System for inner eyelid heat and pressure treatment for treating meibomian gland dysfunction
First Claim
1. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
- a lid warmer containing a heating element, wherein the lid warmer is configured to be positioned behind a patient'"'"'s eyelid on an external surface of a sclera of a patient'"'"'s eye, wherein the lid warmer applies heat to an inner 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;
a force application device configured to be positioned on the inner surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the force application device applies a regulated directional force to the meibomian gland channel in a direction from a bottom of the meibomian gland channel to a top of the meibomian gland channel; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the lid warmer and the force application device,wherein the controller is further configured to;
send a signal to the lid warmer to apply heat to the inner surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland;
control the force application device to generate the regulated directional force 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 on the inner 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 comprising a heating element that applies heat to the inside of the eyelid to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands, which 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. Temperatures at the meibomian glands reach desired higher temperature levels more quickly and efficiently when heating the inside of the eyelid, which may assist in removing obstructions in the meibomian glands. Less time may also be required to reach desired temperature levels when applying heat to the inside of the eyelid. A force application device may also apply force to the patient'"'"'s eyelid to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland, including from a channel of the meibomian gland, and to increase the temperature level and/or reduce the time to reach desired temperature levels.
216 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
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a lid warmer containing a heating element, wherein the lid warmer is configured to be positioned behind a patient'"'"'s eyelid on an external surface of a sclera of a patient'"'"'s eye, wherein the lid warmer applies heat to an inner 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; a force application device configured to be positioned on the inner surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the force application device applies a regulated directional force to the meibomian gland channel in a direction from a bottom of the meibomian gland channel to a top of the meibomian gland channel; and a controller communicatively coupled to the lid warmer and the force application device, wherein the controller is further configured to; send a signal to the lid warmer to apply heat to the inner surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland; control the force application device to generate the regulated directional force 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 on the inner 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)
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20. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
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a heating element configured to apply heat to an inner 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; and a force application device configured to be positioned on the inner surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the force application device applies a regulated directional force to the meibomian gland channel in a direction from a bottom of the meibomian gland channel to a top of the meibomian gland channel 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. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification