Meibomian gland probing with blood product injection

• US 10,603,210 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2018
• Issued: 03/31/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MGD Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MGD Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Maskin, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Shefali D
• Application Number:
  US15/887,406
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0413 Blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0415 Plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0423 Serum; Human serous fluid, i.e. plasma without fibrinogen
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0427 Platelets; Thrombocytes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0462 Placental blood, umbilical cord blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

A method of improving meibomian gland function in a patient includes inserting a cannula into an interior of a meibomian gland of the patient through an orifice thereinto, the cannula including at least one opening in communication with the interior of the meibomian gland, and injecting a blood product into the interior of the meibomian gland through the inserted cannula via the at least one opening.

Claims

1. A method of improving meibomian gland function in a patient, the method comprising:

inserting a cannula into an interior of a meibomian gland of the patient through an orifice thereinto, the cannula including at least one opening in communication with the interior of the meibomian gland; and

injecting a blood product into the interior of the meibomian gland through the inserted cannula via the at least one opening.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting at least one probe into the interior of the meibomian gland through the orifice prior to insertion of the cannula.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein inserting the at least one probe prior to insertion of the cannula includes inserting at least two probes of differing lengths prior to insertion of the cannula.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein inserting the at least two probes of differing lengths includes:

first, inserting a 1-millimeter (mm) long probe;

second, inserting a 2-mm long probe; and

third, inserting a 4-mm long probe to a full length of the meibomian gland.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting the blood product includes injecting autologous serum (AS).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the AS is obtained using venipuncture.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the AS is obtained using a finger prick.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the AS is 50% AS.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting the blood product includes injecting at least one of the following blood-derived sera:

allogenic serum;

umbilical cord serum; and

recombinant serum.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting the blood product includes injecting at least one of the following platelet preparations:

platelet rich plasma;

platelet lysate;

platelet releasate; and

platelet concentrate.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting the blood product includes injecting fresh frozen plasma.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein injecting the blood product includes injecting at least one of albumin and fibronectin.