METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING GLAND DYSFUNCTION
First Claim
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1. A method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction in humans wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion from a meibomian gland is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction within a meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland, comprising:
- softening the obstruction within the meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland through an application of thermal energy to the obstruction; and
extracting the obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel and through a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland through the application of a regulated force to the meibomian gland channel.
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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.
108 Citations
64 Claims
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1. A method of treating meibomian gland dysfunction in humans wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion from a meibomian gland is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction within a meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland, comprising:
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softening the obstruction within the meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland through an application of thermal energy to the obstruction; and extracting the obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel and through a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland through the application of a regulated force to the meibomian gland channel. - 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, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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Specification