Circadian rhythm monitoring and regulation system
A Circadian Rhythm Monitoring and Regulation (CMR) system and method that includes: a novel non-obtrusive wearable system for increasing the health and productivity of warfighters or other individuals that are disrupted by excessive, abnormal shifts in work or flights across multiple time zones. The CMR system is based on advanced sensor and software technology and models of human circadian system phototransduction and a circadian stimulator oscillator developed by applicants. It measures circadian misalignment and provides lighting suggestions for circadian rhythm maintenance and realignment.
1. A system comprising:
a light sensor, configured to be worn on a torso of a user to collect light information associated with calibrated, ecological light-dark exposure patterns;
an activity sensor, configured to be worn by the user to collect activity information associated with activity of the user;
a pair of light therapy treatment goggles configured to be worn on a head of the user, the pair of light therapy treatment goggles comprising blue LED lights;
orange-tinted glasses configured to be worn on the head of the user; and,
a mobile computing device located remotely from the light sensor, the activity sensor and the pair of light therapy treatment goggles, wherein the mobile computing device communicates with the light sensor and the activity sensor, wherein the mobile computing device comprises a mobile application stored in memory including processor executable instructions, that when executed by a processor of the mobile computing device operably connected to the memory, computes a circadian light stimulus light treatment recommendation for the user, based on the collected light information associated with calibrated, light-dark exposure patterns and activity information, the circadian light stimulus light treatment recommendation being instructions for delivery of light therapy to the user in the form of blue light by the blue LED lights of the pair of light therapy treatment goggles worn by the user as instructed by the mobile application at first recommended times and intervals and blockage of blue light provided by the orange-tinted glasses worn by the user as instructed by the mobile application at second recommended times and intervals;
wherein the circadian light stimulus light treatment recommendation comprises instructions to the user to wear the pair of light therapy treatment goggles or the orange-tinted glasses at the respective first and second recommended times and intervals so that the user is exposed to blue light by the blue LED lights of the pair of light therapy treatment goggles and blocked from blue light by the orange-tinted glasses as part of the light therapy; and,
wherein the pair of light therapy treatment goggles and the orange tinted-glasses provide lighting intervention during the respective first and second recommended times and intervals.
2. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the light sensor and activity sensor are wirelessly connected to the mobile computing device.
3. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mobile application includes processor executable code that when executed by the processor implements a circadian stimulator oscillator to deliver a light prescription to delay or advance a circadian phase of the user.
4. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the mobile application uses a modified Kronauer model of human circadian entrainment.
5. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) is used as a marker of circadian phase.
6. The system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein saliva samples are collected from the user for DMLO measurement.
7. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the light sensor continuously collects light information.
8. The system as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the activity sensor continuously collects activity information.
9. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the system uses personal light exposures detected by the light sensor to predict circadian phases, and the mobile computing device determines a solar phase.
10. The system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein phase shifts are determined from time of day differences when angular positions occur on a circadian stimulator oscillator model.
11. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the pair of light therapy goggles are worn by the user when instructed by the mobile application.
12. The system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the orange-tinted glasses are worn by the user when instructed by the mobile application.
13. A method comprising the steps of: providing a light sensor configured to be worn on a torso of a user to collect light information associated with calibrated, ecological light-dark exposure patterns; providing an activity sensor worn by the user to collect activity information associated with activity of the user; providing a pair of light therapy treatment goggles configured to be worn on a head of the user, the pair of light therapy treatment goggles comprising blue LED lights; providing orange-tinted glasses and, providing a mobile computing device, located remotely from the light sensor, the activity sensor and the pair of light therapy treatment goggles; using the mobile computing device to: communicates with the light sensor and the activity sensor, wherein the mobile computing device comprises a mobile application stored in memory and processor executable instructions, that when executed by a processor of the mobile computing device operably connected to the memory, causes the mobile application to: compute a circadian light stimulus light treatment recommendation for the user, based on the collected light information associated with calibrated, light-dark exposure patterns and activity information, the circadian light stimulus light treatment recommendation being instructions for delivery of light therapy to the user in the form of blue light by the blue LED lights of the pair of light therapy treatment goggles worn by the user as instructed by the mobile application at first recommended times and intervals and blockage of blue light provided by the orange-tinted glasses worn by the user as instructed by the mobile application at second recommended times and intervals; wherein the circadian light stimulus light treatment recommendation comprises: sending instructions to the user to wear the pair of light therapy treatment goggles or the orange-tinted glasses at the respective first and second recommended times and intervals so that the user is exposed to blue light by the blue LED lights of the pair of light therapy treatment goggles and blocked from blue light by the orange-tinted glasses as part of the light therapy; and, wherein the pair of light therapy treatment goggles and the orange tinted-glasses provide lighting intervention during the respective first and second recommended times and intervals.
14. The method as set forth in claim 13 , further including the steps of:
providing a circadian stimulator oscillator in the mobile application; and
delivering a light prescription to delay or advance a circadian phase of the user.
15. The method as set forth in claim 13 , further including the steps of:
continuously collecting light information using the light sensor;
continuously collecting activity information using the activity sensor; and
using the continuously collected light and activity information intermittently.
16. The method as set forth in claim 13 , further including the step of determining phase shifts from time of day differences when angular positions occur on a circadian stimulator oscillator model.
17. The method as set forth in claim 13 , further including the step of:
providing, by the mobile application, instructions to the user to wear the pair of light therapy goggles.
18. The method as set forth in claim 17 , further including the steps of:
providing, by the mobile application, instructions to the user to wear the orange-tinted glasses at least partially during daytime.
19. The method as set forth in claim 13 , further including the steps of:
collecting personal light exposures information using the light sensor; and
predicting circadian phases using the light exposure information.
20. The method as set forth in claim 13 , further including the steps of:
using dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) as a marker of circadian phase; and
collecting saliva samples from the user for DLMO measurement.