Wearable device and method for providing phototherapy to the brain
An apparatus is wearable by a patient for treating the patient's brain. The apparatus includes a body which covers at least a portion of the patient's scalp when the apparatus is worn by the patient. The apparatus further includes a plurality of elements. Each element has a first portion which conforms to a corresponding portion of the patient's scalp when the apparatus is worn by the patient. Each element has a second portion which conforms to a light source removably contacting the element. Each element is substantially transmissive to light from the light source to irradiate at least a portion of the patient's brain.
1 . An apparatus wearable by a patient for treating the patient's brain, the apparatus comprising:
a body which covers at least a portion of the patient's scalp when the apparatus is worn by the patient; and
a plurality of elements, each element having a first portion which conforms to a corresponding portion of the patient's scalp when the apparatus is worn by the patient, each element having a second portion which conforms to a light source removably contacting the element, each element being substantially transmissive to light from the light source to irradiate at least a portion of the patient's brain.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of apertures, each element positioned at a corresponding one of the plurality of apertures.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a hood.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a stretchable material.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises nylon-backed polychloroprene.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each element inhibits temperature increases at the scalp caused by the light transmitted through the element.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each element comprises a substantially transparent bag comprising a flexible material, the bag containing a liquid.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the liquid comprises water.
9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the liquid has a refractive index which substantially matches a refractive index of the scalp.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each element comprises a substantially transparent bag comprising a flexible material, the bag containing a first material and a second material.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first material comprises a soft, substantially transmissive, thermally insulative material, and the second material comprises a rigid, substantially transmissive, thermally conductive material.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first material comprises gel and the second material comprises silica.
13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the second material comprises a plurality of balls distributed within the first material.
14 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first material comprises a first plurality of layers and the second material comprises a second plurality of layers, the first plurality of layers stacked with the second plurality of layers, thereby forming a stack having alternating layers of the first material and the second material.
15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each element provides a corresponding interface with the scalp which is substantially free of air gaps.
16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light from the light source after being transmitted through each element has a power density which penetrates the patient's cranium to deliver an efficacious amount of light to at least a portion of the patient's brain.
17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is disposable after a single use.
18 . An apparatus wearable by a patient for treating the patient's brain, the apparatus comprising:
means for covering at least a portion of the patient's scalp when the apparatus is worn by the patient; and
means for transmitting light to at least a portion of the patient's brain, the transmitting means having a first portion which conforms to a corresponding portion of the patient's scalp when the apparatus is worn by the patient, the transmitting means having a second portion which conforms to a light source removably contacting the transmitting means.
19 . An optical interface for coupling a light source with a patient's head, the optical interface comprising:
a plurality of optical windows; and
a support for orienting the plurality of optical windows, wherein at least one side of at least one optical window has a conformable surface.
20 . The optical interface of claim 19 , wherein the at least one optical window comprises an inflatable container.
21 . The optical interface of claim 20 , wherein the inflatable container has a diameter within a range between about 0.5 inch and about 3 inches.
22 . The optical interface of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of optical windows comprises at least about 10 optical windows.
23 . The optical interface of claim 22 , wherein the plurality of optical windows comprises between 15 and 25 optical windows.
24 . A method of treating a patient, the method comprising:
identifying at least about 10 treatment sites on the patient's scalp;
directing an electromagnetic radiation source to each of the treatment sites; and
propagating electromagnetic radiation from the source to each treatment site, the electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within a range between about 800 nanometers and about 830 nanometers.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein identifying at least about 10 treatment sites comprises placing a support on the patient's head, the support comprising indicia of locations of the treatment sites.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein- the indicia comprise openings in the support.
27 . The method of claim 24 , wherein propagating electromagnetic radiation comprises sequentially propagating electromagnetic radiation at each treatment site one at a time.
28 . A system for treating a patient, the system comprising:
a support for identifying a plurality of sites on a patient's scalp for the application of therapeutic electromagnetic energy in a wavelength range between about 800 nanometers and about 830 nanometers; and
an instruction for use of the support in combination with an electromagnetic light source of the therapeutic electromagnetic energy.
29 . A patient interface for positioning proximal to a patient's scalp, the interface comprising a support and at least one optical window comprising an inflatable container on the support, the container being substantially transmissive to electromagnetic radiation having a therapeutic wavelength and having a volume in a range between about 2 cubic centimeters and about 50 cubic centimeters.
30 . The patient interface of claim 29 , comprising at least about 10 optical windows.
31 . The patient interface of claim 29 , comprising at least about 10 inflatable containers.
32 . A method of providing treatment to a patient exhibiting symptoms of an ischemic stroke, the method comprising irradiating a plurality of treatment sites on the patient's scalp with electromagnetic radiation utilizing radiation parameters which, when applied to members of an irradiated group of patients, produce at least a 2% average difference in a neurologic function scale between the irradiated group of patients and a group of patients exhibiting symptoms of an ischemic stroke and receiving a placebo.
33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the neurologic function scale is selected from the group consisting of: National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index (BI), Glasgow Outcome, Glasgow Coma Scale, Canadian Neurologic Scale, Stroke Impact Scale 3 (SIS-3), and Stroke Impact Scale 16 (SIS-16).
34 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the irradiation parameters produce at least a 4% average difference in the neurologic function scale between the irradiated group of patients and a group of patients exhibiting symptoms of an ischemic stroke and receiving a placebo.
35 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the irradiation parameters produce at least a 6% average difference in the neurologic function scale between the irradiated group of patients and a group of patients exhibiting symptoms of an ischemic stroke and receiving a placebo.
36 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the irradiation parameters produce at least a 10% average difference in the neurologic function scale between the irradiated group of patients and a group of patients exhibiting symptoms of an ischemic stroke and receiving a placebo.