Wearable light stimulation systems and methods

Abstract

Light stimulation systems and methods for elevating testosterone levels in male patients.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 : A light stimulation system for providing irradiance therapy to a testes of an individual to enhance testosterone levels in the individual, the light stimulation system comprising:
 a flexible substrate carrying a plurality of light emitters on a front side of the flexible substrate, the plurality of light emitters being configured to emit at least one selected wavelength between 400 nm and 850 nm, wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be positioned in a wearable garment of the individual to irradiate testes of the individual;   a controller configured to activate the plurality of light emitters to provide a selected irradiance in a duty cycle consisting of an ON and OFF sequence, wherein ON intervals total at least 5 minutes over at least a 30 minute period and where the plurality of light emitters provides an irradiance between 20 mW/cm 2  to 200 mW/cm 2 ;   a thin film reflective layer on a back side of the flexible substrate, wherein the thin film reflective layer is configured to emit light from the plurality of light emitters to the individual; and   two or more temperature sensors carried in the flexible substrate and spaced apart within the flexible substrate, wherein the controller is configured to modulate the duty cycle in response to signals from the two or more temperature sensors indicating a selected temperature at which to modulate the irradiance.   
     
     
         3 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the ON intervals total at least 5 minutes per hour over at least a 2 hour period. 
     
     
         4 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the ON intervals total 10 minutes per hour over at least a 1 hour period. 
     
     
         5 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the irradiance is from 50 mW/cm 2  to 150 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         6 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the irradiance is from 80 mW/cm 2  to 120 mW/cm 2 . 
     
     
         7 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light emitters comprise an array of 2 to 200 LEDs. 
     
     
         8 : The light stimulation system of  claim 7 , wherein the array is carried by a flexible substrate. 
     
     
         9 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light emitters comprise side-emitting optical fibers. 
     
     
         10 : The light stimulation system of  claim 9 , wherein the side-emitting optical fibers are carried in a fabric. 
     
     
         11 : The light stimulation system of  claim 10 , wherein the fabric is separate from the wearable garment. 
     
     
         12 : The light stimulation system of  claim 10 , wherein the fabric is integrated in the wearable garment. 
     
     
         13 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the ON and OFF sequence with an ON interval ranging from 1 millisecond to 30 minutes and an OFF interval ranging from 1 millisecond to 10 minutes. 
     
     
         14 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , further comprising a portable module carrying the controller and a power source, wherein the plurality of light emitters are operatively connected to the portable module. 
     
     
         15 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , further comprising a cooling mechanism configured to be carried by the wearable garment and comprising at least one of a Peltier element, a flat flexible polymer heat pipe and a heat sink element. 
     
     
         16 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensing mechanism configured to be carried by the wearable garment, wherein the sensing mechanism is selected from the group of: pulse oximeters, impedance sensors and capacitance sensors. 
     
     
         17 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light emitters are spaced apart from a perimeter of the flexible substrate by at least 5 mm. 
     
     
         18 : The light stimulation system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of light emitters each comprise different wavelengths. 
     
     
         19 : The light stimulation system of  claim 18 , wherein the different wavelengths are selectively modulated over a treatment interval to provide a polychromatic photobiomodulation therapy. 
     
     
         20 : A light stimulation system for providing irradiance therapy to a testes of an individual to enhance testosterone levels in the individual, the light stimulation system comprising:
 a fabric member carrying a plurality of optical fibers on a front side of the fabric member, the plurality of optical fibers being configured to emit at least one selected wavelength between 400 nm and 850 nm, wherein the fabric member is configured to be positioned in a wearable garment of the individual to irradiate testes of the individual, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are processed such that surface cladding allows light to be emitted in emissions along a full length of each of the plurality of optical fibers;   a controller configured to activate the plurality of optical fibers to provide a selected irradiance in a duty cycle consisting of an ON and OFF sequence, wherein ON intervals total at least 5 minutes over at least a 30 minute period and where the plurality of optical fibers provides an irradiance between 20 mW/cm 2  to 200 mW/cm 2 ;   a thin film reflective layer on a back side of the fabric member, wherein the thin film reflective layer is configured to emit light from the plurality of optical fibers to the individual; and   two or more temperature sensors carried in the fabric member and spaced apart within the fabric member, wherein the controller is configured to modulate the duty cycle in response to signals from the two or more temperature sensors indicating a selected temperature at which to modulate the irradiance.   
     
     
         21 . The light stimulation system of  claim 20 , wherein each of the plurality of optical fibers comprise a diameter between 100 μm to 500 μm.