System for outer eyelid heat and pressure treatment for treating meibomian gland dysfunction
First Claim
1. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
- a lid warmer, wherein the lid warmer is adapted to apply heat to an outer surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland;
a force application device positioned on the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the force application device applies a compressive force to the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the lid warmer and the force application device,wherein the controller is further adapted to;
send a signal to the lid warmer to apply heat to the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland;
control the force application device to generate a compressive force on the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid to express the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel and from within the meibomian gland channel through a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland; and
maintain the signal to the lid warmer to maintain the heat to the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid for a period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction. A controller controls heat applied to the outside of the eyelid to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands. The application of heat assists in the expression of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands to restore sufficient sebum flow to the lipid layer to treat dry eye. A force is also applied to the outside of the patient'"'"'s eyelid during the application of heat to improve conductive heat transfer and reduce blood flow in the eyelid that causes convective heat loss. Thus, the application of force can further increase the temperature level and/or reduce the time to reach desired temperature levels for removing obstructions or occlusions. Reaching increased temperature levels may improve the melting, loosening, or softening of obstructions or occlusions in the meibomian glands while reducing the amount of time to reach desired temperature levels and/or aid in reducing discomfort to the patient during treatment.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
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a lid warmer, wherein the lid warmer is adapted to apply heat to an outer surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland; a force application device positioned on the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the force application device applies a compressive force to the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid; and a controller communicatively coupled to the lid warmer and the force application device, wherein the controller is further adapted to; send a signal to the lid warmer to apply heat to the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland; control the force application device to generate a compressive force on the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid to express the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel and from within the meibomian gland channel through a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland; and maintain the signal to the lid warmer to maintain the heat to the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid for a period of time. - 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)
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Specification