Provided is a simple light irradiation apparatus capable of performing uniform irradiation even on to a treatment area having a curved surface and capable of suppressing excessive heating caused by light irradiation. The light irradiation apparatus (10) includes a polymer gel layer (3) that covers the treatment area (2) on skin (1), an LED protective layer (6) that closely adheres to the polymer gel layer (3), and a substrate (5) on which LEDs (4) closely adhered to the LED protective layer (6) are arranged thereon. A current control apparatus (8) which lights the LEDs (4) controls irradiation intensity and stops irradiation when reaching a demanded dose amount.

Configurations are described for utilizing light-activated proteins within cell membranes and subcellular regions to assist with medical treatment paradigms, such as hypertension treatment via anatomically specific and temporally precise modulation of renal plexus activity. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-sensitive proteins to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides systems, devices, and methods for millisecond-timescale temporal control of certain cell activities using moderate light intensities, such as the generation or inhibition of electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells.

A phototherapy device (10) includes a clothing item (12). Illuminators (14) are secured to the clothing item and arranged to illuminate at least a portion of a patient wearing the clothing item. The illuminators include light emitting diodes (LEDs) (16) mounted on at least one flexible printed circuit board (PCB) (18). A temperature sensor (20) is secured to the clothing item and positioned to measure a temperature proximate to the patient wearing the clothing item. A control circuit (24) is connected to receive the temperature from the temperature sensor and operative to turn off the illuminators responsive to the temperature exceeding a maximum permitted temperature.

Phototherapy systems comprising a therapeutic lamp platform for radiant lamps such as LEDs disposed in a holdable spot applicator assembly, the holdable spot applicator assembly including a reflective surface facing towards a patient and a plurality of LEDs for communicating lamp radiation from the lamps to a user. The lamps and associated circuitry are housed within a holdable elongated structure.

Methods and apparatuses for immunosuppression and/or immunomodulation for the treatment of an improper immune response with the use of UV light. In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for the treatment of inflammatory disorders using UVB light at appropriate intensities, durations and (internal) body regions in order to effect substantial and reliably treatment.

A method and apparatus for determining the circadian input of a light source includes selecting a circadian input to be measured based on an action spectrum corresponding to a wavelength sensitivity of photoreceptors for a circadian regulation system, where the circadian input is configured to stimulate a retinaldehyde photopigment, and for measuring spectral intensity across the action spectrum to determine the circadian input of the light source.

Configurations are described for utilizing light-activated proteins within cell membranes and subcellular regions to assist with medical treatment paradigms, such as hypertension treatment via anatomically specific and temporally precise modulation of renal plexus activity. The invention provides for proteins, nucleic acids, vectors and methods for genetically targeted expression of light-sensitive proteins to specific cells or defined cell populations. In particular the invention provides systems, devices, and methods for millisecond-timescale temporal control of certain cell activities using moderate light intensities, such as the generation or inhibition of electrical spikes in nerve cells and other excitable cells.

An ingestible capsule arranged, in use, to cross a human stomach for carrying out a phototherapic treatment arranged to combat an infection due to the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, said ingestible capsule comprising at least one primary light source arranged to emit an electromagnetic phototherapic wave having a wavelength .sub.1, at least one auxiliary light source arranged to emit an electromagnetic phototherapic wave having a wavelength .sub.2, a wrapper arranged to contain said or each primary light source and said or each auxiliary light source, said wrapper being at least partially transparent to said wavelengths .sub.1 and .sub.2, a control unit arranged to selectively activate said or each primary light source and/or said or each auxiliary light source, and at least one energy source arranged to provide energy for feeding said control unit and/or said light sources. In particular, 400 nm<.sub.1<525 nm and 525 nm<.sub.2<650 nm. Furthermore, said control unit is configured to receive an information of position reporting in real time an area of said stomach crossed by said ingestible capsule; to determine, known said information of position, a wavelength, a dosage and a duration of administration of said electromagnetic phototherapic waves for an optimal phototherapic treatment of said area of said stomach; to selectively activate said or each primary light source and/or said or each auxiliary light source to provide said optimal phototherapic treatment of said area of said stomach.

A method and apparatus for determining the circadian input of a light source includes selecting a circadian input to be measured based on an action spectrum corresponding to a wavelength sensitivity of photoreceptors for a circadian regulation system, where the circadian input is configured to stimulate a retinaldehyde photopigment, and for measuring spectral intensity across the action spectrum to determine the circadian input of the light source.

Systems and methods for determining one or more temperatures within a phototherapy blanket use or include one or more temperature sensors and a set of light sources to determine a temperature of a subject undergoing phototherapy within the phototherapy blanket and estimate a core temperature of the subject based on, at least, the temperature. The phototherapy blanket may include a thicker region having a higher thermal insulation than one or more other regions of the phototherapy blanket. By virtue of measuring the temperature at or near the thicker region, the uncertainty in the relation between a temperature and the subject's core temperature may be reduced, for more accurate temperature determination within the phototherapy blanket.