Transorbital nir light therapy device

Abstract

A device for treating the brain includes a light source configured to emit near infrared light. The device also includes a collimator configured to receive the near infrared light emitted by the light emitter. The collimator is further configured to collimate the near infrared light. The device also includes an optic configured to focus collimated light. A reflector of the device is configured to change a direction of the collimated light. The reflector is at a distal end of the device, and the distal end is configured to fit between an upper portion of an eyelid of a patient and an orbital socket of the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for treating the brain, the device comprising:
 a light source configured to emit near infrared light;   a collimator configured to receive the near infrared light emitted by the light emitter, the collimator further configured to collimate the near infrared light;   an optic configured to focus collimated light; and   a reflector configured to change a direction of the collimated light, the reflector being at a distal end of the device, the distal end being configured to fit between an upper portion of an eyelid of a patient and an orbital socket of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The device as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the light source is an LED or a laser. 
     
     
         3 . The device as defined by  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of light sources. 
     
     
         4 . The device as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the optic is a cylindrical lens. 
     
     
         5 . The device as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the collimator is a parabolic mirror, an ellipsoidal mirror, a total internal reflection optic, a Fresnel lens, and/or a convex lens. 
     
     
         6 . The device as defined by  claim 1 , further comprising a housing having therein the light source, the collimator, and the optic, wherein the reflector is outside of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The device as defined by  claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to provide a dosage of light to the brain with an energy density of about around 1 J/cm{circumflex over ( )}2. 
     
     
         8 . A device for treating the brain, the device comprising:
 a light emitter configured to emit near infrared light;   a light guide having:
 a proximal end configured to receive the near infrared light from the light emitter, 
 a distal end through which the near infrared light exits the light guide, the distal end configured to fit between an upper portion of an eyelid of a patient and an orbital socket of the patient, and 
 a material configured to cause total internal reflection of the near infrared light between the proximal end and the distal end; and 
   a reflective portion configured to change a direction of the near infrared light that exits the light guide.   
     
     
         9 . The device as defined by  claim 8 , wherein the light guide is a light pipe formed of a solid material. 
     
     
         10 . The device as defined by  claim 9 , wherein the solid material includes acrylic. 
     
     
         11 . The device as defined by  claim 8 , wherein the material configured to cause total internal reflection is a coating. 
     
     
         12 . The device as defined by  claim 11 , wherein the coating is aluminum. 
     
     
         13 . The device as defined by  claim 8 , further comprising a thermo electric cooler, and/or a heat sink coupled with the light source. 
     
     
         14 . The device as defined by  claim 8 , further comprising a housing having the light emitter and the light guide therein, the housing having an open distal end through which the light guide passes. 
     
     
         15 . The device as defined by  claim 8 , wherein the reflector is an exposed internal surface of the material configured to cause the total internal reflection. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating the brain, the method comprising:
 providing a device having:
 a light emitter configured to emit near infrared light in a first direction, and 
 a reflector configured to change the direction of the light from a first direction to a second direction; 
   positioning at least a portion of the device in an orbital cavity of the patient, such that the second direction is toward an orbitofrontal cortex of the brain of the patient.   
     
     
         17 . The method as defined by  claim 16 , further comprising:
 emitting a therapeutic dose of near infrared light from the light emitter;   reflecting the emitted near infrared light transorbitally towards the orbitofrontal cortex of the patient.   
     
     
         18 . The method as defined by  claim 16 , wherein the device further comprises a collimator, the method further actuating the LED so that the NIR light exits the LED and is substantially collimated in the collimator. 
     
     
         19 . The method as defined by  claim 16 , wherein the device further comprises an optic configured to focus the light towards the reflector. 
     
     
         20 . The method as defined by  claim 16 , wherein the positioning includes placing the reflector about 10 mm into the orbital socket from a surface of a frontal bone of the patient.