Method and device for monitoring and treatment of seasonal affective disorder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016166851-A1
Application number	US-201615047885-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

This invention provides for an energized biomedical ophthalmic device and associated method of measuring changes in biomarkers contained in tear film to generate data related to a light therapy regimen used to treat symptoms associated with seasonal affective disorder. In some embodiments, the energized biomedical ophthalmic device can include an energized contact lens with a light source in communication with a processor controlling said light source according to the light therapy regimen. The light therapy regimen may be generated or modified by the processor from the measured changes and sometimes from user's preferences, and/or additional measurements, including for example, light exposure and/or circadian rhythm of the user.

First claim

1 . A method of monitoring and treating seasonal affective disorder symptoms of an individual, the method comprising:
wearing an energized biomedical ophthalmic device; measuring changes in tear film biomarkers; correlating the measured changes in tear film biomarkers to associated symptoms of seasonal affective disorder; generating data from the measured changes related to a light therapy used to treat seasonal affective disorder symptoms; and implementing generated data into a light therapy regimen.

2 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising the step of creating an intelligent light therapy schedule according to the light therapy regimen and compensating adjustments made based on one or more conditions or settings specific to the individual.

3 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising the step of monitoring light exposure and light intensity the individual's ocular environment is exposed to over a period of time.

4 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising the step of monitoring the circadian rhythm of the individual.

5 . The method of claim 1 , additionally comprising the step of gathering individual's preferences to generate data related to the light therapy used to treat seasonal affective disorder.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomarkers include serotonin.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomarkers include melatonin.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomarkers include interleukin-6.

Assignees

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

• Pugh Randall B
• Flitsch Frederick A

Classifications

• A61N5/0618 Primary

  Psychological treatment · CPC title

• A61B5/4836 Primary

  Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61N2005/0626

  Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods · CPC title

• A61N2005/0648

  the light being directed to the eyes · CPC title

• A61B5/14507

  specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood (devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045) · CPC title