Light therapy apparatus and methods

Abstract

An extra-oral light therapy device comprises a support that registers against features of a patient's head. A light source is mounted to the support. The light source may comprise an array of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”). A controller controls the extra-oral light therapy device. The support may comprise a tray fitted to the patient's teeth or a head-set fitted to the patient's ears and the bridge of the patient's nose. An external light therapy device has a thin, molded substrate, at least one array of light emitters mounted onto the thin, molded substrate, an attaching means for removably attaching the device to an area of treatment, and a controller for controlling the external light therapy device. Methods for supporting light sources adjacent desired treatment locations and for treating jaw bone disorders and jaw osteonecrosis and biostimulating bone and soft tissue are also disclosed.

1 . A light therapy apparatus comprising: 
 a support configured to register with anatomical features of a patient's head;    at least one light source mounted to the support and oriented to direct light toward a jaw region of the patient; and    a controller operable to drive the light source to irradiate at least a part of the jaw region of the patient.    
   
   
       2 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the support comprises an intra-oral tray that is molded to conform to one or more teeth of the patient and the light source is mounted to an extra-oral bridge that extends from the intra-oral tray.  
   
   
       3 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the extra-oral bridge is detachably coupled to the intra-oral bridge.  
   
   
       4 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one light source comprises an extra-oral LED array right side and an extra-oral LED array left side.  
   
   
       5 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one light source is elongated and is rotatable between a sagittal orientation and a vertical orientation.  
   
   
       6 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one light source comprises a plurality of LEDs in thermal contact with a heat sink and a fan disposed to move air past the heat sink.  
   
   
       7 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the controller comprises a programmable controller and the controller is connected to control separately light output by first and second groups of light emitters in the light source.  
   
   
       8 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a plurality or emitters of infrared light and a plurality of emitters of visible light.  
   
   
       9 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light source includes emitters of light in at least one of the wavelength ranges 820 to 890 nm and 620 to 680 nm.  
   
   
       10 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light source includes emitters that emit light in at least one of the wavelength ranges 
 613 nm to 624 nm    667 nm to 684 nm    750 nm to 773 nm and    812 nm to 846 nm.    
   
   
       11 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light source includes emitters that light of a wavelength corresponding to an absorption band of cytochrome c oxidase.  
   
   
       12 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the absorption band is an absorption band of reduced cytochrome c oxidase.  
   
   
       13 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the absorption band is an absorption band of oxidized cytochrome c oxidase.  
   
   
       14 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the support comprises a head-set having a first part configured to register with a bridge of a patient's nose.  
   
   
       15 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 14  wherein the head-set comprises a pair of arms extending rearwardly from the first part, the arms configured to pass over the patient's ears.  
   
   
       16 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the light source is coupled to the head-set by a coupler wherein a point of attachment of the coupler to the head-set is adjustable.  
   
   
       17 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the coupler connects the light source to one of the arms and a point of attachment of the coupler to the arm is adjustable.  
   
   
       18 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 16  wherein the head-set defines a slot extending generally horizontally, the coupler is slidable along the slot, and the apparatus comprises a clamp for locking the coupler at a desired position along the slot.  
   
   
       19 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 16  comprising a mechanism for adjusting a position of the light source vertically and a mechanism for adjusting a position of the light source horizontally.  
   
   
       20 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 19  wherein the light source is detachable from the head-set.  
   
   
       21 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light source is moldable to conform to a shape of the patient's face.  
   
   
       22 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a right section, a center section, and a left section and is flexible in its portions between the center section and the left and right sections.  
   
   
       23 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 22  comprising a right hinge-like member between the right section and center section and a left hinge-like member between the left section and center section.  
   
   
       24 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to determine a temperature at the light source and to discontinue operation of the light source if the temperature exceeds a threshold temperature.  
   
   
       25 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to maintain a log of treatments delivered by the light therapy apparatus.  
   
   
       26 . A light therapy apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the controller comprises a stored treatment regimen comprising a plurality of scheduled treatments and an indicator wherein the controller is configured to operate the indicator in response to stored treatment regimen to generate a signal to remind a patient of one of the scheduled treatments.  
   
   
       27 . A method for preparing an apparatus to deliver light therapy to jaw tissues of a patient, the method comprising: 
 fitting a support to register with anatomical features of the patient's head;    coupling an extra-oral light source to the fitted support; and    aligning the light source adjacent target jaw tissues in the patient.    
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein fitting the support comprises: 
 filling an intra-oral tray with a settable material;    inserting the intra-oral tray into the patient's mouth; and, allowing the settable material to set against one or more the patient's teeth to form a fitted intra-oral tray.    
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein fitting the support comprises adjusting a head set to register with the bridge of the patient's nose and the patient's ears.  
   
   
       30 . A method for delivering phototherapy to tissues of the jaws or gums of a patient, the method comprising: 
 supporting a light source adjacent to the face of the patient;    operating the light source to ernit light and allowing the light to pass through tissues of one or more of the patient's lips and cheeks to irradiate target tissues in one or more of the patient's jaws and gums.    
   
   
       31 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein supporting the light source comprises registering a frame to anatomical features of the patient's head and supporting the light source on the frame.  
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein the emitted light includes light in at least one of the wavelength ranges 820 to 890 nm and 620 to 680 nm.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein the emitted light includes light in at least one of the wavelength ranges 
 613 nm to 624 nm    667 nm to 684 nm    750 nm to 773 nm and    812 nm to 846 nm.    
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein the emitted light includes light of a wavelength corresponding to an absorption band of cytochrome c oxidase.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein the absorption band is an absorption band of reduced cytochrome c oxidase.  
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein the absorption band is an absorption band of oxidized cytochrome c oxidase.  
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 30  comprising pressing the light source against skin of the patient's face.  
   
   
       38 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein operating the light source to emit light comprises operating the light source to emit pulses of light.  
   
   
       39 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein operating the light source to emit light comprises emitting light having a time-averaged intensity of at least 10 mW/cm 2  at a light-emitting surface of the light source over a period of at least 10 seconds.  
   
   
       40 . A method according to  claim 39  wherein the time-averaged intensity is in the range of 20 mW/cm 2  to 60 mW/cm 2 .  
   
   
       41 . A method according to  claim 30  wherein operating the light source to emit light comprises operating the light source to emit both visible and infrared light.  
   
   
       42 . A method according to  claim 41  wherein a ratio of the intensity of the visible light to the infrared light is 1 part or less visible light to 5 parts or more infrared light.  
   
   
       43 . A method according to  claim 30  comprising operating the light source to emit light for a period determined by an automatic timer.  
   
   
       44 . A method according to  claim 30  comprising, prior to operating the light source to emit light, forming the light source co conform to contours of the face of the patient and during operating the light source to emit light urging the light source against the face of the patient.