Method and apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction

• US 20070016255A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Korb, Donald, Gravely, Benjamin, Willis, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/046 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/048 in gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0004 Eyes or part of the face surrounding the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0059 with an open fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00772 Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0014 cylinder-like, i.e. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/00 Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for electro-medical massage devices applying electric current by contact A61N1/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0643 Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/025 Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction caused by gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the gland comprises the application of a combination of energy, suction, vibration, heat, aspiration, chemical agents and pharmacological agents to loosen and thereafter remove the obstructive material'"'"'.

Claims

1. A method of treating dry eye in humans wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to the eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction of the meibomian gland of the eye lid and comprising the steps of:

lifting the eyelid away from the eye;

softening the obstruction; and

applying a regulated force to the eyelid.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the regulated force has an energy source coupled to the eyelid surface for milkingly compressing the eyelid to express obstructive material from the meibomian gland.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the eyelid is positioned between a coupling surface and a motion transmitting surface such that upon application of the regulated force to the eyelid, obstructive material is expressed from the meibomian gland.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of softening comprises the application of thermal energy to the obstruction.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the thermal energy applied is selected from the group of heat generating modalities consisting of conduction, convection and radiation.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of heating further includes heating the obstruction to between about 37°

C. to about 47°

C.

7. The method according to claim 2 wherein the energy source coupled to the eyelid surface for milkingly compressing the eyelid to express obstructive material the meibomian gland comprises a roller.

8. The method according to claim 3 wherein the coupling surface and the motion transmitting surface are adjustable relative to each other to vary the pressure on the eye lid such that upon application of the regulated force to the eyelid, obstructive material is expressed from the meibomian gland.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of applying a regulated force to the eyelid is performed with a hand held device.

17. The method according to claim 1 wherein the regulated force comprises a first adjustable constant force and a second pulsatile force.

10. A method of treating dry eye in humans wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to the eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in the meibomian gland in the eyelid and comprising the steps of:

lifting the eyelid away from the eye;

softening the obstruction through the application of thermal energy to heat the obstruction to a temperature sufficient to turn the obstruction from a solid to a flowable state; and

applying a regulated force to the eyelid.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein the obstruction is heated to a temperature of between about 42°

C. and about 46°

C.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein the regulated force has an energy source coupled to the eyelid surface for milkingly compressing the eyelid to express obstructive material the meibomian gland.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the eyelid is positioned between a coupling surface and a motion transmitting surface such that upon application of the regulated force to the eyelid, obstructive material is expressed from the meibomian gland.

14. The method according to claim 11 wherein the thermal energy applied is selected from the group of heat generating modalities consisting of conduction, convection and radiation.

15. The method according to claim 13 wherein the coupling surface and the motion transmitting surface are adjustable relative to each other to vary the pressure on the eye lid such that upon application of the regulated force to the eyelid, obstructive material is expressed from the meibomian gland.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the step of applying a regulated force to the eyelid is performed with a hand held device.

18. The method according to claim 11 further including the step of applying a pharmacological agent to the gland.

19. The method according to claim 11 further including the step of applying vacuum to extract the obstructive material from the meibomian gland.

21. The method according to claim 19 wherein the motion transmitting surface includes a roller for milkingly massaging the gland to express the obstructive material from the meibomian gland.

20. A method of treating dry eye in humans wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to the eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in the meibomian gland in the eyelid and comprising the steps of:

lifting the eyelid away from the eye;

softening the obstruction through the application of thermal energy to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 42°

C. and about 46°

C.; and

gripping the eyelid between a coupling surface and a motion transmitting surface such that upon application of the regulated force to the eyelid, the softened obstruction is expressed from the meibomian gland.

22. A method of treating dry eye in humans wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to the eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in the meibomian gland in the eyelid and comprising the steps of:

coupling the eyelid;

softening the obstruction with regulated heat; and

applying a regulated force and heat to the eyelid.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the coupled regulated energy force applied to the eyelid surface milkingly compresses the eyelid to express obstructive material from the meibomian gland.

24. The method according to claim 22 wherein the regulated heat energy applied is selected from the heat generating modalities consisting of conduction, convection and radiation.

25. The method according to claim 22 wherein the regulated heat energy is maintained by a temperature measurement and feedback control loop

26. The method according to claim 22 wherein the step of heating further includes heating the obstruction to between about of between about 37°

C. and about 47°

C.

27. An apparatus for treating dry eye in humans wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to the eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in the meibomian gland in the eyelid and comprising:

means for coupling to the eyelid;

regulated heating means for softening the obstructive material through the application of thermal energy to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 42°

C. and about 46°

C.; and

gripping means for gripping the eyelid between a coupling surface and a motion transmitting surface such that upon application of the regulated force to the eyelid, obstructive material is expressed from the meibomian gland.