Apparatus for the treatment and/or prevention of corneal diseases
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the treatment and/or prevention of corneal diseases, the apparatus comprising:
- an applicator head, the applicator head comprising a radiation source configured to emit a first radiation capable of exciting a non-toxic therapeutic substance applied to a cornea; and
a control operable to activate the radiation source to radiate the first radiation;
wherein the applicator head further comprises a fluorescence sensor configured to obtain a measurement result by measuring a fluorescent radiation emitted by the non-toxic therapeutic substance upon irradiation by the first radiation, the fluorescent radiation having a spectral composition different from a spectral composition of the first radiation,wherein the control is configured to use the measurement result from the fluorescence sensor;
to evaluate whether the applicator head is within a predetermined distance from the cornea,to evaluate whether a predetermined amount of the non-toxic therapeutic substance is present on the cornea, andto activate the radiation source to further radiate only when the measurement result indicates that the applicator head is within the predetermined distance from the cornea and that the predetermined amount of the non-toxic therapeutic substance is present on the cornea.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for the treatment and/or prevention of corneal diseases includes an applicator head. The applicator head includes a radiation source capable of exciting a non-toxic chromophore. A control is operable to activate the radiation source to radiate, wherein at least one of the following two conditions is met: the applicator head includes a sensor capable of measuring a signal dependent on a position of the applicator head relative to the cornea; or, the applicator head is configured to be in physical contact with the cornea. The control is operable to activate the radiation source to radiate depending on a signal measured by the sensor or to activate the radiation source when the applicator head touches the cornea, respectively.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the treatment and/or prevention of corneal diseases, the apparatus comprising:
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an applicator head, the applicator head comprising a radiation source configured to emit a first radiation capable of exciting a non-toxic therapeutic substance applied to a cornea; and a control operable to activate the radiation source to radiate the first radiation; wherein the applicator head further comprises a fluorescence sensor configured to obtain a measurement result by measuring a fluorescent radiation emitted by the non-toxic therapeutic substance upon irradiation by the first radiation, the fluorescent radiation having a spectral composition different from a spectral composition of the first radiation, wherein the control is configured to use the measurement result from the fluorescence sensor; to evaluate whether the applicator head is within a predetermined distance from the cornea, to evaluate whether a predetermined amount of the non-toxic therapeutic substance is present on the cornea, and to activate the radiation source to further radiate only when the measurement result indicates that the applicator head is within the predetermined distance from the cornea and that the predetermined amount of the non-toxic therapeutic substance is present on the cornea. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An applicator head for an apparatus for the treatment and/or prevention of corneal diseases, the applicator head comprising:
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a radiation source capable of emitting a first radiation that excites a non-toxic therapeutic substance applied to a cornea; a fluorescence sensor configured to obtain a measurement result by measuring a fluorescent radiation emitted by the non-toxic therapeutic substance upon irradiation by the first radiation, the fluorescent radiation having a spectral composition different from a spectral composition of the first radiation; and a control or a connector to a control; wherein the control is configured to use the measurement result from the fluorescence sensor; to evaluate whether the applicator head is within a predetermined distance from the cornea, to evaluate whether a predetermined amount of the non-toxic therapeutic substance is present on the cornea, and to activate the radiation source to further radiate only when the measurement result indicates that the applicator head is within the predetermined distance from the cornea and that the predetermined amount of the non-toxic therapeutic substance is present on the cornea. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A control unit of an apparatus for the treatment and/or prevention of corneal diseases, the control unit comprising
an interface to an applicator head, a radiation source configured to emit a first radiation, and a fluorescence sensor configured to obtain a measurement result by measuring a fluorescent radiation emitted, upon irradiation by the first radiation, by a non-toxic therapeutic substance applied to the cornea, the fluorescent radiation having a spectral composition different from a spectral composition of the first radiation, wherein the control unit is configured to use the measurement result from the fluorescence sensor: -
to evaluate whether the applicator head is within a predetermined distance from the cornea; to evaluate whether a predetermined amount of the non-toxic therapeutic substance is present on the cornea, and to activate the radiation source to further radiate only when the measurement result indicates that the applicator head is within the predetermined distance from the cornea and that the predetermined amount of the non-toxic therapeutic substance is present on the cornea.
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19. A method of treating and/or preventing a corneal disease, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying a therapeutic amount of a photoactive therapeutic agent to a cornea; providing an apparatus with an applicator head, the applicator head comprising a radiation source configured to emit a first radiation capable of exciting a chromophore of the photoactive therapeutic agent and activating the photoactive therapeutic agent; positioning the applicator head near the cornea; obtaining a measurement result by measuring, with a fluorescence sensor, a fluorescent radiation of a spectral composition different from a spectral composition of the first radiation, the fluorescent radiation emitted by the chromophore upon irradiation by the first radiation, using the measurement result from the fluorescence sensor to evaluate whether a condition is met that; the applicator head is within a predetermined distance from the cornea, and a predetermined amount of the chromophore is present on the cornea; and in case the condition is met, further irradiating the cornea by the radiation source and thereby activating the photoactive therapeutic agent.
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Specification