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: 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 of use for a comprehensive transcranial low-level light therapy for use with ischemic brain tissue using a multitude of polychromatic Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) embedded into a flexible head covering that stretches securely around the patient's cranium to bath the entire cranium cavity in a variable frequency, variable power density light spectrum, maximizing all beneficial effects to the cellular tissues whether or not they are specifically deprived of blood from the ischemic stroke event. The bulbs covering the n-p junction of the semiconductor LEDs directly contact the patient's cranial skin to maximize the depth of penetration of the wavelengths into the brain's cortex cells. By using many individual point-source LEDs emitting all around the cranium, greater therapeutic benefit can be achieved as more of the cortex tissues are irradiated.

Abstract: A method of delivering light energy to a pathological tissue includes emitting light energy from a first optical element within a cannula, producing a substantially uniform irradiance profile from the light energy within the cannula, transmitting the light energy emitted from the first optical element through a second optical element in thermal contact with a distal end of the cannula to the pathological tissue without ablating the pathological tissue, and conducting thermal energy from the pathological tissue through the second optical element and to the cannula.

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 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 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 phototherapy apparatus with precise dosage control is disclosed. The phototherapy apparatus incorporates means for tracking any combination of the following: position, direction of motion, velocity, or acceleration of the therapeutic light beam over the treatment area. The delivered light dosage is calculated based on these parameters and the intensity of the laser beam.

Abstract: A method of treating a patient having neurologic function affected by Parkinson's disease is provided. The method includes providing a patient having neurologic function affected by Parkinson's disease. The method further includes delivering electromagnetic radiation noninvasively through the scalp and the skull of the patient to at least one portion of the brain of the patient. The light energy has a wavelength in the visible to near-infrared wavelength range, and the wavelength, power density, and amount of the light energy delivered to the at least one portion of the brain are sufficient to reduce the severity of symptoms of Parkinson's disease in the patient.

Abstract: A method for treating a subject having Parkinson's disease 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.

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: 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.

Abstract: A method for treating a subject having Parkinson's disease 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.

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: 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 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 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.

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: 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.