CONTROLLER FOR DRY EYE TREATMENT SYSTEMS

• US 20160106576A1
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sight Sciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel O'Keeffe, Paul Badawi, Scott Harshman
• Inventors: BADAWI, Paul, BADAWI, David, HARSHMAN, Scott, O'KEEFFE, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,973,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/124 specially adapted for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0004 Eyes or part of the face surrounding the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0078 with a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0086 with a thermostat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0093 programmed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0094 using a remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0226 adhesive, self-sticking
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0242 heated by microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0244 with layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/805 Corresponding aspects not provided for by any of codes A61K2800/81 - A61K2800/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/0208 Tissues; Wipes; Patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/005 Preparations for sensitive skin

Abstract

Controllers for dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. A controller is in communication with the one or more strips and is programmable to monitor a temperature of the one or more strips to provide a treatment therapy above a threshold temperature of, e.g., 39° C., and below a maximum temperature of, e.g., 48° C., over a treatment period of 12 minutes.

Claims

1. A treatment system for meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye syndrome, comprising:

one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally with minimal, or no restriction from the one or more strips; and

a controller in communication with the one or more strips, wherein the controller is programmable to monitor and induce a temperature in the one or more strips to provide a therapy,

wherein, the controller is further programmable to maintain a set point above a threshold temperature and below a maximum temperature over a predetermined treatment period,

wherein the one or more strips are configured to emit thermal energy to the underlying region of skin, and wherein the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying region of skin.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a temperature controller.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the threshold temperature is 39°

C.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the maximum temperature is 48°

C.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the treatment period is 12 minutes.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to provide a treatment temperature of 42°

C.+/−

1°

C.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to maintain a treatment therapy at the temperature of 48°

C. for a cumulative period of time no greater than 5 seconds.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a power source having a charge sufficient for at least five 12-minute heat treatment cycles.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller is programmed to prohibit a treatment therapy when the power source is below a threshold value.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to automatically shut power off from the one or more strips when a connector coupled to the one or more strips is disconnected from the controller.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to provide an automatic shutoff after a period of inactivity.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more strips comprise a contact surface for placement against the region of skin.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more strips comprise a heating layer in thermal communication with the region of skin.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the one or more strips each have a first curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a border of the one or more meibomian glands and a second curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a free margin of an upper or lower eyelid.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to provide an auditory, visual, or haptic indicator for communicating with the user.

16. The system of claim 1 further comprising a usage tracking mechanism in communication with the controller.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to detect a partial application of the one or more strips on the region of skin.