Method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction

• US 20070016256A1
• Filed: 05/15/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Korb, Donald, Grenon, Stephen, Gravely, Benjamin, Willis, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/434,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016256A1
• 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 gland dysfunction in humans wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion from the gland is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in the gland channel, comprising the steps of:

softening the obstruction through the application of thermal energy to the obstruction;

extracting the obstruction through the application of a regulated force to the gland.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the thermal energy applied heats the obstruction to between about 37°

C. to about 50°

C.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the thermal energy applied heats the obstruction to between about 42°

C. to about 46°

C.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the thermal energy,applied is selected from the group of regulated heat generating modalities consisting of conduction, convection and radiation.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the regulated force comprises an electro mechanical force applied to the gland.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the electro mechanical force is a pulsatile force.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the electro mechanical force is an applied pulsatile force to milkingly express the obstruction from the gland.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein the pulsatile force is applied at a preselected frequency.

9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the preselected frequency is less than 1000 Hz.

10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the preselected frequency is between about 50 Hz and about 500 Hz.

11. The method according to claim 8 wherein the pulsatile force is delivered at a frequency of between about 60 Hz and about 300 Hz.

12. The method according to claim 9 wherein the pulsatile force has amplitude of between 0.1 mm and 5.0 mm.

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein the pulsatile force has an amplitude of between about 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

14. The method according to claim 9 wherein the pulsatile force has an amplitude of approximately 1.00 mm.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the regulated force is constantly applied and increases to a preselected maximum.

16. The method according to claim 15 further including a second pulsatile force applied to the gland.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the second pulsatile force is delivered at a frequency of between about 60 Hz and about 300 Hz.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the pulsatile force has an amplitude of between about 0.1 mm and 5.0 mm.

19. The method according to claim 1 wherein the regulated force comprises a vibrating tip applied to the gland.

20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the vibrating tip is maintained at a temperature sufficient to heat the obstruction to about 37°

C. to about 55°

C.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the first regulated force is the pressure of the tip on the eyelid and the second pulsatile force is the amplitudinal energy transferred by the tip vibrations.

22. A method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction in the human eye wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion from the meibomian gland is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in the gland channel, comprising the steps of:

softening the obstruction through the application of thermal energy to the obstruction to heat the obstruction to between about 37°

C. to about 47°

C.;

applying a regulated force to the gland; and

applying a second regulated pulsatile force to the gland to milkingly express the obstruction from the gland.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the respective regulated force and the second regulated forces are applied with a vibrating tip.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the vibrating tip is heated to transmit thermal energy to the obstruction.

25. A method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction in the human eye 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 eye lid and comprising the steps of:

coupling a treatment device to the eyelid;

softening the obstruction with regulated heat; and

applying a regulated force to the eyelid.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the coupled regulated energy force applied to the. eyelid surface. milkingly compresses the eyelid to express obstructive material from the meibomian gland.

27. The method according to claim 25 wherein the regulated heat energy applied is selected from the group of heat generating modalities consisting of conduction, convection and radiation.

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

29. The method according to claim 25 wherein the step of heating further includes heating the obstruction to between about 37°

C. to about 47°

C.

30. An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction in the human eye wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion from the meibomian gland is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in the gland channel, comprising the steps of:

heating means for softening the obstruction through the application of thermal energy to the obstruction to heat the obstruction to between about 37°

C. to about 47°

C.;

means for applying a regulated force to the gland; and

means for applying a second regulated pulsatile force to the gland to milkingly express the obstruction from the gland.