# US 10,118,050 B2 · Using light to regulate uterine contractions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,050 B2 - Document ID: US10118050B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/345,004 - Filed: 2016-11-07 - Published: 2017-02-23 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2007-12-03 - Assignees: Florida State Research Foundation, Inc. - Applicants: Florida State University Research Foundation, Inc. - Inventors: James Olcese - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118050B2 ## CPC - A61N 5/0613: {Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment} - A61N 5/06: using light - A61N 5/0603: {for treatment of body cavities} - A61N 5/0618: {Psychological treatment} - A61K 31/4045: Indole-alkylamines; Amides thereof, e.g. serotonin, melatonin - A61K 38/095: Oxytocins; Vasopressins; Related peptides - A61N 2005/0648: {the light being directed to the eyes} - A61N 2005/0663: {Coloured light} - G01N 2800/368: Pregnancy complicated by disease or abnormalities of pregnancy, e.g. preeclampsia, preterm labour - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A method of regulating uterine contractions comprises suppressing a nocturnal endogenous melatonin level of a pregnant female experiencing uterine contractions at night by exposing the pregnant female during nighttime to a light source emitting blue light. The light source may be a headset. The contractions may be measured while the female is exposed to the blue light. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of reducing uterine contractions occurring at night in a pregnant diurnal female experiencing preterm labor, the method comprising: suppressing the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of a pregnant diurnal female experiencing preterm labor by: (a) operating a headset being worn by and covering the eyes of the pregnant diurnal female, the headset comprising a first blue light source carried by the headset and remaining over the left eye of the pregnant diurnal female when the headset is worn and a second blue light source carried by the headset and remaining over the right eye of the pregnant diurnal female when the headset is worn; (b) intermittently directing blue light from the first blue light source onto the left eye of the pregnant diurnal female during the night, the blue light from the first blue light source having a wavelength of about 450 to 500 nm and an intensity of about 1,000 to 10,000 lux; and (c) intermittently directing blue light from the second blue light source onto the right eye of the pregnant diurnal female during the night, the blue light from the second blue light source having a wavelength of about 450 to 500 nm and an intensity of about 1,000 to 10,000 lux. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the light source intensity for each of first and second blue light sources is about 10,000 lux. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the headset is operated between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the headset is operated while recording uterine contractions in the pregnant diurnal female. ### Claim 5 A method of reducing uterine contractions occurring at night in a pregnant human female experiencing preterm labor, the method comprising: suppressing the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of the pregnant diurnal female experiencing preterm labor and uterine contractions by directing into the eyes of the pregnant diurnal female during the night blue light from a blue light source; and measuring the uterine contractions while directing into the eyes of the pregnant diurnal female during the night blue light from the blue light source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the light source is a headset being worn by and covering the eyes of the pregnant diurnal female, the headset comprising a first blue light source carried by the headset and remaining over the left eye of the pregnant diurnal female when the headset is worn and a second blue light source carried by the headset and remaining over the right eye of the pregnant diurnal female when the headset is worn. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the headset is operated between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, further comprising intermittently directing blue light from the first blue light source onto the left eye of the pregnant diurnal female during the night; and intermittently directing blue light from the second blue light source onto the right eye of the pregnant diurnal female during the night. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the blue light source has an intensity of about 1,000 to about 10,000 lux and a wavelength of about 450 nm to about 500 nm. ### Claim 10 A method of reducing uterine contractions occurring at night in a pregnant human female, the method comprising measuring uterine contractions at night of a pregnant human female experiencing preterm labor and uterine contractions while suppressing the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of the pregnant human female by intermittently directing into the eyes of the pregnant human female light from a light source having a wavelength effective to suppress the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of the pregnant human female. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the light source is a headset being worn by and covering the eyes of the pregnant human female, the headset comprising a first light source carried by the headset and remaining over the left eye of the pregnant human female when the headset is worn and a second light source carried by the headset and remaining over the right eye of the pregnant human female when the headset is worn. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the headset is operated between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising intermittently directing the light from the first light source onto the left eye of the pregnant human female during the night; and intermittently directing light from the second blue light source onto the right eye of the pregnant human female during the night. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the wavelength effective to suppress the regular nocturnal endogenous melatonin secretions of the pregnant human female is a wavelength of about 450 nm to about 500 nm.