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System for outer eyelid heat and pressure treatment for treating meibomian gland dysfunction

  • US 8,128,674 B2
  • Filed: 01/17/2008
  • Issued: 03/06/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2006
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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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