Luminette®
New technology for light therapy treatment.
The luminette® is a lightweight, ergonomic, and effective device that ensures unprecedented comfort for the patient. The luminette® meets European directives 93/42/EEC on the manufacture of medical products. (See certification)
With its innovative design, the luminette produces a convergent light beam which penetrates the eye in a natural manner, just like sunlight. This beam impinges on the area of the retina that is most favorable to treatment, without affecting vision.
The light, emitted by the 8 electroluminescent diodes (LEDs) placed outside the field of vision, is concentrated by a diffraction lens engraved on a visor and sent to the pupil without dazzling the wearer. The rechargeable battery in one portion of the luminette® lasts long enough for one effective light therapy session.
Advantages:
The light you need …..where you need it.
The luminette has been designed to deliver the right amount of light, on the appropriate wave length to the place in the eye that has the most receptors.
Thanks to this innovative device, the luminette®, allows the concentration of light beams in a very precise place, in this case, the lower half of the retina, in which direction the eyes are looking regardless of the position of the head. Devices that do not comprise this system have a great disadvantage because the intensity of the light that is received by the eyes vary constantly with regards to the position of the eyes in relation to the emitting source (oblique rays).
Optical qualities:
The patented holographic concentration optical device considerably increases the number of light rays passing through the pupil, thus producing a higher cornea to retina transfer coefficient that that of other products currently available on the market. See Figure 2
Figure 2
The holographic device sends the effective rays to the lower half of the retina over a surface area of 1.2 cm2 – the area most favorable to treatment where the ganglion cells responsible for nerve transmission are located. See Figures 1 and 2
Illuminated retinal surface area: 1.2 cm2
Figure 1
1. Natural sunlight perception by the eye
2. Perception with the luminette® system
3. Perception with existing systems
Spectral characteristics
Dominance of blue photons, which are the most energetic and the most efficient.
This wavelength (468 nm) corresponds to a 100% suspension of melatonin secretion.
Recent research shows that, as far as the retinal receptors are concerned, the effect is maximal so that a shorter treatment time is possible.
Energy characteristics
The emitted light beam provides between 550 et 650 microwatts / cm2 of illumination to the cornea. This is the minimum efficacy level for treating seasonal depression.
See Figure 2.
Comfort
The design, size, weight, and ergonomics of the luminette® were especially researched and built for optimally comfortable utilization, even by wearers of eyeglasses and contact lenses. Vision is preserved, so that various activities may be performed during treatment.
Because of the optical principles employed, there is no dazzling during treatment.
With the luminette®, the 10 000 lux recommended for former light therapy systems are no longer necessary for achieving a beneficial therapeutic effect. This avant-garde device, with 2000 lux illumination received at the cornea, produces the same therapeutic effects as systems requiring strict conditions (distance 12 to 20 inches) with optical benches of 10 000 lux, without the unpleasant dazzling problems, while preserving mobility so that normal activities can be continued.
Light therapy is indicated for treating all pathologies in which disturbance of circadian rhythm is suspected (i.e., the 24-hour biological rhythm).
This disorder was only recently described but has become widely known. In our part of the world, it seems to affect 5 to 15% of the population. It shows up as depressed mood, disturbed sleep, and often, difficulty awakening. Weight gain, cranky mood, and even depression are seen. This starts as early as late summer in our latitudes, and often goes away spontaneously after March or April.
Especially those forms of insomnia linked to mild depression or stress.
It is acknowledged that light therapy acts by resynchronizing the various circadian elements that act on the sleep-wake rhythm. Of the non-drug treatments for insomnia, light therapy is of unquestionable interest.
All circadian sleep-wake rhythm disorders :
Meaning: disorders linked to work on an irregular schedule, or jet lag.
In work with irregular breaks, light therapy can be used as soon as night shifts end, during the rest time for recovery, to restore the normal wake-sleep cycle more quickly. It has also been suggested that light therapy be used during such irregular work periods, with different timing for each work regimen.
When preparing for travel across time zones, the principle is to anticipate the situation the traveler will encounter at the end of the trip. Thus, when flying west, the treatment is applied in the evening and when traveling east, it is applied in the early morning.
Sleep disorders in the elderly :
It has been observed that elderly individuals often go to bed early, advancing the circadian rhythm phase. The result is prolonged nighttime awakenings with associated complaints, and daytime fatigue. In this case, the light therapy should be applied in the evening, to delay spontaneous asleep.
Cyclothymic depression with seasonal variations :
In these cases, phototherapy should be used in the morning but generally at lower doses (500 lux for 2 hours) than in seasonal affective disorder and all other indications.
Other conditions characterized by chronic fatigue :
Certain disorders in which optical path pathology is suspected of being responsible for some of the patient’s symptoms may bring about circadian disruptions that often pass unobserved. The patient merely complains of fatigue. It has been shown that this treatment may improve the symptoms of fatigue or even make them disappear in situations such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.
The luminette® is a high-tech device, so it must be used properly to ensure successful treatment.
Before using it for the first time, carefully read manual and charge your batteries.
The manufacturer recommends that the battery is charged for 12 hours the first time and then from 6 to 8 hours thereafter. The batteries that come with the luminette® are batteries without a memory. You may start charging the batteries without further ado even if they are not completely empty. After use, set your battery to charge for tomorrow’s session.
We recommend that you follow the advice of your therapist both regarding the length of the treatment and the length and time of the sessions.
The luminette adapts to any body shape and size.
The case contains three adaptors for adjusting the position of the luminette®.
Choose the one that matches your shape so that the light can enter your eye properly.
Fig 4 and Fig 5 - Video of Roland Pec
If you wear eyeglasses or contacts, you can keep them on during the session.
However, for continuous treatment (winter blues, lack of energy) it would be necessary to carry la luminette for 30 minutes a day, in the morning, as soon as possible after waking up.
For certain people, particularly the elderly that have a tendency to fall asleep too early in the evening and who wake up too early in the morning, we recommend that they use la luminette® in the early evening (around18 p.m.) for 30 minutes. The lumière will then give their body the signal that it is not yet time to go to bed. These people will then sleep better and get their social life back.
For others, particularly young people who are unable to fall asleep before 2 or 3 a.m. in the morning and who find it hard to get up before 12 noon, use of the luminette® is recommended in the morning, before 10 a.m., and for 30 minutes. This daily dose of light will progressively reset their internal clock.
For other ailments requiring light therapy such as jet lag, night work, shift work, the specific moment when to use la luminette® is not necessarily the same for everyone. It is best to ask the advice of a specialist in chronotherapy. You could also visit the website of the cronotherapist, Roland Pec, http://www.rolandpec.org, and go to Chrono Sleep Well. He will suggest a program of rephasing customized online.
The luminette® is an efficient device, reliable, easy to carry and that meets all your requirements.
