.70 × 10 13 Photons / cm 2 Overall photon density of 13.2 μW / cm² / s and 13.2 μW / cm² 2 (or 1.32 × 10 -5 W / cm 2 It has an overall irradiance of 1.35 × 10⁻¹⁰. The blue to green portion of the spectrum of standard indoor lighting of about 50 lux (e.g., 460 nm to 570 nm) is 1.35 × 10⁻¹⁰. 13 Photons / cm 2 Photon density of / s and 5.1 μW / cm² 2 It has the following irradiance. These values, as well as the photon density and irradiance in the narrower wavelength range of blue to green in standard indoor lighting with an intensity of approximately 50 lux, are included in the table below.

[0019] [Table 1]

[0020] For the amber to red part (e.g., 570 nm to 640 nm, etc.) of the spectrum of standard indoor lighting of about 50 lux, it has an intensity of about 24 lux, a photon density of 2.04×10 13 photons / cm 2 / s, and an irradiance of 6.7 μW / cm 2 . The irradiance of the amber to red light in the standard indoor lighting of about 50 lux exceeds the irradiance of the blue to green "effective" spectrum of the standard indoor lighting of about 50 lux.

[0021] At about 500 lux, the overall irradiance of the standard indoor lighting is 3.69×10 14 photons / cm 2 / s, and the overall irradiance of the standard indoor lighting is 133.5 μW / cm 2 . At about 500 lux, the blue to green part of the spectrum of the standard indoor lighting has a photon density of 1.53×10 14 photons / cm 2 / s and an irradiance of 58.4 μW / cm 2 . These values, and also the photon density and irradiance of the narrower wavelength range of blue to green in the standard indoor lighting with an intensity of about 500 lux, are included in the following table.

[0022]

Table 2

[0023] For the amber to red part of the spectrum of the standard indoor lighting of about 500 lux, it has an intensity of about 225 lux, a photon density of 1.85×10 14 photons / cm 2 / s, and an irradiance of 60.4 μW / cm 2 . The irradiance of the amber to red light in the standard indoor lighting at about 500 lux exceeds the irradiance of the blue to green "effective" spectrum of the standard indoor lighting at about 500 lux.

[0024] Based on the foregoing, when "environment" includes the average of one or more levels of light bandwidth in approximately 50 lux of polychromatic light and the same bandwidth(s) of light in approximately 500 lux of polychromatic light, the environmental levels of bandwidths described in Tables 1 and 2 may include environmental values ​​for standard indoor lighting identified in Table 3.

[0025] [Table 3]

[0026] The amber-to-red portion of the spectrum in a standard indoor lighting environment has an intensity of approximately 125 lux, corresponding to 1.03 × 10⁻¹⁴. 14 Photons / cm 2 Photon density of / s and 33.6 μW / cm² 2 It has the following irradiance: The irradiance of amber-to-red light in standard indoor lighting at average intensity exceeds the irradiance of the blue-to-green "effective" spectrum in standard indoor lighting at average intensity.

[0027] As an alternative to defining "environment" from an average perspective, "environmental" light can include polychromatic light within a given range of intensity, photon density and / or irradiance, or energy, along with a given level of light within various bandwidths of polychromatic light within such ranges. Levels of various wavelengths can be considered “higher than the environment” when their level exceeds the same level of the same wavelength of light within a given environmental range. Conversely, levels of various wavelengths of light can be considered “lower than the environment” when their level is lower than the same level of the same wavelength of light present within that given environmental range. For the purposes of this disclosure, the lower end of the “environment” level may include a given level of each wavelength range present in polychromatic light at approximately 50 lux, while the upper end of the “environment” level may include a given level of various wavelength ranges present in polychromatic light at approximately 500 lux. According to this definition of the environment, levels below the environment should include levels below approximately 50 lux, while levels above the environment should include levels above approximately 500 lux.

[0028] As a reference point, incandescent indoor lighting has an overall ambient intensity of approximately 50 lux to 500 lux and is mainly composed of amber and red wavelengths of light, along with some green light. Green light makes up only a small portion of the spectrum emitted from incandescent indoor lighting. Therefore, the intensity of green wavelengths present in incandescent indoor lighting is significantly lower than 200 lux. Fluorescent indoor lighting has the characteristic properties of mercury and has three intensity peaks; namely, the first peak is in the blue to dark blue range (435 nm to 436 nm), the second peak is in the green to yellow range (540 nm to 560 nm), and the third peak is in the red wavelength range of 580 nm to 640 nm. Similar to incandescent indoor lighting, the intensity of fluorescent indoor lighting is simply approximately 50 lux to 500 lux. The intense blue and green-yellow peaks in such light are, of course, not as strong as the overall intensity of light emitted from indoor fluorescent lighting.

[0029] Light in the range of blue wavelengths (e.g., minimum wavelength 460 nm) to blue-green wavelengths (e.g., minimum wavelength 490 nm) to green wavelengths (e.g., maximum wavelength 570 nm), when administered to the patient's eyes at a higher level than the environment (i.e., with respect to the eyes), has a positive or beneficial effect on symptoms, including motor-related neurological disorders and both their first and second stage symptoms. For example, "METHODS FOR See U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 491,860, filed May 31, 2011 (referred to as "Application 860"), entitled “Preventing and Treating Motor-Related Neurological Conditions,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. It is believed that administering light containing a higher intensity peak than that of an environment centered anywhere in the blue-green to green wavelength range should be beneficial for patients with motor-related neurological conditions.

[0030] Administering any of these wavelengths of light to the eyes at a higher level than the environment can activate a dopaminergic response throughout the patient's body, thereby altering the levels or activity of one or more monoamines (e.g., melatonin, serotonin, dopamine, derivatives and / or analogues thereof) in some cases, and restoring the balance of chemicals in the patient's brain (e.g., moderating melatonin production by the patient (e.g., decreasing it), moderating dopamine and / or serotonin production by the patient (e.g., increasing it)), the degree of restoration and / or moderation depending on the wavelength(s) and / or level(s) of the light administered to the patient. Phototherapy using an apparatus incorporating the teachings of the present invention can activate a dopaminergic response, thereby restoring or bringing about a balance with respect to the levels of one or more monoamines (e.g., melatonin, serotonin, dopamine, etc.) in the patient's brain. For simplicity, the terms “melatonin,” “serotonin,” and “dopamine” as used herein include, respectively, melatonin and melatonin analogues or derivatives, serotonin and serotonin analogues, and dopamine and dopamine analogues or derivatives. The amount or level of one or more monoamines present in a patient’s body is regulated to address movement-related neurological disorders. It is possible to regulate the levels of monoamines throughout the patient's body, which may include steps to regulate or balance melatonin or serotonin levels at specific times of the day (for example, near evening, in the evening, etc.), although these steps are not necessarily limited to these.

[0031] Light in the range of amber wavelengths (e.g., wavelengths longer than 570 nm) to red wavelengths (e.g., the longest wavelengths such as 650 nm and 750 nm), when administered to a patient with eyes at a higher level than the environment, can exacerbate any motor-related neurological disorder that the patient may have, or at least one of the symptoms of any such motor-related neurological disorder. See, for example, "Application 860". Specifically, exposure to amber, orange, and red wavelengths of light can cause patients who are susceptible to motor-related neurological disorders and / or who have one or more motor-related neurological disorders but have not yet clearly manifested their symptoms to manifest one or more symptoms of those disorders. Furthermore, when a patient's eyes are exposed to amber to red wavelengths of light at a higher level than the environment (for example, light with wavelengths longer than 570 nm up to 650 nm, or light with wavelengths longer than 570 nm up to 750 nm), it can temporarily suppress dopaminergic activity in the patient's body (for example, it can increase melatonin production or suppress dopamine production).

[0032] Wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation longer than 650 nm, including visible light and infrared radiation, can promote or activate mitochondrial repair. In the eye, promoting or activating mitochondrial repair can facilitate the repair of damaged retinal cells, which may be at least partially involved in motor-related neurological disorders, and therefore may be at least partially involved in the avoidance and / or reversal of motor-related neurological disorders. In the substantia nigra, promoting or activating mitochondrial repair can facilitate the repair of damaged neurons involved in motor-related neurological disorders, and therefore at least partially reversal of motor-related neurological disorders.

[0033] As previously described herein, the light source 30 of the light-emitting device 10 according to the present invention is configured to emit light in one or more predetermined relatively narrow frequency bandwidths or wavelength ranges. The light source 30 can be configured to address motor-related neurological disorders or at least one or more first-stage and / or second-stage symptoms of such disorders. In such embodiments, the light source 30 can be configured to emit light that addresses any of the motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms in a positive manner at a higher level than the environment (for example, at least one bandwidth of light with intensity peaks centered in the range from 460 nm to 570 nm, in the range from 490 nm to 570 nm, and in the range from 520 nm to 570 nm). Alternatively, such embodiments of the light source 30 can be configured to emit light that can exacerbate one or more of the motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms at or below the environment (for example, a bandwidth of light with intensity peaks centered in 570 nm to 650 nm and 570 nm to 750 nm).

[0034] The light-emitting device 10 of the present invention can be configured to activate a dopaminergic response, thereby bringing the levels of one or more monoamines in the patient's body to a moderate level (for example, by influencing the patient's production of melatonin, serotonin, and / or dopamine). The light source 30 of such a light-emitting device 10 can be configured to emit light that alters the patient's monoamine levels as desired.

[0035] The light source 30 can be configured to emit light that has a therapeutic effect on one or more motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms. A decrease in the level of a certain monoamine is These may occur, or otherwise, through the activation of the patient's body to reduce the production of these monoamines. Similarly, elevated levels of other monoamines may occur through the activation of the patient's body to increase the production of these monoamines. For example, certain wavelengths of light can activate dopamine, serotonin, etc., while suppressing or reducing the production of melatonin. Without limiting the scope of the present invention, the desired therapeutic effect can be achieved by exposing the patient to the eyes at a higher level than the environment to at least one bandwidth of light whose intensity peak is centered in the range of blue-green light (e.g., from 460 nm to 570 nm), blue-green to green light (e.g., from 490 nm to 570 nm), or green light (e.g., from 520 nm to 570 nm). Further activation of the patient's dopaminergic response can be achieved using a light source 30 configured to emit light that can suppress dopaminergic activity by the patient's body (e.g., light in the range from 570 nm to 750 nm) at or below the environment level. In a non-limiting embodiment, the light emitted by the light source 30 can activate a dopaminergic response, thereby altering the levels of one or more monoamines in the patient's body or balancing their ratios (e.g., a decrease in melatonin levels, an increase in dopamine and / or serotonin levels).

[0036] In some embodiments, such a light source 30 can be configured not to emit any wavelength of light at a higher level than the environment that could worsen the desired therapeutic effect by altering the levels of monoamines in the patient's body, for example, by increasing the levels of melatonin in the patient's body or decreasing the levels of dopamine or serotonin.

[0037] In another embodiment, the light-emitting device 10 may include a light source 30 configured to exacerbate one or more motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms suffered by a patient. Without limitation, the light source 30 may be configured to temporarily suppress the patient's dopaminergic response (e.g., increasing melatonergic activity in the patient's body, decreasing dopamine levels in the patient's body, reducing dopaminergic activity, etc.). One or more motor-related neurological disorders may be exacerbated by exposing the patient's eyes to at least one bandwidth of light whose peak is centered in the range of 570 nm to 750 nm. This effect may also be achieved by using light at or below the ambient level, when at least one bandwidth of light peaks in the 570 nm to 750 nm range, and the light is isolated from or generates a higher ratio of light in the 460 nm to 570 nm range. In some embodiments, such a light source 30 may be configured not to emit light at a level higher than the ambient level that can cure any of the motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms. In other embodiments, such a light source 30 may be configured to emit light when the ratio of light in the 570 nm to 750 nm range is greater than the ratio of light in the 460 nm to 570 nm range. Any of these concepts can help activate melatonin production by the patient and thus enhance the melatonergic response throughout the patient's body.

[0038] In another embodiment, the light source 30 may be configured to moderate the levels of one or more monoamines in the patient's body by selectively exposing the patient to light that can increase the levels of one or more monoamines in the patient's body (while possibly decreasing the levels of one or more other monoamines in the patient's body), or to light that can decrease the levels of one or more monoamines in the patient's body (while possibly increasing or balancing the levels of one or more other monoamines in the patient's body).

[0039] The light-emitting device 10 may include a light source 30 that enables the early detection of one or more motor-related neurological disorders. As described above, by exposing a patient's eyes to amber-to-red wavelengths of light (e.g., 570nm-650nm, 570nm-750nm, etc.), it is possible to induce symptoms of a motor-related neurological disorder in patients who are susceptible to it or who have a motor-related neurological disorder but have not yet clearly manifested its symptoms. By emitting such light at a higher level than the environment, the light source 30 can induce one or more symptoms of a motor-related neurological disorder in such patients. Therefore, the light-emitting device 10 of the present invention may include a light source 30 that enables the early diagnosis of a motor-related neurological disorder that a patient is susceptible to, or a motor-related neurological disorder that the patient already has, or otherwise has not clearly manifested its symptoms.

[0040] The light source 30 of the light-emitting device 10 incorporating the teachings of the present invention can be configured to emit one or more wavelengths of light that can activate mitochondrial repair. By activating retinal repair, one or more wavelengths of light emitted by the light-emitting device 10 of the present invention are currently thought to be able to repair damaged retinal cells and / or damaged neurons. Repair of damaged retinal cells is currently thought to at least partially prevent and / or reverse motor-related neurological disorders. Similarly, repair of damaged neurons, such as neurons in the substantia nigra, is currently thought to at least partially reverse motor-related neurological disorders. In some embodiments, such a light source 30 can be configured to emit light with a wavelength longer than 750 nm, and that light may include deep red (visible) light and some infrared radiation (e.g., infrared radiation wavelengths of about 900 nm or less).

[0041] The light-emitting device 10 of the present invention may include a light source 30 that emits only light that will produce a single result (for example, one of the functions described above). Alternatively, the light source 30 may be configured to selectively use light that allows the user to select a desired function from a plurality of functions (for example, any combination of the functions described above).

[0042] In embodiments where the light-emitting device 10 is configured to produce a single result, the light source 30 may be configured to emit one or more wavelengths of light at a higher level than the environment, which can achieve the desired result. These wavelengths of light are referred to herein as “desired wavelengths.” Furthermore, the light source 30 may be configured not to emit any wavelengths of light at a higher level than the environment, which may negate the desired result (i.e., the light source 30 may emit such wavelengths at the environment level or at a lower level than the environment), and these wavelengths of light are referred to herein as “undesired wavelengths.” In some embodiments, only the wavelengths of light that can be emitted by the light source 30 at a higher level than the environment are desirable wavelengths. In other embodiments, the light source 30 may be configured to emit only the desirable wavelengths of light.

[0043] The luminescence characteristics of the light source 30 can be clearly defined by the light-emitting element(s) 32 of the light source 30. Various embodiments of the light-emitting element(s) 32 that emit one or more relatively narrow bandwidths of light can be used in the light source 30 of a light-emitting device incorporating the teachings of the present invention. Without limiting the scope of the present invention, the light-emitting element(s) 32 can include light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The LED can be configured to emit a predetermined narrow bandwidth of light, including a variety of desirable wavelengths. The LED can also be configured to emit undesirable wavelengths of light at levels lower than the environment, or to emit undesirable wavelengths of light at levels not exceeding the environment level of such wavelengths, so as not to emit undesirable wavelengths of light.

[0044] Alternatively, the light-emitting element(s) 32 emits a desired wavelength of light, one or more other waves. It can emit light along with other wavelengths. Such a light-emitting element 32 is referred to in the art as a “polychromatic light source”. Other wavelengths of light emitted by the light-emitting element 32 may include undesirable wavelengths, or those wavelengths may consist of harmless and / or other useful wavelengths of light. In embodiments in which the light-emitting element 32 generates light of one or more undesirable wavelengths at undesirably high levels (e.g., emission of any of such wavelengths, environmental levels of such wavelengths, levels higher than the environment of such wavelengths, etc.), the light source 30 may include one or more filters 34 to attenuate the emission of one or more undesirable wavelengths from the light-emitting device 10. As is known in the art, the filters 34 may be selected based on the wavelengths of light they attenuate.

[0045] Some embodiments of the light-emitting device 10 incorporating the teachings of the present invention are configured to be used to perform multiple functions (for example, any combination of any of the functions described above). The light source 30 of such a light-emitting device 10 can be configured to allow the user to select a desired function from among multiple functions.

[0046] In non-limiting embodiments, the light-emitting device 10 may include a light source 30 comprising two or more sets 33a, 33b, etc. of light-emitting elements 32, as shown in Figure 2A. Each set 33a, 33b, etc. may include light-emitting elements 32a, 32b, etc. that perform a different function from any other set 33a, 33b, etc. of light-emitting elements 32a, 32b, etc. (collectively referred to as “light-emitting elements 32”). In the exemplary embodiment, the light-emitting elements 32 may be arranged in an array on the radiating surface 31 of the light source 30, with light-emitting elements 32a, 32b, etc. from different sets 33a, 33b, etc. scattered or mixed with each other. Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 2B, the light-emitting elements 32 may be arranged in alternating rows or columns, with each row or column consisting of, or primarily consisting of, a single type of light-emitting element 32a, 32b, etc. In another alternative embodiment, each different type of light-emitting element 32a, 32b, etc. may be grouped together, as depicted in Figure 2C.

[0047] In some embodiments, one set of light-emitting elements 32a 33a may be configured to address a motor-related neurological disorder or one or more symptoms of such a disorder. Another set of light-emitting elements 32b 33b may be configured to facilitate the diagnosis of a motor-related neurological disorder. Another optional set of light-emitting elements 32c 33c may be configured to repair cellular damage to retinal cells and / or neurons (e.g., mitochondrial damage) that may cause a motor-related neurological disorder.

[0048] In another embodiment, the light-emitting device 10 can be configured to bring the levels of one or more monoamines in the patient's body to an appropriate level. Such a light-emitting device 10 may include a light source 30, the light source 30 comprising one set 33a of light-emitting elements 32a that can treat exercise-related neurological disorders or their symptoms by activating a dopaminergic response by the patient's body (for example, by lowering melatonin levels or melatonergic activity (for example, by activating the patient's body to suppress or delay melatonin production and / or increase serotonin production, etc.); by raising dopamine levels (for example, by activating the patient's body to increase dopamine production, etc.)), and another set 33b of light-emitting elements 32b that can worsen exercise-related neurological disorders or their symptoms (for example, by raising melatonin levels or melatonergic activity or decreasing serotonergic activity (for example, by activating the patient's body to produce more melatonin and / or decrease serotonin, etc.); by lowering dopamine levels (for example, by activating the patient's body to stop or slow dopamine production, etc.).

[0049] The light-emitting device 10 can perform different functions at discrete times (e.g., diagnosing / addressing motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms; increasing or decreasing the level of a certain monoamine, etc.). Alternatively, at least the portion of two or more functions performed by the light-emitting device 10 can be performed simultaneously (e.g., addressing motor-related neurological disorders / promoting cell repair, etc.).

[0050] The manner in which different functions will be performed by such a light source 30 can be controlled using a processing element 36, such as a microcontroller of a type known in the art. The processing element 36 of the light source 30 can be pre-programmed to perform a defined set of functions. In some embodiments, the parameters of the defined functions (e.g., duration of operation; intensity, photon density and / or irradiance, etc.) can be determined by programming the processing element 36. In other embodiments, the processing element 36 can be programmed with one or more parameters (e.g., duration of operation; intensity, photon density and / or irradiance; wavelength(s) of emitted light, etc.), which control the manner in which light is emitted by the light source 30, and thus the functions that will be performed by the light-emitting device 10. In some embodiments, the processing element 36 and the light source 30 can be configured so that the light-emitting device 10 of the present invention emits different spectra based on several different factors. In a non-limiting embodiment, the processing element 36 and light source 30 of the light-emitting device 10 may be configured to cause the light-emitting device 10 to emit light of different wavelengths at different intensities at different times of the day. Specific embodiments of such a light-emitting device 10 may be configured to counteract the effects of natural light at different times of the day (for example, to generate and emit blue to green and / or green light with gradually increasing intensity as the time progresses from afternoon to evening; or to generate and emit amber, orange and red light with gradually decreasing intensity as the time progresses from afternoon to evening). In another embodiment, the processing element 36 and light source 30 of the light-emitting device 10 may be configured to cause the light-emitting device 10 to emit different spectra based on the specific symptoms and / or the severity of each symptom suffered by the patient.

[0051] Referring here to Figure 3, an embodiment of a light-emitting device 10 including a light source 30 that generates polychromatic light is depicted. In some embodiments, the polychromatic light may include so-called "white" light emitted by one or more light-emitting elements 32. In other embodiments, multiple different colors of light emitted simultaneously by multiple differently configured light-emitting elements 32 can be mixed to form polychromatic light. In any case, the polychromatic light emitted by the light source 30 includes various wavelengths and / or bandwidths that will perform multiple desired functions.

[0052] As those skilled in the art will understand, the specific characteristics of polychromatic light (for example, the wavelengths of light contained in the polychromatic light, the wavelength at which the relative intensity peak of a particular color of light is centered, etc.) are determined by the source(s) of the polychromatic light (for example, the light-emitting element 32, etc.). These specific characteristics of polychromatic light from various sources are sometimes referred to as the "signature" of the polychromatic light.

[0053] The discriminative properties of the polychromatic light emitted by the light source 30 of the light-emitting device 10 can at least partially define one or more functions that the light-emitting device 10 can perform. In one embodiment, the light-emitting device 10, which includes a light source 30 that emits polychromatic light (i.e., wavelengths desired in this embodiment) having blue, blue-to-green, and / or green light peaks, can be useful in addressing motor-related neurological disorders, addressing motor-related neurological disorders or their symptoms, or activating a dopaminergic response in a patient, thereby altering the levels of one or more monoamines in the patient's body. Specifically, this is because the magnitude of the peaks of one or more desired wavelengths is desired This is especially true when the magnitude of the peak of any undesirable wavelength or color (e.g., amber, orange, or red light) of the light exceeds the magnitude of the peak of any of the undesirable wavelengths or colors (e.g., amber, orange, or red light) that may cancel out the effectiveness of the desired wavelengths (or more) (e.g., blue, blue-green, and / or green light), and when the relative magnitude of the peaks of the desired and undesirable wavelengths allows for the supply of polychromatic light so as to provide the desired wavelengths of light at a higher level than the environment, and also provide the undesirable wavelengths of light at or below the environment level. In some embodiments, the light source 30 of the light-emitting device 10 of the present invention may be configured to emit unfiltered polychromatic light.

[0054] Furthermore, one or more functions to be performed by the light source 30, which includes a light-emitting element 32 that emits multicolor light, are clearly defined by controlling the wavelength(s) and / or bandwidth(s) of the light emitted by the light source 30. Accordingly, the light source 30 of the light-emitting device 10 of the present invention may include one or more filters 34, which at least partially block or attenuate any(s) wavelength(s) of light that may interfere with the(s) desired functions(s), and also allow certain desired wavelengths of light to be transmitted at a therapeutic level, thereby transmitting such desired wavelengths of light from the light source 30. By using different filters 34, the light-emitting device 10 may perform different functions.

[0055] Referring again to Figure 1, the light-emitting device 10 of the present invention may include a housing 20 in addition to the light source 30. The housing 20 houses the light source 30. Furthermore, the housing 20 may house one or more other components of the light-emitting device 10, including, but not limited to, controls and a power supply 50 for operating the light source 30. The light-emitting device 10 of the present invention may also include any of the various other features that can give the light-emitting device a desired function (e.g., a light-transmitting lens, a feature for diffusing the emitted light, a feature for focusing the emitted light, a feature for directing the housing 20, etc.).

[0056] The housing 20 of the light-emitting device 10 incorporating the teachings of the present invention can take any suitable configuration. In embodiments in which the light-emitting device 10 is configured to bring light to a controlled disease (e.g., in a research facility, in a clinic, etc.) or is intended to be used repeatedly in substantially the same location, the housing 20 can be relatively large (e.g., to accommodate a relatively large light source 30). Such a light-emitting device 10 may lack portability due to its size. Therefore, the power supply 50 of such a light-emitting device 10 may include components that enable the light-emitting device 10 to operate under AC power, as is known in the art.

[0057] In other embodiments, a more portable light-emitting device 10 may be desirable. The housing 20 of the light-emitting device 10 can be configured to at least partially provide portability to the light-emitting device 10, and in some embodiments, the light-emitting device 10 can perform its desired function(s) when the housing is held in the user's hand. In various embodiments, such a housing 20 can be easily made portable, occupying minimal space during transport and / or storage, and can be configured so that the light-emitting device 10 can be used in various settings or under various circumstances. In addition to including a small housing 20, a portable light-emitting device 10 may include a correspondingly small, even lightweight, light source 30. In some embodiments, the power supply 50 of the portable light-emitting device 10 may include one or more batteries, which can further provide portability to the light-emitting device 10. Portable embodiments of the light-emitting device 10 according to the present invention can be positioned on a surface (e.g., a tabletop, a patient's lap, etc.), worn by a patient receiving phototherapy (e.g., from above (e.g., like a visor, hat, etc.), from below and / or Alternatively, it can be configured to be worn on the head around the patient's eyes (for example, like eyeglasses) to direct light to the patient's eyes, or any other suitable configuration can be taken.

[0058] In some embodiments, the light-emitting device 10 may include processing elements (e.g., a microprocessor, a microcontroller, etc.) and a light source 30 that produces light.

[0059] When in use, the light-emitting device 10 of the present invention can be configured to direct light toward the patient's eyes, thereby enabling ophthalmic phototherapy. In some embodiments, the patient's eyes may be closed while ophthalmic phototherapy is being administered. In other embodiments, the patient may have their eyes open while ophthalmic phototherapy is being administered. In further embodiments, the desired ophthalmic phototherapy can be administered regardless of whether the patient's eyes are open or closed.

[0060] Although the foregoing description contains many specific details, these should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present invention or any of the appended claims, but rather as merely providing information about some specific embodiments that may be included within the scope of one or more appended claims. Furthermore, other embodiments of the present invention may be conceived that may be included within the scope of one or more appended claims. Thus, the scope of each claim is limited only by the legal equivalents of the words detailed therein and the elements enumerated therein. All combinations, additions, deletions, and modifications of embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the claims as disclosed herein are thereby encompassed.

Claims

1. In a device for administering phototherapy to patients suffering from motor-related neurological disorders, An apparatus comprising at least one light source for emitting at least one first bandwidth of visible light having an intensity peak at wavelengths for treating motor-related neurological disorders at a higher intensity than the environment, while emitting at least one second bandwidth of visible light at a lower intensity than the environment.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of at least one second wavelength of the visible light, lower than that of the environment, is not such that it exacerbates at least one symptom of at least one of the motor-related neurological disorders.

3. The at least one first bandwidth includes a plurality of visible light bandwidths, The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each first bandwidth has an intensity peak at a wavelength for treating motor-related neurological disorders.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first wavelength of visible light includes at least one of the blue to green wavelengths of visible light and the green wavelength of visible light.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first wavelength has a peak in the range of 460 nm to 570 nm.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4, or 5, wherein the at least one second wavelength of visible light includes at least one of the amber wavelength of visible light, the orange wavelength of visible light, and the red wavelength of visible light.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4, or 5, wherein the at least one second wavelength has a peak in the range of 575 nm to 750 nm.

8. The at least one light source is, A source of polychromatic light that generates at least one first wavelength of visible light and at least one second wavelength of visible light, The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising at least one filter for preventing at least one second wavelength of visible light generated by the multicolor light source from being emitted by the at least one light source.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the source of the multicolor light includes a source of white light.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one light source further comprises at least one green light source.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one light source is configured to emit visible light including at least another peak of visible light at an intensity higher than the environment sufficient to aggravate at least one symptom of at least one motor-related neurological disorder, while emitting the light of the at least one peak of visible light that treats the motor-related neurological disorder at an intensity lower than the environment, or not emitting any light at all.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the intensity of at least one peak of visible light used to treat the motor-related neurological disorder is lower than that of the environment, or the absence of such light at all is not sufficient to treat the motor-related neurological disorder.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a control element for selectively emitting only one of the visible light having at least one peak and the visible light having at least another peak.

14. A device for diagnosing at least one motor-related neurological disorder, It is configured to emit visible light containing at least one peak having a wavelength that exacerbates the symptoms of at least one motor-related neurological disorder, at an intensity that enhances the symptoms of the at least one motor-related neurological disorder, and Apparatus comprising at least one light source configured to reduce or prevent the emission of visible light, which includes at least another peak having a wavelength for treating the at least one motor-related neurological disorder, at an intensity that would treat the at least one motor-related neurological disorder.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least one of the peaks has a wavelength longer than 570 nm, and at least another peak has a wavelength of 570 nm or less.

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