Abstract:
A portable light therapy device configured to be worn by a patient proximate the eyes includes a front frame including a pair of eye frame sections coupled to each other by a bridge. The bridge is supported on a nose of a patient when worn such that each eye frame section is positioned in front of a respective eye of the patient. A pair of side frames is coupled to opposing ends of the front frame such that, when the device is worn, the side frames extend generally perpendicularly to a plane defined by the front frame. A pair of light modules are each attached to a respective one of the side frames. Each light module includes a light source that emits light and a battery that provides power to the light source, wherein light emitted by each light source is directed into a respective eye of the patient.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/025,572, filed on Jul. 17, 2014, currently pending, entitled “Light Therapy Glasses and Mobile Application,” the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    An embodiment of the present invention relates generally to a portable light therapy device, and more particularly, to glasses that enable the user to simulate the effects of sunlight by shining light into the retina. 
         [0003]    Light therapy is a very simple process and it involves sitting in front of a light box, such as a flat box with a side of translucent glass or plastic containing an electric light, for a prescribed amount of time each day. The time of use will depend on the patient and intensity of the light source, but the required time is usually from 20-30 minutes each day. Light therapy is most effective in the morning, but can also be used in the afternoon. If used at night, light therapy can cause insomnia. 
         [0004]    A patient can read or do other tasks during this time. However, the patient is confined by the seating constraints and the requirement that the artificial light must hit the retina to simulate the effects of sunlight. It is therefore desirable to provide a portable light therapy device that can preferably be worn by the patient to allow for more efficient light direction and adaptation to different lifestyles. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An embodiment of the present invention comprises a portable light therapy device configured to be worn by a patient proximate eyes of the patient. The device includes a front frame including a pair of eye frame sections coupled to each other by a bridge. The bridge is configured to be supported on a nose of a patient when worn such that each of the eye frame sections is positioned in front of a respective eye of the patient. A pair of side frames is coupled to opposing ends of the front frame such that, when the device is worn by the patient, the side frames extend generally perpendicularly to a plane defined by the front frame. A pair of light modules are each attached to a respective one of the side frames. Each light module includes a light source configured to emit light and a battery configured to provide power to the light source, wherein light emitted by each light source is directed into a respective eye of the patient. 
         [0006]    Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a portable light therapy device including an eyeglass frame configured to be worn by a patient proximate eyes of the patient, and at least one light source mounted to the frame and configured to emit light that is directed toward retinas in the eyes of the patient. 
         [0007]    A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of controlling operation of a portable light therapy device worn by a patient proximate eyes of the patient. The method includes providing the portable light therapy device including an eyeglass frame having at least one light source mounted thereto and configured to emit light toward retinas in the eyes of the patient and including a communication module, providing a user interface operated and displayed by a mobile computing device in communication with the communication module of the portable light therapy device, receiving, by the user interface through the mobile computing device, an instruction to turn on the at least one light source, receiving, by the communication module of the portable light therapy device from the mobile computing device, a first command to initiate a supply of power to the at least one light source, and in response to the first command, emitting light from the at least one light source toward retinas in the eyes of the patient. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustration, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of light therapy glasses in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a side elevational view of a side frame of the light therapy glasses of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is an exploded bottom side perspective view of a light module and the side frame of  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a reflector of the light therapy glasses of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a partial side elevational view of the side frame of  FIG. 2A  with the reflector of  FIG. 3  attached thereto; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a screenshot of a timer page of a mobile application for use with the light therapy glasses of  FIG. 1  in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a screenshot of a progress page of the mobile application of  FIG. 5A ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 5C  is a screenshot of a settings page of the mobile application of  FIG. 5A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Additionally, the words “a” and “an”, as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the specification, mean “at least one.” 
         [0018]    Referring to the drawings in detail there is shown in  FIG. 1  a first preferred embodiment of light therapy glasses, generally designated  10 . The glasses  10  include a frame  12  which may be sized, shaped, and/or configured similar to conventional eyeglass frames. For example, the frame  12  may include a front frame  14  with two spaced apart and generally oval-shaped eye frame sections  16 , each of which is configured to rest in front of an eye of the patient. 
         [0019]    The eye frame sections  16  may include lenses (not shown) made from glass, plastic, or the like, and/or which are tinted, although the lenses are not necessary, particularly for patients who wear contact lenses or are otherwise not in need of corrective or protective eyewear. The eye frame sections  16  may be connected via a bridge  18  that is configured to be supported on the nose of the patient for proper alignment on the face. 
         [0020]    A pair of side frames  20  are preferably attached at opposite sides of the front frame  14  by a hinge  22 . The hinge  22  allows the side frames  20  to be moved between a folded configuration, where the side frames  20  extend in a direction generally parallel to a plane defined by the front frame  14 , to an open configuration, where the side frames  20  extend in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane defined by the front frame  14 , and as shown in  FIG. 1 . The side frames  20  are generally configured to engage respective ears of the patient for support when the frame  12  is in the open configuration, and may be contoured for comfort. Alternatively, the side frames  20  and front frame  14  can be constructed as one piece of material. The side frames  20  also may be permanently in the open configuration while still in keeping with the inventive concept. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a light module  24  is preferably attached to each side frame  20  of the glasses  10 . The light module  24  is preferably removably attached to the respective side frame  20  via screws (not shown), clips, friction fit, other mechanical fasteners, or the like. It is preferred that the light modules  24  are detachable for the purpose of charging the batteries  26 , as described in further detail below. However, the light modules  24  may instead be, or include portions which are, permanently fixed to the side frames  20 . In addition, the light modules  24  or portions thereof may alternatively be mounted to the front frame  14 . 
         [0022]    The light module  24  is preferably in the form of a case or encapsulant made from clear plastic or the like. One or more light sources  28  are provided in the light module  24 , and are preferably light emitting diodes (LEDs). It is preferred that the LEDs  28  emit a blue light, such as having a color temperature of 10,000 Kelvin or above. However, other colors of light, including white light, can be used as well. Where necessary, multiple LEDs  28  can be utilized to create a blended light color. While the embodiment shown in the drawings preferably utilizes LEDs  28 , which are preferred for their small size and lower power requirements, other light sources, such as fluorescent, incandescent, or the like may be used as well in keeping with the invention. 
         [0023]    The LEDs  28  in each light module  24  are preferably powered by one or more batteries  26  that are also encased within the respective light module  24 . The batteries  26  are preferably rechargeable to allow for extended use of the glasses  10 , and are preferably of the button-cell type. However, other conventional types of batteries  26  capable of powering the components of the light module  24  without creating undue weight stresses on the glasses  10  or the patient may also be used. A resistor (not shown) or other like component is preferably provided in a circuit between the LEDs  28  and the batteries  26  to limit the power supplied to the LEDs  28 . In a preferred embodiment, the power regulating circuit formed by the LEDs  28 , the batteries  26 , and the resistor or similar component may be housed on a circuit board (not shown) within the light module  24 . 
         [0024]    In order to recharge the batteries  26 , the batteries  26  may be removable, but more preferably a port or other contact is provided so that an external charger (not shown) may be applied. For example, a micro-USB port  32  is shown in  FIG. 2A  which may be connected to the batteries  26  to allow for recharging. Other types of ports as are conventionally known for charging operations may be used as well. 
         [0025]    It should further be noted that while batteries  26  are shown as being located in each side frame  20 , it is also contemplated that only one light module  24  on one side frame  20  may house a battery  26 , and power could be delivered to the other light module  24  on the opposing side frame by other methods, such as conductive wires contained within the frame  12  or the like. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , it is preferred that a reflector  30  is mounted at an end of each side frame  20  that is proximate to the hinge  22 . This arrangement allows for proper directing of the light emitted by the LEDs  28  to the eyes of the patient. The reflector  30  may be a flat, convex, or concave mirror, lens, or like structure. In  FIG. 3 , the reflector  30  is shown as a flat, angled mirror  30   a  couplable to a base  30   b.  As can be seen in  FIG. 4 , light from the LEDs  28  is preferably directed forward from the light module  24  and reflected by the reflector  30 , which returns a more diffused light into the corners of the retina of the patient. It is preferred that the LEDs  28  provide about 1,000 Lux per side of the frame (a total of 2,000 Lux) to the patient&#39;s eyes. 
         [0027]    To ensure proper alignment, the reflector  30  may be adjustable within the side frame  20 . The reflector  30  preferably rotates  180  degrees to allow customization of the specific angle and direction projecting light into the corner of the patient&#39;s retina. In one embodiment, a ball mount  31  may be located near a front of the side frame  20  for mounting the reflector  30 . The base  30   b  and the mirror  30   a  of the reflector  30  can be separated and then refastened to one another to surround the ball mount  31 . The reflector  30  may be removed to allow movement for positioning of the reflector and can be reattached to the frame  12  to lock in place. Alternatively, the reflector  30  itself may be removable so that adjustments may be made to the ball mount  31  or other receptacle (not shown) on the side frame  20  such that replacement of the reflector  30  results in the proper alignment. In yet another embodiment, the side frames  20  may be manufactured based on prescribed specifications for custom alignment with a particular patient. In keeping with the invention, the reflector  30  may also be mounted in the front frame  14 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment of the invention, the reflector  30  may be omitted if the one or more LEDs are mounted to the frame  12  so as to directly emit light toward the retina of the patient. 
         [0029]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the light module  24  also preferably includes at least one wireless communication module  36 , such as a transceiver configured to communicate according to known wireless transmission schemes, including long range and short range protocols such as BLUETOOTH, BLUETOOTH Low Energy (LE), 802.11 Wi-Fi, infrared, or the like. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the wireless communication module  36  is a BLUETOOTH LE transceiver. The wireless communication module  36  is provided to enable commands, data, or other communications to be exchanged wirelessly between the glasses  10  and an external computing device, such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, desktop computer, server, or the like. In addition, such communications can occur over wired connections, via the micro-USB port  32  or similar conventional ports. In a preferred embodiment, the wireless communication module  36  and/or other communication ports may be commonly housed on the circuit board supporting the power regulating circuit described above. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIG. 5A , a mobile application may be provided that can be used to monitor and/or control usage of the glasses  10  by the patient. The mobile application may be stored and executed on a mobile device  50 , such as a mobile phone or the like, although the application may also be configured to run on more traditional type computing devices (e.g., desktop computer or the like). The application may also be stored and executed remotely from the mobile device  50  (e.g., on a remote server or the like) while the mobile device  50  functions as a thin-client display. The mobile device  50  preferably communicates wirelessly with the glasses through the wireless communication module  36  (e.g., via BLUETOOTH). 
         [0031]    In  FIG. 5A , the mobile application is shown to include a timer  52  that allows the patient to see the time elapsed and also provides the ability to start  54 , stop  56 , and reset  58  the timer  52 . It is preferred that the mobile application, on expiration or pausing of the timer  52 , is configured to instruct the glasses  10  to turn off the LEDs  28 . This functionality gives the patient the opportunity to remotely control the powering of the glasses  10  to provide the correct amount of light to the patient. The timer  52  also preferably allows the patient to visually monitor the elapsed time or time remaining 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 5B , the mobile application preferably also provides a progress report  60 , which is used to keep the patient engaged in the process. For example, the progress report  60  may show the time periods  62  in the previous week during which the glasses  10  were utilized, the number of days  64  the glasses were used, usage milestones  66 , active use  68 , and the like. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 5C , the mobile application preferably also provides a settings page  70 , which can be used to enable wireless communication  72 , enable/disable automatic lighting control (not shown), scan for nearby devices  78 , and the like. The settings page  70  can also be used to input the prescribed lighting time  76  for the timer  52  in  FIG. 5A . 
         [0034]    Other pages, controls, and features may also be utilized in the mobile application for controlling and/or monitoring the usage of the glasses  10  in keeping with the invention. 
         [0035]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.