Device and method for stimulating the meibomian glands of the eyelid

• US 8,491,508 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walton F. Smith
• Original Assignee: Walton F. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Walton F., Yakos, David, Larimer, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): STANIS, TIMOTHY A
• Application Number:
  US12/883,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20120065556A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 601/15, 601/18, 601/89, 601/13, 601/46, 601 97- 98, 601/101, 601/112, 601/116, 601/85, 607/96, 607/98, 607108-109
• US Class Current: 601/85
• 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 2007/0087 Hand-held applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1436 Special crank assembly
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/024 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses

Abstract

A device for stimulating the meibomian glands of the eyelid comprising: a handle; a head that is non-removable and integral to the handle, the head comprising an eyepiece that oscillates to provide a massaging action to an eyelid and that comprises a front end that is concave in shape to fit over an eyelid; a heater located inside of the eyepiece; a temperature sensor located inside of the eyepiece, wherein the temperature sensor causes the eyepiece to heat to a predetermined temperature and then stop heating; and a charging base that supplies power to a motor that causes the eyepiece to oscillate, wherein the motor comprises a motor shaft. A method of applying heat and massaging action to the eyelid at the same time.

Claims

1. A device for stimulating the meibomian glands of the eyelid comprising:

(a) a handle that contains batteries, a printed circuit board and a motor;

(b) a head that is non-removable and integral to the handle, the head comprising an oscillation assembly and an eyepiece that oscillates in an elliptical motion to provide a massaging action to an outside of an eyelid, the eyepiece comprising;

(i) a front portion comprising a front end, wherein the front end is concave in shape to fit over the outside of an eyelid, and a rear end; and

(ii) a rear portion, the rear portion being separate from the front portion and abutting up against a back end of the front portion when the device is fully assembled;

(c) a heater that is insulated and flexible and that extends from the printed circuit board to the eyepiece, the heater comprising a distal end;

(d) a temperature sensor that extends from the printed circuit board to the eyepiece, the temperature sensor comprising a distal end, wherein the temperature sensor causes the eyepiece to heat to a predetermined temperature not to exceed about one hundred four degrees Fahrenheit and then stop heating; and

(e) a charging base that supplies power to the motor, wherein the motor comprises a motor shaft, and wherein the motor causes the eyepiece to oscillate in an elliptical motion;

wherein the distal end of the header and the distal end of the temperature sensor are embedded in the front portion of the eyepiece;

wherein the oscillation assembly comprises;

(a) a first stationary arm extending inward from an inner wall of the head;

(b) a rotating wheel that is connected to a rotating shaft that is in turn connected to the motor shaft;

(c) a second stationary arm extending inward lfrom the inner wall of the head directly opposite the first stationary arm, the second stationary arm comprising a horizontal slot; and

(d) a connecting member with a first horizontal extension that is inserted into an aperture located off-center on the rotating wheel and a second horizontal extension that is inserted into the horizontal slot in the second stationary arm, wherein the connecting member comprises a center and pivots about a shaft that extends through an aperture in the center of the connecting member and that is fixedly attached to the eyepiece;

wherein as the motor shaft rotates, the rotating shaft also rotates, causing the rotating wheel to rotate, the first extension on the connecting member to rotate in a circular motion, the second extension to move laterally within the horizontal slot on the second stationary arm, and the connecting member to pivot about the shaft that extends through the center of the connecting member, thereby causing the eyepiece to oscillate in an elliptical path.