Apparatus and Method for Indicating Treatment Site Locations for Phototherapy to the Brain

Abstract

An apparatus and method for indicating treatment site locations for phototherapy to the brain are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus is a headpiece wearable by a patient. The headpiece includes a body adapted to be worn over at least a portion of the patient's scalp and a plurality of position indicators corresponding to a plurality of treatment site locations at the patient's scalp where a light source is to be sequentially positioned such that light from the light source is sequentially applied to irradiate at least a portion of the patient's brain. At least one of the position indicators includes an optically transmissive portion having an area of at least 1 cm2 through which the light propagates.

1 . An apparatus wearable by a patient, the apparatus comprising:
 a body adapted to be worn over at least a portion of a head of the patient; and   a plurality of indicators on the body that identify, while the body is being worn by the patient, a plurality of treatment site locations on the head where a light source is to be positioned and activated such that light from the light source is applied to irradiate at least a portion of a brain of the patient,   wherein at least one of the indicators comprises an optically transmissive portion having an area of at least 1 cm 2  through which the light propagates.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the optically transmissive portion has an area in a range between 1 cm 2  and 20 cm 2 . 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the optically transmissive portion comprises an aperture through the body. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent treatment site locations of the plurality of treatment site locations have areas which do not overlap one another. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent treatment site locations of the plurality of treatment site locations have perimeters which are spaced from one another. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a stretchable material generally conforming to the head. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of indicators are configured to guide an operator to irradiate the head at the corresponding treatment site locations sequentially one at a time in a predetermined order. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined order is configured to reduce temperature increases at the head which would result from sequentially irradiating treatment site locations in proximity to one another. 
     
     
         12 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the indicators are connected to each other by a string, tether, elastic, or adhesive. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a first mating portion configured to releasably mate with a second complimentary mating portion of the light source or a light delivery apparatus. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the first mating portion comprises a rim bordering the outer perimeter of the plurality of indicators. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein the plurality of indicators comprises a pressure sensor positioned around the rim, the pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure between the first mating portion and the second mating portion. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a retaining member extending between a first side of the apparatus and a second side of the apparatus, the retaining member configured to secure the apparatus to the head of the patient. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a material that has a high thermal conductivity configured to reduce temperature increases to the head or skin of the patient at locations surrounding the plurality of indicators. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a thickness between 1 millimeter (mm) and 10 mm. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of labels substantially covering the plurality of indicators, wherein at least a portion of each label comprises a portion of the body configured to be removed from the apparatus when the treatment site location has been irradiated. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the optically transmissive portion comprises a hollow compartment or cavity that does not extend completely through the plurality of indicators to the surface of the head. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the optically transmissive portion comprises a film. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of indicators comprises a layer of a photochromic material, the layer of the photochromic material being able to change its color upon irradiation by the light source. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises coupling joints connecting the plurality of indicators.