HEAT TREATMENT AND HEAT LOSS REDUCTION FOR TREATING MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION

• US 20080114422A1
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Jans, John, Korb, Donald, Grenon, Stephen, Willis, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,007,524 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/96
• 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 2017/00084 Temperature
• 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 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/12 Devices for heating or cooling internal body cavities
• 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 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 of treating meibomian gland dysfunction. Heat is applied to the tissue proximate the patient'"'"'s meibomian glands to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands. The application of heat assists in the expression of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands to restore sufficient sebum flow to the lipid layer to treat dry eye. A force may also be applied to the tissue proximate the patient'"'"'s meibomian glands to improve conductive heat transfer and reduce blood flow in the tissue that causes convective heat loss. Thus, the application of force can further increase the temperature level and/or reduce the time to reach desired temperature levels for removing obstructions. Reaching increased temperature levels may improve the melting, loosening, or softening of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands while reducing the amount of time to reached desired temperature levels and/or aid in reducing discomfort to the patient during treatment.

Claims

1. A method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising the steps of:

applying a heat to tissue proximate a patient'"'"'s meibomian gland to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in the meibomian gland; and

applying a force to the tissue proximate the patient'"'"'s meibomian gland while maintaining the heat to the tissue to apply a pressure to reduce blood flow in an area of the tissue and reduce convective heat loss from the heat.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the heat comprises applying the heat to an inner surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the heat comprises applying the heat to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the force comprises applying the heat to an inner surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the force comprises applying the force to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the heat to the tissue proximate the patient'"'"'s meibomian gland for a period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the force to the tissue for a period of time, wherein the heat attains a higher temperature level than would otherwise be attained over the period of time if the force were not maintained.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein during the maintaining the heat, the temperature level rises to level that would otherwise not be attained if the force were not applied to the tissue.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the force is applied at a pressure comprised from the group consisting of:

at least approximately between 120 mm Hg, at least approximately 300 mm Hg, and at least approximately 350 mm Hg.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat applied to the tissue is in a range of approximately about 43 to about 55 degrees Celsius.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising removing the heat from the tissue, wherein the force is continued to be maintained to the tissue after the heat is removed.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising expressing the obstruction from the meibomian gland while in a melted, loosened, or softened state.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the force is maintained to the tissue during the expressing of the obstruction from the meibomian gland.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising removing the force from the tissue, wherein the expressing the obstruction is performed after removing the force.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the force is maintained to the tissue until the obstruction is expressed from the meibomian gland.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the force is applied to the tissue at time intervals.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the force applied to the tissue is constant.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprises repeatedly performing the steps of applying and maintaining the heat, and applying and maintaining the force to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland while in the melted, loosened, or softened state.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein the time period for maintaining the force to the tissue is from approximately 1 to 10 minutes.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the force is applied by a mechanical force applied to the tissue.

21. The method of claim 2, wherein applying heat further comprises positioning an insulator behind the patient'"'"'s eyelid on the external surface sclera of the eye.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising regulating the heat when applying the heat to the tissue.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising regulating the force when applying the force to the tissue.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the force applied to the tissue is comprised from the group consisting of a mechanical force, an electrical force, a pneumatic force, and a manual compression force.