METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION EMPLOYING FLUID JET
First Claim
1. An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction in an eyelid wherein at least one occlusion blocks at least a portion of a flow of naturally occurring secretion out of at least one meibomian gland, comprising:
- a mask configured to deliver and maintain at a pressure from about 2 psi to about 30 psi the application of at least one jet of heated medium to an exterior surface of a closed eyelid, proximate to at least one meibomian gland, for sufficient time to loosen, break up, fracture, soften or liquefy at least a portion of at least one occlusion in the at least one meibomian gland such that at least a portion of the at least one occlusion is removed.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction in an eyelid wherein at least one occlusion blocks at least a portion of a flow of naturally occurring secretion out of at least one meibomian gland, comprising:
a mask configured to deliver and maintain at a pressure from about 2 psi to about 30 psi the application of at least one jet of heated medium to an exterior surface of a closed eyelid, proximate to at least one meibomian gland, for sufficient time to loosen, break up, fracture, soften or liquefy at least a portion of at least one occlusion in the at least one meibomian gland such that at least a portion of the at least one occlusion is removed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction in an eyelid wherein at least one occlusion blocks at least a portion of a flow of naturally occurring secretion out of at least one meibomian gland, comprising:
at least one jet configured to deliver and maintain at a pressure from about 2 psi to about 30 psi the application of at least one jet of heated medium to an exterior surface of a closed eyelid, proximate to at least one meibomian gland, for sufficient time to loosen, break up, fracture, soften or liquefy at least a portion of at least one occlusion in the at least one meibomian gland such that the at least a portion of the at least one occlusion is removed. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction in a mammal wherein at least one occlusion blocks at least a portion of a flow of naturally occurring secretion out of at least one meibomian gland, comprising:
at least one jet configured to deliver and maintain at a pressure from about 2 psi to about 30 psi the application of at least one jet of heated medium to maintain the internal temperature of at least one meibomian gland between 40 degrees Celsius and 47 degrees Celsius, for sufficient time to loosen, break up, fracture, soften or liquefy at least a portion of at least one occlusion in the at least one meibomian gland such that the at least a portion of the at least one occlusion is removed.
Specification