Bright light mask
OwnerRoger J. Coleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bright light mask system for shining a high intensity light into a subject's eyes at preselected time periods to modify circadian rhyhyms. The system includes a mask adapted to be worn by the subject for covering the subject's eyes regardless of body position. The mask includes at least one light admitting aperture that is transparent to light energy. A light source is coupled to the aperture for generating and directing light into the subject's eyes. A light intensity of at least 2000 LUX of light having a wavelength in the range of 500 to 600 nanometers is delivered to each of the subject's eyes. A controller dictates the intensity of the light generated and the timing during which the light is on.
Claims14
A bright light mask for shining a high intensity light into a subject's eyes to modify biological rhythms, the bright light mask comprising:
- a mask adapted to be worn by the subject for covering the subject's eyes regardless of body position, the mask having at least one light admitting aperture that is transparent to visible light energy;
- lighting means coupled to the mask for generating bright light and delivering cool light at selected intensity and frequencies sufficient to modify biological rhythms, the light means including a light means for generating bright light;
- and
- control means for regulating the delivery of light to the subject's eyes, the control means including timer means for turning the light source on and off at variable preselected times, and dimmer means for varying the intensity of the light delivered to the subject's eyes, wherein said dimmer means is arranged such that each time the timer means turns the light source on, the dimmer means gradually increases the intensity of the light delivered to the subject's eyes.
A bright light mask for shining a high intensity light into a subject's eyes to modify biological rhythms, the bright light mask comprising:
- a mask adapted to be worn by the subject for covering the subject's eyes regardless of body position, the mask having at least one light admitting aperture that is substantially transparent to visible light energy;
- a bright light source coupled to the mask for generating light having an intensity of at least 2000 LUX within the wavelength range of 500 to 600 nanometers;
- delivery means suitable for delivering the bright light from the light source to the subject's eyes, wherein the delivery means delivers cool light to the subject's eyes;
- control means for regulating the delivery of light to the subject's eyes, the control means including timer means for turning the light source on and off at variable preselected times;
- and dimmer means for varying the intensity of the light delivered to the subject's eyes, wherein said dimmer means is arranged such that each time the timer means turns the light source on, the dimmer means gradually increases the intensity of the light delivered to the subject's eyes.
A method of modifying the biological rhythms of a subject comprising the steps of:
- selectively directing a cool bright light into the subject's eyes, the light having an intensity of at least 2000 LUX at wavelengths in the range of 500 to 600 nanometers;
- and
- gradually increasing the intensity of the light delivered when the light is first turned on over a period of at least one minute.
A method of modifying the biological rhythms of a subject comprising the steps of:
- selectively directing a bright light into the subject's eyes, the light having an intensity large enough to modify the subject's circadian rhythms and being delivered through a mask worn by the subject;
- and
- gradually increasing the intensity of the light delivered to the subject's eyes over a period of at least one minute when the light is first turned on.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.