APPARATUS FOR PHOTOTHERAPY OF THE EYE

• US 20140379054A1
• Filed: 06/25/2014
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TECLens, LLC
• Original Assignee: TECLens, LLC
• Inventors: Cooper, Frank George, Lopath, Patrick David, Acker, David E., Gershaw, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,907,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00872 Cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0079 using non-laser electromagnetic radiation, e.g. non-coherent light or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/009 Auxiliary devices making contact with the eyeball and coupling in laser light, e.g. goniolenses apparatus for eye examination A61B3/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

A device and method for applying light to the cornea of the eye as, for example, to promote crosslinking of collagen in the cornea for vision correction. The device may include a structure having form and size similar to a conventional contact lens. The structure may include an optically dispersive element such as a mass of an optically dispersive material that may be contained in a cavity of a reflective element. Light applied to the dispersive mass as, for example, by an optical fiber connected to the structure is dispersed in the structure and passes into the cornea. The patient may blink or close the eye during the procedure, which increases patient comfort and aids in maintaining hydration of the cornea.

Claims

1. A method of applying light to the eye of a subject comprising directing light in a direction generally parallel to the surface of the cornea of the eye within an optically dispersive element overlying the surface of the cornea so that light dispersed by the element passes out of the element and into the cornea.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of directing light includes directing light along the lengthwise direction of a dispersive optical fiber overlying a surface of the eye.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein, during the step of directing light, the fiber is disposed in a loop.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the loop is substantially circular and encircles the optic axis of the eye.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least some of the light passing out of the fiber along its length passes into an optically dispersive mass overlying the cornea, and wherein light dispersed in the mass passes into the cornea.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light passing out of the dispersive element irradiates the cornea and crosslinks the cornea.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 further comprising applying a crosslinking agent to the cornea so that the crosslinking agent is present in the cornea during the step of directing light.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of directing light into the dispersive element is performed by directing the light from a source remote from the eye along a transmission fiber and into the dispersive element.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the step of directing light into the dispersive element includes reflecting light from a reflective surface extending around the dispersive element.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of positioning a structure incorporating the dispersive element on the eye of the subject.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising detecting the amount of light passing through the dispersive element using a photosensor carried on the structure.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising allowing the subject to blink while the structure is in position on the eye.

13. A device for applying light to the eye of a subject comprising a structure having a first inner surface generally corresponding to the shape of the eye;

the structure including an optically dispersive element, the optically dispersive element being constructed and arranged so that light passing into the optically dispersive element in a direction generally parallel to the inner surface will be dispersed and at least some of the dispersed light will pass through the inner surface into the eye.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the optically dispersive element includes an optically dispersive fiber.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the fiber extends in at least one loop.

16. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the structure defines a central axis, and wherein the at least one loop extends around the central axis.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the at least one loop is substantially coaxial with the central axis and the inner surface is arranged to position the structure on the eye of the subject with the central axis substantially coincident with the optical axis of the eye.

18. A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the structure includes an optically dispersive mass having an axis extending in an inward direction toward the inner surface and an outward direction away from the inner surface, the dispersive mass having an edge surface extending around the axis, the structure further including a reflector defining a reflective circumferential surface extending around the axis and in optical communication with the edge surface of the dispersive mass.

19. A device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the optically dispersive mass has an outer surface facing away from the inner surface and wherein the reflector defines a reflective cap surface facing the outer surface of the optically dispersive mass.

20. A device as claimed in claim 19 further comprising a transmission optical fiber having a distal end disposed adjacent the reflective circumferential surface and the edge surface of the dispersive mass.

21. A device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the optically dispersive mass has a dome-shaped inner surface, the inner surface of the mass facing toward the eye when the structure is positioned on the eye.

22. A device as claimed in claim 15 wherein the structure includes an element defining a reflective surface surrounding the loop, the reflective surface being constructed and arranged to direct light dispersed from the fiber in an inward direction toward the central axis.

23. A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the structure forms a shell having outer and inner surfaces generally conforming to the shape of the eye.

24. A device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the shell is less than 3 mm thick.

25. A device as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a transmission fiber in optical communication with the optically dispersive element, the transmission fiber extending from the structure.

26. A device as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a photodetector in optical communication with the optically dispersive element, whereby the photodetector will provide a signal representing the power of the light dispersed by the optically dispersive element.

27. A device as claimed in claim 13 further comprising a liquid supply conduit extending from the contact lens structure, the liquid supply conduit communicating with the interior surface of the contact lens structure.

28. A method of applying light to the eye of a subject comprising directing light into a structure generally in the form of a shell less than about 3 mm thick overlying the eye and dispersing the light within the structure so that the dispersed light passes out of the element and into the cornea of the eye.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28 wherein the step of directing light into the structure is performed by directing light into the structure through a transmission fiber connected to the structure.

30. A method as claimed in claim 28 further comprising allowing the subject to close his or her eyelids over the structure during the step of directing light.

31. A structure generally in the form of a shell less than about 3 mm thick and having a shape conforming to the shape of a surface of the eye, the structure including means for dispersing light so that so that the dispersed light passes out of the structure and into the cornea of the eye.

32. A structure as claimed in claim 31 wherein the structure includes a feature for releasably engaging a distal end of a transmission optical fiber so that a transmission optical fiber engaged in the socket will be in optical communication with the means for dispersing light.

33. A device for applying light to the eye of a subject comprising a structure adapted to overlie the outer surface of the eye, the structure including a reflective element defining a cavity having one or more reflective surfaces and an optically dispersive element disposed within the cavity in optical communication with the one or more reflective surfaces.

34. A device as claimed in claim 33 wherein the structure has an axis extending in an inward direction toward the eye and an outward direction away from the eye when the structure overlies the eye, the dispersive element defining an edge surface extending around the axis, and the reflective element defines a reflective circumferential surface extending around the axis and around the edge surface of the dispersive element.

35. A device as claimed in claim 34 wherein the reflective element defines an inwardly facing reflective cap surface disposed outwardly of the dispersive element and an outwardly facing reflective ledge surface disposed inwardly of the dispersive mass, the ledge surface having an aperture extending through it.

36. A device as claimed in claim 33 further comprising a transmission optical fiber having a distal end disposed within the cavity.

37. A device as claimed in claim 36 wherein the distal end of the transmission optical fiber is disposed adjacent the circumferential wall surface of the reflective element and extends in a plane transverse to the axis.

38. A device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the circumferential wall surface of the reflective element and the edge surface of the dispersive element are spaced apart from one another so as to define a gap and the distal end of the transmission fiber is disposed within the gap.

39. A device as claimed in claim 38 wherein the circumferential wall surface of the reflective element and the edge surface of the dispersive element abut one another, and wherein the distal end of the transmission fiber is disposed within the dispersive element.

40. A device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the edge surface of the dispersive element and the circumferential surface of the reflective element are surfaces of revolution around the axis.

41. A device for applying light to the eye of a subject comprising a structure adapted to overlie the outer surface of the eye, the structure including an optically dispersive element having oppositely directed inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface of the dispersive element facing in an inward direction toward the eye and the outer surface facing away from the eye when the structure overlies the eye, the device further comprising a transmission optical fiber having a distal end spaced apart from the outer surface in the outward direction and in optical communication with the outer surface of the dispersive element.

42. A device as claimed in claim 41 wherein the dispersive element has an axis extending through the inner and outer surfaces and the distal end of the optical fiber is disposed adjacent the axis, the device further comprising a reflective element defining a reflective circumferential surface extending around the axis and extending around the dispersive element.

43. A device as claimed in claim 42 wherein the reflective element further defines an inwardly facing reflective cap surface disposed outwardly from the dispersive element so that there is a cavity between the outer surface of the dispersive element, the distal end of the transmission optical fiber being disposed within the cavity.

44. A device as claimed in claim 43 further comprising one or more spreading elements disposed within the cavity, the one or more spreading elements being adapted to direct light passing from the distal end of the transmission fiber away from the axis.

45. A method of applying light to the eyes of a plurality of patients comprising the steps of:

(a) assembling an optical structure with a housing to form an assembly;

(b) placing the assembly over the eye of one said patient so that a wall of the housing is disposed between the optical structure and the eye and the housing contacts the eye and maintains the optical structure out of contact with the eye,

(c) directing light into the optical structure so that the light is dispersed in the optical structure and passes into the eye through a wall of the housing, then

(d) disassembling the optical structure from the housing and repeating steps (a) through (c) using the same optical structure with a different housing and a different patient.

46. A housing having an inner surface having a shape generally corresponding to the shape of a surface of an eye, the inner surface defining an axis that extends towards and away from the eye when the inner surface overlies the surface of the eye, the housing having a wall extending transverse to the axis and a socket adapted to releasably engage an optical structure so that the optical structure is aligned with the axis and separated from the eye by the wall of the housing.