Ischemia laser treatment

1. A therapy apparatus for treating brain tissue, the therapy apparatus comprising:

a skull covering adapted to cover at least a portion of a patient's cranium;

said skull covering including at least one light source; and

a controller operatively connected to the light source and controlling operation of the light source;

wherein said at least one light source is positioned to irradiate a portion of a patient's cranium with light having a wavelength and power density sufficient to:

penetrate the patient's skull; and

deliver an efficacious amount of light to brain tissue to treat brain cells following ischemic stroke in a patient thereby producing a cytoprotective effect and an increase in survival of neurons.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a laser source.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source is moveable with respect to the cranium.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operative to move the light source further from or closer to the cranium.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source is attached to a plurality of guides such that light from the source passes through the guides.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source has a wavelength of about 807 nm.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light source delivers a power density of about 8 mW/cm 2 to brain tissue.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises two or more light sources.

9. Apparatus for treatment of an ischemic region of brain cells in a cranium, comprising:

a skull covering adapted to cover at least part of a cranium;

at least one guide attached to said skull covering;

a laser source operative to direct a laser beam through said at least one guide into a cranium; and

a controller operatively connected to the laser source and controlling operation of the laser source;

wherein said light source produces light having a wavelength and power density sufficient to:

penetrate the patient's skull; and

deliver an efficacious amount of light to brain tissue to cause biostimulation of brain cells following ischemic stroke.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said at least one guide comprises an optic fiber.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said at least one guide comprises a waveguide.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a plurality of said guides attached to said skull covering which direct a plurality of laser beams in a plurality of directions.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a plurality of said guides attached to said skull covering which focus a plurality of laser beams in a plurality of focal lengths into a cranium.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a plurality of said guides which are commonly attached to said laser source.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9 comprising a plurality of said laser sources and a plurality of said guides, wherein each source directs a laser beam through one said guide.

16. A method of treating brain tissue, the method comprising:

identifying a patient whose brain has at least one ischemic portion; and

irradiating at least a portion of the cranium of said patient with light;

wherein said irradiating is performed through the skull

wherein said light has a wavelength and power density sufficient to penetrate the skull; and

cause biostimulation of brain cells and increased neuron survival following an ischemic event.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the wavelength is about 807 nm.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the power density is selected to provide a power density of about 5 mW/cm 2 to about 8 mW/cm 2 to the brain tissue.

19. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the light has a protective effect on the brain cells.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the light causes a regeneration process in the injured brain cells.