Near-infrared enhancement of circadian and ultradian spatiotemporal cellular coordination

1. A method of providing photo-chrono-therapy to a wound site in a human or animal subject, the method comprising:

determining or receiving subject circadian and/or ultradian cycle information indicative of a biological rhythm(s) of the subject; and

based on the subject cycle information, delivering a photo-chrono-dose of infrared treatment light to the wound site with wavelengths within at least one infrared wavelength range and having a dosimetry configured to promote healing at the wound site.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the subject cycle information comprises circadian information indicative of a circadian rhythm of the subject, and

delivering the photo-chrono-dose comprises delivering the treatment light at a time corresponding to one or more selected phases in a cell-cycle of the subject based on the circadian information.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more selected phases comprise a G1 or early S-phase of the cell-cycle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wound site comprises an internal peripheral portion and an external peripheral portion each having a wound margin and a central portion, and wherein delivering a photo-chrono-dose of infrared treatment light to the wound site comprises preferentially delivering light to either or both of the peripheral portions of the wound singly or simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising stimulating migration of eukaryotic cells from the peripheral portion of the wound site to the central portion of the wound site.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the eukaryotic cells comprise at least one of fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein stimulating migration of eukaryotic cells comprises generating spatio-temporal photo-taxis in the eukaryotic cells.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein generating spatio-temporal photo-taxis in the eukaryotic cells comprises causing optically mediated mechanotransduction at cell membranes to stimulate directed lamellopod or pseudopod creation in the cells.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the optically mediated mechanotransduction causes forces at the cell membrane that reinforce endogenous membrane waves in the cells.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein preferentially delivering light to the internal or external peripheral portion comprises delivering the light with a substantially annular spatial distribution.

11. The method of claim 10 , the light with a substantially annular spatial distribution comprises delivering the light as a ring of spots at the wound cite.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject cycle information comprises ultradian information indicative of an ultradian rhythm of the subject, and further comprising modulating the treatment light delivered to the wound site based on the ultradian information.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the ultradian information comprises information indicative of a pulse or heartbeat in the subject.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving at least one sensor signal indicative of the ultradian information.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sensor signal comprises a pulse oximeter signal or an electrocardiogram signal.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the photo-chrono-dose of infrared treatment light comprises:

generating near-infrared optical radiation with wavelengths within a first wavelength range of 850 nm to 900 nm or a second wavelength range of 910 nm to 950 nm; and

delivering the near-infrared optical radiation to the wound site with a power density at the treatment sight in the range of 0.015-1.0 W/cm^2 and an energy density in the range of 0.5-3500 J/cm^2.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the near-infrared optical radiation comprises radiation in the first and second wavelength ranges.

18. The method of claim 16 , comprising:

stimulating collagen synthesis at the wound site by delivering mid-infrared optical radiation to the wound site;

wherein delivering mid-infrared optical radiation to the wound site comprises:

generating mid-infrared optical radiation substantially in a third wavelength range of 6.35 microns to 6.55 microns; and

delivering the mid-infrared optical radiation to the wound site with a power density at the treatment sight in the range of 0.01-1.0 W/cm^2 and an energy density in the range of 0.5-3500 J/cm^2.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying the near infrared optical radiation to stimulate leptin production from adipose tissue in the external periphery of the wound site.

20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising intentionally creating a wound at the wound site.