Design and testing of light therapy boxes: Exploring sleep disorders, causes, treatment methods, and the role of phototherapy in sleep health

Abstract

The design, development, and testing of a light therapy device designed to be used for laboratory sleep disorder research and the efficacy of light therapy are expounded in detail in this study. Disorders of sleep, especially those caused by irregular circadian rhythms, are a major public health concern. Even while light therapy showed promise as a non-pharmacologic treatment, there is a necessity for equipment that provides controlled and reproducible light delivery for clinical and research applications. The need for controlled and reproducible light exposure amounts to solid scientific inquiry, which this light therapy equipment provided. The product emits primarily blue light of a wavelength of 460–480 nm, which has been reported to stimulate melanopsin receptors in the eye and effectively regulate the human biological clock. Some of the important therapeutic features of the design include an intensity-adjustable light that conforms to the 10,000 lux clinically accepted norm. In order to achieve even light distribution and deliver a homogenous light field, special internal reflectors and diffusion lenses were incorporated. The device also has an ergonomic design, which emphasises portability and lightness. This makes fundamental research on the control of circadian rhythm feasible and renders it very applicable to use in lab animals. To ensure the device is durable and dissipates heat effectively, it is built with materials like ABS plastic and anodised aluminum. Some important safety features like an automatic shut-off timer to avoid overexposure and active thermal control, are designed into the equipment. A lux meter was used for light intensity calibration, a spectrometer for wavelength accuracy check, and a beam profiling camera for spatial distribution check as part of the thorough pre-testing protocol. This protocol proved that the equipment complied with and exceeded accepted therapy standards. The findings depict the potential role of the therapy device in circadian rhythm studies through ensuring that it is capable of emitting accurate, consistent, and safe light for exposure. This study brings new avenues for sleep health studies, optimising treatment duration, and achieving deeper insights into the influence of light on biological rhythms through the introduction of a non-invasive, reliable tool in light therapy.