Light therapy 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 method for preparing an apparatus useful for delivering light therapy to jaw tissues of a patient, the method comprising:
 coupling an extra-oral light source to a support;   fitting the support to register with one or more anatomical features of the patient's head; and   aligning the light source toward the patient's facial skin covering the patient's jaw bone or soft tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein fitting the support comprises inserting an intra-oral tray into the patient's mouth. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein fitting the support comprises adjusting a head set to register with the bridge of the patient's nose and the patient's ears. 
     
     
         4 . A method for administering phototherapy to tissues of the jaw bone or soft tissue of a patient, the method comprising:
 directing a light source toward the face of the patient;   allowing the light source to emit light; and   allowing the light to pass through the patient's facial skin covering the patient's jaw bone to irradiate target tissues in one or more of the patient's jaw bone or soft tissue.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein directing the light source comprises registering a frame to anatomical features of the patient's head and supporting the light source on the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the emitted light comprises light in the wavelength range of about 820 to about 890 nm or about 620 to about 680 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the emitted light comprises light in the wavelength ranges of:
 613 nm to 624 nm,   667 nm to 684 nm,   750 nm to 773 nm, or   812 nm to 846 nm.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the emitted light comprises light of a wavelength corresponding to an absorption band of cytochrome c oxidase. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the absorption band is an absorption band of reduced cytochrome c oxidase. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the absorption band is an absorption band of oxidized cytochrome c oxidase. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 4  comprising allowing the light source to contact the skin of the patient's face. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein allowing the light source to emit light comprises allowing the light source to emit pulses of light. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein the emitted light has a time-averaged intensity of at least about 10 mW/cm 2  at a light-emitting surface of the light source over a period of at least 10 seconds. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the time-averaged intensity is in the range of 20 mW/cm 2  to about 60 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 4  wherein the emitted light comprises visible and infrared light. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  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. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 4  comprising allowing the light source to emit light for a period determined by an automatic timer. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 4  comprising: prior to allowing the light source to emit light, forming the light source support to conform to contours of the face of the patient; and while allowing the light source to emit light, urging the light source against the face of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . A method for treating a jaw bone disorder, comprising the steps of:
 contacting at least one extra-oral light source against skin the face of a patient in need of jawbone-disorder treatment; and   administering to the patient an effective amount of the light through the patient's face to the patient's jaw or gums.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising placing into the patient's mouth an intra-oral tray, the intra-oral tray being connected to an extra-oral bridge that is connected to the at least one extra-oral light source. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the extra-oral light source is an extra-oral LED array. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the emitted light comprises light in the wavelength range of about 820 to about 890 nm or about 620 to about 680 nm. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the emitted light comprises light in the wavelength ranges:
 613 nm to 624 nm,   667 nm to 684 nm,   750 nm to 773 nm, or   812 nm to 846 nm.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising rotating the at least one extra-oral light source between a sagittal axis and a vertical axis. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the jaw bone disorder is jaw osteonecrosis. 
     
     
         26 . A method for biostimulating bone or soft tissue comprising the steps of:
 contacting at least one extra-oral light source against skin the face of a patient in need of jawbone-disorder treatment; and   administering to the patient an effective amount of the light through the patient's face to the patient's jaw or gums.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising placing into the patient's mouth an intra-oral tray, the intra-oral tray being connected to an extra-oral bridge that is connected to the at least one extra-oral light source. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the extra-oral light source is an extra-oral LED array. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the emitted light comprises light in the wavelength range of about 820 to about 890 nm or about 620 to about 680 nm. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the emitted light comprises light in the wavelength ranges:
 613 nm to 624 nm,   667 nm to 684 nm,   750 nm to 773 nm, or   812 nm to 846 nm.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising rotating the at least one extra-oral light source between a sagittal axis and a vertical axis. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the patient was subjected to oral or periodontal surgery. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the biostimulation results in the acceleration of post-oral surgery healing or post-periodontal surgery healing. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the patient has an endosseous dental implant. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the biostimulation results in the acceleration of osseointegration of endosseous dental implants. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the method is used in orthodontics. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the at least one extra-oral light source comprises optics which focus the light emitted from the at least one extra-oral light source at an angle approximately between 45-60°. 
     
     
         38 . A method for orthodontic treatment, comprising the steps of:
 contacting at least one extra-oral light source against skin the face of a patient in need of jawbone-disorder treatment; and   administering to the patient an effective amount of the light through the patient's face to the patient's jaw or gums.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the emitted light comprises light in at least one of the wavelength ranges: 613 nm to 624 nm, 667 nm to 684 nm, 750 nm to 773 nm, 812 nm to 846 nm, between about 820 to about 890 nm, and between about 620 to about 680 nm. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the extra-oral light source contacts a side of the person's face. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light is substantially monochrome. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light is pulsed. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light has an average intensity of at least about 10 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light has an average intensity in the range of 10 mW/cm 2  to about 60 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light has an average intensity in the range of 20 mW/cm 2  to about 60 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light has a peak intensity higher than 50 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light radiates from a plurality of extra-oral light sources that contact the patient's face. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the light passes through the left and right sides of the facial skin covering the patient's jaw bone. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  further comprising cooling the extra-oral light sources with a thermal cooling system. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the thermal cooling system is configured for forced air or liquid cooling. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the thermal cooling system comprises a heat sink. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38 , further comprising programming a controller to direct the at least one extra-oral light source to emit light, wherein the controller is programmed to direct the extra-oral light source to emit light at predetermined rates, durations of treatment, light intensity, or pulse frequency according to a prescribed treatment regimen. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the controller comprises a fail-safe circuitry that shuts off current and light if heat from the extra-oral light source exceeds a preset level. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the extra-oral light source is an extra-oral LED array. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the extra-oral light source comprises a laser. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54  wherein the extra-oral LED array capable of illuminating both upper and lower jaws of the patient simultaneously. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light comprises multiple wavelengths. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light comprises visible and infrared light. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  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. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the light is pulsed with a duty cycle of 1:2 (on:off, respectively) or less. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the extra-oral light source further comprises optics or reflectors to direct the light emitted from the extra-oral light source. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61  wherein the optics or reflectors are encapsulated in plastic. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the light is emitted by another extra-oral light source, wherein one extra-oral light source contacts the right side of the patient's face, and the other extra-oral light source contacts the left side of the patient's face. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 19 ,  26 , or  38  wherein the extra-oral light source attached to a head set. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64  wherein the head set comprises a frame adapted to fit on the bridge of the patient's nose. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  wherein the frame has arms that fit above and around the patient's ears. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 64  further comprising attaching the extra-oral light source to the head set or detaching the extra-oral light source from the head set. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the extra-oral light source is attached by inserting a male portion of the extra-oral LED light source into a female portion of the head set. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 64  further comprising adjusting the position of the extra-oral light source along a horizontal axis relative to the head set or a vertical axis relative to the head set. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the position of the extra-oral light source is adjusted by loosening screws, sliding a yoke to a desired position along a slot, and retightening the screws. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the slot follows the curvature of a maxillary bone. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 38 , further comprising rotating the extra-oral light source between a sagittal axis and a vertical axis. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the controller separately controls a first light source with an upper level and a second light source with lower level of light emitters, wherein the upper level and lower levels irradiate tissues of upper and lower jaws, respectively, of the patient when in use. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the controller maintains a log of treatments that have been administered.