It is a tad over two years since Ron Brown and I started designing the ideal trans-cranial red and near infrared light device for medical research. We based our design on two things:
- medical research published by high quality researchers.
- hands-on and personal experience with people with Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders using the red light hats I’d made and given to them. Yes, the original Eliza buckets, bless them.
The medical research gave pretty clear indications as to wavelength, but there was less clarity about power, pulse and location on the head.
The experience with and close observations of real people using Eliza light hats on a daily basis taught me much about the practical limitations for people with neurodegenerative diseases wearing a trans-cranial light device.
So just on two years ago, electronics engineer Ron Brown and I sat down over a pot of strong tea and played with strips of flexible plastic and heavy-duty stickytape. The final design combined important comfort features with the ability to change key parameters through sophisticated electronic circuitry, thanks to Ron’s extraordinary expertise.
The first Coronet appeared at the end of 2018. Many of the first batch were given away to people who had been heroically wearing Eliza buckets and enduring my regular visits, and we gave many to researchers and clinicians.
That’s cause enough for celebration, but Ron and I are celebrating something really exciting!
Our Coronets are being used in yet another Parkinson’s disease clinical trial, starting next month at the University of Sydney.
Dr Ann Liebert, one of the pioneers in this area, is leading this research. Her years of experience both as a clinician and as a researcher will ensure that this clinical trial will provide the best guidance for the future.
Ron and I have been contemplating the conversations we have been having with so many people using Coronets. We really value the correspondence and updates from those keeping in touch. This willingness to share experiences has been one of the most wonderful aspect of this red light adventure.
The other wonderful aspect is seeing positive changes in people with Parkinson’s disease, simply from the daily use of red lights.
Red lights on the brain 