Abstract: A method and apparatus irradiates a surface with at least one pulsed light beam emitted from an emission surface of an optical element. The at least one pulsed light beam comprises a plurality of pulses having a temporal pulsewidth in a range between about 0.1 millisecond and about 150 seconds. The at least one pulsed light beam has a beam cross-sectional area at the emission surface greater than about 2 cm2 and a time-averaged irradiance in a range between about 1 mW/cm2 and about 100W/cm2.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for irradiating a portion of a patient's scalp with light. The apparatus includes a source of light including one or more wavelengths in a range of about 630 nanometers to about 1064 nanometers. The apparatus further includes an output optical element in optical communication with the source. The output optical element includes an emission surface configured to emit a light beam having a cross-sectional area greater than about 2 cm2 at the emission surface of the output optical element and having a time-averaged irradiance in a range of about 10 mW/cm2 to about 10 W/cm2 across the cross-sectional area. The apparatus further includes a thermally conductive portion configured to be placed in thermal communication with the irradiated portion of the patient's scalp and to remove heat from the irradiated portion of the patient's scalp at a rate in a range of about 0.1 Watt to about 5 Watts.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for irradiating at least a portion of a patient's brain with electromagnetic radiation to treat stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, or depression. The apparatus includes a source of the electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus further includes an output optical element including a rigid and substantially thermally conductive material and a surface configured to be in thermal communication with the patient's body. The apparatus further includes a cooler thermally coupled to the output optical element to remove heat from the output optical element. The apparatus further includes a heat sink thermally coupled to the cooler, wherein the heat sink is positioned so that the electromagnetic radiation from the source propagates through the heat sink and through the output optical element.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing stem cell therapy through the administration of low level light energy are provided in several embodiments. Some embodiments comprise irradiating stem cells before or after implantation at a target tissue having loss of function due to damage or disease, with a resultant increase in the efficacy of the cell therapy. In some embodiments, light energy enhances one or more of the viability, proliferation, migration or engraftment of the stem cells, thereby enhancing the therapeutic effects of the irradiated cells during cell therapy.

Abstract: A therapy apparatus for treating a patient's brain is provided. The therapy apparatus includes a light source having an output emission area positioned to irradiate a portion of the brain with an efficacious power density and wavelength of light. The therapy apparatus further includes an element interposed between the light source and the patient's scalp. The element is adapted to inhibit temperature increases at the scalp caused by the light.

Abstract: A therapeutic treatment system and method are provided. The therapeutic system includes a light source adapted to irradiate at least a portion of the brain with light and a non-light energy source adapted to apply non-light energy to the at least a portion of the brain. The therapeutic treatment method includes irradiating at least a portion of a patient's brain with light and applying a non-light energy to the at least a portion of the patient's brain. The therapeutic treatment method provides therapeutic treatment without damaging the scalp tissue of the patient.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing stem cell therapy through the administration of low level light energy are provided in several embodiments. Some embodiments comprise irradiating stem cells before or after implantation at a target tissue having loss of function due to damage or disease, with a resultant increase in the efficacy of the cell therapy. In some embodiments, light energy enhances one or more of the viability, proliferation, migration or engraftment of the stem cells, thereby enhancing the therapeutic effects of the irradiated cells during cell therapy.

Abstract: Methods for providing and/or determining therapeutic treatment of at least a portion of a patient's brain are provided. The method includes applying light to at least a portion of a patient's brain and monitoring at least one physiological parameter of the patient. The method further includes receiving real-time feedback information regarding the at least one monitored physiological parameter and adjusting a treatment parameter of the applied light based on the real-time feedback information.

Abstract: Systems and methods that could reduce the potential for side effects while delivering a reduced amount of light energy and non-light energy to a patient while providing a desired therapeutic effect that might otherwise only be achievable with a higher dose of either the light energy or non-light energy administered alone are disclosed. In certain embodiments, disclosed is a system and method for treating a patient, by administering a combination of light therapy from a light energy source in addition to one, two, or more other non-light energy modalities to a target region of a patient for a synergistic therapeutic effect.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for irradiating a portion of a patient's scalp with light. The apparatus includes a source of light including one or more wavelengths in a range of about 630 nanometers to about 1064 nanometers. The apparatus further includes an output optical element in optical communication with the source. The output optical element includes an emission surface configured to emit a light beam having a cross-sectional area greater than about 2 cm2 at the emission surface of the output optical element and having a time-averaged irradiance in a range of about 10 mW/cm2 to about 10 W/cm2 across the cross-sectional area. The apparatus further includes a thermally conductive portion configured to be placed in thermal communication with the irradiated portion of the patient's scalp and to remove heat from the irradiated portion of the patient's scalp at a rate in a range of about 0.1 Watt to about 5 Watts.

Abstract: Systems and methods that could reduce the potential for side effects while delivering a reduced amount of light energy and non-light energy to a patient while providing a desired therapeutic effect that might otherwise only be achievable with a higher dose of either the light energy or non-light energy administered alone are disclosed. In certain embodiments, disclosed is a system and method for treating a patient, by administering a combination of light therapy from a light energy source in addition to one, two, or more other non-light energy modalities to a target region of a patient for a synergistic therapeutic effect.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing stem cell therapy through the administration of low level light energy are provided in several embodiments. Some embodiments comprise irradiating stem cells before or after implantation at a target tissue having loss of function due to damage or disease, with a resultant increase in the efficacy of the cell therapy. In some embodiments, light energy enhances one or more of the viability, proliferation, migration or engraftment of the stem cells, thereby enhancing the therapeutic effects of the irradiated cells during cell therapy.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for irradiating at least a portion of a patient's brain with electromagnetic radiation to treat stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, or depression. The apparatus includes a source of the electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus further includes an output optical element including a rigid and substantially thermally conductive material and a surface configured to be in thermal communication with the patient's body. The apparatus further includes a cooler thermally coupled to the output optical element to remove heat from the output optical element. The apparatus further includes a heat sink thermally coupled to the cooler, wherein the heat sink is positioned so that the electromagnetic radiation from the source propagates through the heat sink and through the output optical element.

Abstract: An optical assembly includes an output optical element having a thermally conductive and optically transmissive material and a thermal conduit in thermal communication with the output optical element and having at least one surface configured to be in thermal communication with at least one heat dissipating surface of a light delivery apparatus. The optical assembly further includes a coupling portion configured to be placed in at least two states. In a first state, the coupling portion is attached to the apparatus such that the at least one surface of the thermal conduit is in thermal communication with the at least one heat dissipating surface. In a second state, the coupling portion is detached from the apparatus after having been attached to the apparatus in the first state and in which the coupling portion is configured to prevent re-attachment of the coupling portion to the apparatus.

Abstract: Methods of altering the rate of axonal transport are provided in several embodiments. Some embodiments alter axonal transport in a patient in need of an enhancement of axonal transport to alleviate symptoms of a disease or injury. The methods further include delivering electromagnetic radiation to at least one portion of the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nervous system of a patient sufficient to effect an alteration in axonal transport in the patient.

Abstract: A method for treating a subject with low level light therapy for enhancement of neurologic function (e.g., cognitive function) is provided. The method includes noninvasively delivering light energy having a wavelength of about 630 nanometers to about 904 nanometers to the brain of the subject. Delivering the light energy can include (i) irradiating the scalp with light energy having an incident power density less than 1000 mW/cm2 and (ii) transmitting a portion of the light energy through the scalp and the skull to the brain.