Patent ID: 8028706
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling the alertness of a human subject via suitable light radiation, the human subject having a cycle of melatonin variation involving at least phases of a melatonin built-up and a melatonin degradation and being in a phase of said cycle, by suppressing or allowing said melatonin built-up or by stimulating said melatonin degradation, the method comprising the acts of; determining the phase of said cycle of melatonin variation in said human subject; estimating a desired effect on the phase of said cycle of said human subject; determining said suitable light radiation in dependence of said desired effect on the phase of said cycle as a function of spectrum, intensity, exposure period and interval period for one of suppressing melatonin built-up, allowing melatonin built-up, stimulating melatonin degradation and illumination of said human subject without substantially influencing the phase of said cycle; selecting a light source having a light radiation output in accordance with said determined suitable light radiation output; exposing an ocular region of the human subject during an exposure period to the suitable light radiation in dependence of said desired effect on the phase of said cycle, wherein the suitable light radiation is specified by an output fraction of melatonin suppressive radiation (Melatonin Watt/Watt) and light output (lumen/Watt), the output fraction and light output being adjusted to obtain the desired effect on the phase of said cycle.