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.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a disorder of bone of one or more maxillofacial regions, comprising:
 extra-orally administering to a patient in need of treatment of the disorder an effective amount of light through the patient's face to the patient's bone of one or more maxillofacial regions, the light emitting from at least one extra-oral light source of a light therapy apparatus, the at least one extra-oral light source contacting the patient's face when the light is administered, the light having a first wavelength in the range of 820 nm to 890 nm and a second wavelength in the range of 620 nm to 680 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 registering a frame to anatomical features of the patient's head and supporting the at least one extra-oral light source on the frame.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first wavelength is 840 nm. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the second wavelength is 660 nm. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the light is continuous. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the 840 nm light has an intensity of 20 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the 660 nm light has an intensity of 15 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the light is administered for a period determined by an automatic timer. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra-oral light source is mounted to a support that conforms to contours of the face of the patient when the light is administered. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the light is monochrome. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light passes through the left and right sides of the facial skin covering the patient's bone of one or more maxillofacial regions. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising programming a controller to direct the at least one extra-oral light source to emit light. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the controller comprises a fail-safe circuitry that shuts off current and light if heat from the at least one extra-oral light source exceeds a preset level. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the controller separately controls an upper-level array of first light emitters and a lower-level array of second light emitters from the at least one extra-oral light source, wherein emitters of the upper and lower levels irradiate tissues of upper and lower jaws, respectively, of the patient when the light is administered. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the controller maintains a log of treatments that have been administered to the patient. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra-oral light source is an extra-oral LED array. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra-oral light source further comprises optical elements to direct the light emitted from the at least one extra-oral light source. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the optical elements are encapsulated in plastic. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra-oral light source is a first extra-oral light source and a second extra-oral light source, wherein the first extra-oral light source contacts the right side of the patient's face, and the second extra-oral light source contacts the left side of the patient's face. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra-oral light source is removeably attached to a head set. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the head set comprises a frame adapted to fit on the bridge of the patient's nose. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the frame has arms that fit above and around the patient's ears. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one extra-oral light source includes a male portion that removeably couples to a female portion of the head set such that the at least extra-oral light source is removeably attached to the head set. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the position of the at least one extra-oral light source is adjustable along a horizontal axis relative to the head set or a vertical axis relative to the head set. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the position of the at least one extra-oral light source is adjustable by loosening screws, sliding a yoke to a desired position along a slot, and retightening the screws. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the slot follows the curvature of a maxillary bone. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one extra-oral light source is rotatable between a sagittal axis and a vertical axis. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bone of one or more maxillofacial regions is a jaw bone.