SYSTEM FOR OUTER EYELID HEAT AND PRESSURE TREATMENT FOR TREATING MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION
First Claim
1. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
- a controller;
a lid warmer, wherein the lid warmer is adapted apply heat to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland;
a force generating device that is adapted to be positioned on the external surface a patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the force generating device applies pressure to the external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid; and
a controller interface adapted to couple the controller to the lid warmer and the force generating device, wherein the controller is further adapted to;
send a signal to the lid warmer to apply heat to the external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland;
control the force generating device to generate a pressure on the external surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid; and
maintain the signal to the lid warmer to maintain the heat on the external surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid for a period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction. A controller controls heat applied to the outside of the eyelid 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 is also applied to the outside of the patient'"'"'s eyelid during the application of heat to improve conductive heat transfer and reduce blood flow in the eyelid 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 or occlusions. 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 reach desired temperature levels and/or aid in reducing discomfort to the patient during treatment.
98 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
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a controller;
a lid warmer, wherein the lid warmer is adapted apply heat to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland;
a force generating device that is adapted to be positioned on the external surface a patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the force generating device applies pressure to the external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid; and
a controller interface adapted to couple the controller to the lid warmer and the force generating device, wherein the controller is further adapted to;
send a signal to the lid warmer to apply heat to the external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland;
control the force generating device to generate a pressure on the external surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid; and
maintain the signal to the lid warmer to maintain the heat on the external surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid for a period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification