Light Mask for Non-Drug Therapy of Sleep Phase Disorders

Bright light is a powerful non-pharmacological therapy for neurochronobiological sleep disorders, iphase insomnias and dyssomnias, shift work sleep disorders, jet lag and certain affective disorders.shifting effects of light may often occur circa 4-5 a.m. Therefore conventional illumination methodseither awakening patients or treating them at non-optimal times. Conventional light treatment also whours, making compliance a major problem. We have patented a special sleep mask which provides timerillumination through closed eyelids during sleep. The mask's competitive advantages include convenieprecise light dosage, and low power during light mask use. Mask treatment both suppresses melatoninshifts the circadian body temperature rhythm. However, a more rigorous demonstration of phase shiftito proceed with commercial development. This requires improved mask prototypes. In Phase I, we willprototypes, using proprietary advanced optical technology, and to demonstrate convincingly that lighcircadian phase disorder. In Phase II, the investigators will develop a commercial-quality mask/contdetailed dose-response studies and undertake clinical trials.