Apparatus and method for inhibiting melatonin synthesis in a horse
AssigneeEquilume Limited
InventorsBarbara Murphy, John Sheridan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for inhibiting melatonin synthesis in a horse comprises a blinker having an internal surface of which at least a part is diffusing. A source of light is positioned for direction into the horse's eye by the diffusing-surface. The light source and diffusing surface are configured such that the light directed into the horse's eye is blue.
Claims21
A light-based method of inducing physiological change, the method comprising the step of shining artificial blue light from an artificial blue light source, in which the artificial blue light source provides blue light with intensity of 100 lux or less, into just one eye of a horse or other animal, causing a suppression of melatonin production to induce physiological change, the physiological change being one of the group:
- advancing the breeding season of the horse or other animal;
- shortening the gestational length;
- increasing the birth weight;
- mitigating the effects of jet-lag;
- advancing the shedding of a winter coat, the method including the step of keeping the horse or other animal outdoors whilst the artificial blue light is shone in just one eye of the horse or other animal.
A light-based method of inducing physiological change, the method comprising the step of shining artificial blue light from an artificial blue light source, in which the artificial blue light source provides blue light with intensity of 100 lux or less, into just one eye of a horse or other animal, causing a suppression of melatonin production to induce physiological change, the physiological change being one of the group:
- advancing the breeding season of the horse or other animal;
- shortening the gestational length;
- increasing the birth weight;
- mitigating the effects of jet-lag;
- advancing the shedding of a winter coat, the method including the step of keeping the horse or other animal in outside pasture for at least 6 weeks in the two or three months preceding the start of the horse or other animal's breeding season.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.