Method and apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction employing fluid jet

• US 20070049913A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Roe, Steven, Paul, Lyle, Korb, Donald, Grenon, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,981,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/27
• 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 9/0008 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 9/0026 Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0014 cylinder-like, i.e. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0221 Mechanism for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1607 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/022 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/024 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 35/02 for the eyes
• 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 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

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction in a mammal wherein an occlusion blocks at least a portion of the flow of naturally occurring secretion out of a gland channel orifice. The invention comprises selecting a device capable of delivering a jet of heated medium. The device is positioned such that when the jet is it is applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid, proximate to the gland channel orifice, a jet of heated medium is applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid proximate to the gland channel orifice at a pressure of from about 2 psi to about 30 psi. Application of the jet of heated medium is maintained for sufficient time to loosen, break up, fracture, soften or liquefy at least a portion of the occlusion such that at least a portion of the occlusion is removed. In an exemplary embodiment, the medium is water heated to a temperature of between about 42° C. and about 46° C. Depending on the particular type and composition of the obstruction, the fluid jet operates to melt or soften the obstruction and to milkingly move the corpus of the softened obstruction up the gland channel from the end opposite the meibomian gland orifice and out of the gland orifice. Repeated application of the heated fluid jet may also be necessary to soften and/or express the obstruction.

Claims

1. A method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction in a mammal wherein an occlusion blocks at least a portion of the flow of naturally occurring secretion out of a gland channel orifice comprising:

a) selecting a device capable of delivering a jet of heated medium;

b) positioning the device such that when the jet is delivered it is applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid, proximate to the gland channel orifice;

c) applying a jet of heated medium to the exterior surface of the eyelid proximate to the gland at a pressure of from about 2 psi to about 30 psi;

d) maintaining application of the jet of heated medium for sufficient time to loosen, break up, fracture, soften or liquefy at least a portion of the occlusion such that at least a portion of the occlusion is removed.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the jet is applied in a pulsatory manner.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the jet is applied at a frequency between 1 Hz and 300 Hz.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the jet is applied at a frequency between 5 Hz and 60 Hz.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the heated medium is applied at a temperature of at least 42°

C.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the device is positioned by attaching the device to the mammal.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the device is positioned by manually holding the device.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the jet may be repositioned during application of the jet.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the jet may not be repositioned during application of the jet.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the jet is applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid through an intervening membrane.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the jet is directly applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid.

24. The method according to claim 11 wherein the jet is applied to the meibomian gland in a manner that milkingly moves up the meibomian gland channel from the end opposite the meibomian gland orifice toward the gland orifice.

12. A method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction in a mammal wherein an occlusion blocks at least a portion of the flow of naturally occurring secretion out of a gland channel orifice comprising:

a) selecting a device capable of delivering a jet of heated medium;

b) positioning the device such that when the jet is delivered it is applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid, proximate to the gland channel orifice;

c) applying a jet of heated medium to the exterior surface of the eyelid proximate to the gland channel orifice at a pressure of from about 2 psi to about 30 psi;

d) intermittently maintaining application of the jet of heated medium for sufficient time to loosen, break up, fracture, soften or liquefy at least a portion of the occlusion such that at least a portion of the occlusion is removed.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the jet is applied in a pulsatory manner.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the jet is applied at a frequency of between 1 Hz and 300 Hz.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the jet is applied at a frequency of between 5 Hz and 60 Hz.

16. A method according to claim 12 wherein the heated medium is applied at a temperature of at least 42°

C.

17. A method according to claim 12 wherein the device is positioned by attaching the device to the mammal.

18. A method according to claim 12 wherein the device is positioned by manually holding the device.

19. A method according to claim 12 wherein the jet may be repositioned during application of the jet.

20. A method according to claim 12 wherein the jet may not be repositioned during application of the jet.

21. A method according to claim 12 wherein the jet is indirectly applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid through an intervening membrane.

22. A method according to claim 12 wherein the jet is directly applied to the exterior surface of the eyelid.

23. The method according to claim 12 wherein jet is heated by the modalities selected from the group consisting of conduction, convection and radiation.

25. The method according to claim 12 wherein the jet is selected from the group consisting of fluid, gas, and flowable creams.

26. The method according to claim 12 further including the step of positioning a protective membrane over the eye and applying the jet of the heated medium to the membrane such that the jet pressure is transmitted there through and is absorbed by the eyelid.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein the jet is pulsatory.