SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF DRY EYE

• US 20150335900A1
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Brandon Mcnary Felkins, Daniel Palanker, Douglas Michael Ackermann, Garrett Cale Smith, James Donald Loudin, Victor Wayne Mccray
• Inventors: ACKERMANN, Douglas Michael, PALANKER, Daniel, LOUDIN, James Donald, SMITH, Garrett Cale, MCCRAY, Victor Wayne, FELKINS, Brandon McNary
• Application Number:
  US14/816,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20150335900A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36046 of the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36057 adapted for stimulating afferent nerves
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3606 adapted for a particular treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36142 for improving safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source

Abstract

A stimulation system stimulates anatomical targets in a patient for treatment of dry eye. The system may include a controller and a microstimulator. The controller may be implemented externally to or internally within the microstimulator. The components of the controller and microstimulator may be implemented in a single unit or in separate devices. When implemented separately, the controller and microstimulator may communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection. The microstimulator may generate pulses from a controller signal and apply the signal via one or more electrodes to an anatomical target. The microstimulator may not have any intelligence or logic to shape or modify a signal. The microstimulator may be a passive device configured to generate a pulse based on a signal received from the controller. The microstimulator may shape or modify a signal. Waveforms having different frequency, amplitude and period characteristics may stimulate different anatomical targets in a patient.

Claims

1. An implantable microstimulator for treating conditions of the eye having a length of about 0.6 cm to about 1.5 cm and a width of about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm and comprising a passive stimulation circuit.