Systems and methods for the treatment of eye conditions

• US 10,092,449 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tear Film Innovations, Inc. (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelleher, Brian S., Gambhir, Kabir
• Primary Examiner(s): Eiseman, Lynsey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Xie, Dacheng
• Application Number:
  US14/265,228
• Publication Number:
  US 20150005750A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 606 2- 19, 607 88- 94
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0002 Head or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0088 Radiating heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00861 adapted for treatment at a particular location
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00718 Restoration of lid function
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0079 using non-laser electromagnetic radiation, e.g. non-coherent light or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00802 for photoablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/009 Auxiliary devices making contact with the eyeball and coupling in laser light, e.g. goniolenses apparatus for eye examination A61B3/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0242 by a fluid circulating in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/025 by direct air flow on the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0257 by a heat accumulator, e.g. a sand or liquid reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0285 with Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5028 Contact activation, i.e. activated at contact with a surface of the user to be treated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 : Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 : Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 : Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 : Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 : wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/505 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 : with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 : with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 5/00 : Exercisers for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 : Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0643 : Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 : Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 : for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices used to treat eyelids, meibomian glands, ducts, and surrounding tissue are described herein. In some embodiments, an eye treatment device is disclosed, which includes a scleral shield positionable proximate an inner surface of an eyelid, the scleral shield being made of, or coated with, an energy-absorbing material activated by a light energy, and an energy transducer positionable outside of the eyelid, the energy transducer configured to provide light energy at one or more wavelengths, including a first wavelength selected to heat the energy-absorbing material. Wherein, when the eyelid is positioned between the energy transducer and the scleral shield, the light energy from the energy transducer and the heated energy-absorbing material of the scleral shield conductively heats a target tissue region sufficiently to melt meibum within meibomian glands located within or adjacent to the target tissue region.

Claims

1. A device for treating a mammalian eye having an eyelid, comprising:

a shield formed of a plate positionable proximate an inner surface of an eyelid, the shield being made of or coated with an energy-absorbing material;

an energy transducer having a device that emits light energy, the energy transducer positionable outside of the eyelid when the shield is positioned proximate the inner surface of the eyelid, the energy transducer configured to provide light energy to the energy absorbing material at one or more wavelengths, including a first wavelength selected to heat the energy-absorbing material; and

an energy transmission surface positioned in a spaced relationship with the shield;

a housing, wherein the shield, the energy transducer, and the energy transmission surface are mechanically coupled to the housing;

an actuator coupled to the housing, wherein actuation of the actuator causes relative movement between the energy transmission surface and the shield so as to modify the spaced relationship;

wherein when the eyelid is positioned between the energy transducer and the shield, the light energy from the energy transducer heats the energy-absorbing material of the shield which heats a target tissue region sufficiently to melt meibum within meibomian glands located within or adjacent to the target tissue region.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy transducer is further configured to provide light energy at a second wavelength selected to heat tissue within the eyelid.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy transducer is further configured to provide light energy at a third wavelength selected to treat bacteria.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a visualization device for viewing the eyelid during treatment.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy-absorbing material may be an infrared-absorbing material.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy transducer comprises at least one of an LED, laser, incandescent lamp, xenon lamp, halogen lamp, luminescent lamp, high-intensity discharge lamp, and gas discharge lamp.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of:

a display or dashboard configured to display the device status;

a temperature measurement device configured to measure various temperatures of the eyelid, including inner and/or outer eyelid surface temperatures;

a datalogger;

a voice recorder;

a battery configured to power the device components;

battery charging means;

a controller;

printed circuit board; and

communication circuitry between shield and energy transducer.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises at least one of a lever, a button, a wheel, a slider, and a switch.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the energy transmission surface and the shield comprises movement of the energy transmission surface relative to the shield.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the relative movement between the energy transmission surface and the shield comprises a sliding movement of the energy transmission surface relative to the shield.

8. A method for treating an eye condition in a mammal, comprising:

positioning a shield proximate an inner surface of an eyelid, the shield being made of, or coated with, an energy-absorbing material;

positioning an energy transducer outside of an eyelid of the mammal, the energy transducer configured to provide light energy at one or more wavelengths;

positioning an energy transmission surface outside the eyelid;

causing relative movement between the energy transmission surface and the shield so as to modify a spaced relationship between the energy transmission surface and the shield;

directing light energy from the energy transducer toward the shield at a first wavelength selected to heat the energy-absorbing material; and

heating the energy-absorbing material with the light energy to heat a target tissue region sufficiently to melt meibum within meibomian glands located within or adjacent to the target tissue region.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising directing light energy from the energy transducer toward an outer surface of the eyelid at a second wavelength selected to heat a target tissue region within the eyelid.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising directing light energy from the energy transducer toward the eye at a third wavelength selected to treat bacteria.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising compressing the eyelid between the energy transmission surface and the shield.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein a safety feature electrically coupled to the energy transducer prevents or interrupts the light energy from occurring if the shield and associated assembly are not properly attached to, and aligned with, the device.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein causing relative movement between the energy transmission surface and the shield comprises actuating an actuator coupled to the energy transmission surface.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein actuating an actuator comprises pressing a button.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein causing relative movement between the energy transmission surface and the shield comprises causing the energy transmission surface to slide relative to the shield.