Apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for treating dry eye wherein a flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland of an eyelid, the apparatus comprising:
- an energy source configured to apply energy to the eyelid for softening the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland; and
a force applicator for applying a regulated force to the eyelid, wherein the force applicator expresses the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland; and
a back plate,wherein the back plate and the force applicator are configured such that the eyelid may be positioned between the back plate and the force applicator; and
wherein the force applicator is configured to be actuated such that the eyelid is gripped between the force applicator and the back plate to apply the regulated force to the eyelid to express the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland.
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Abstract
An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction caused by meibomian gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the meibomian gland comprises the application of a combination of energy, suction, vibration, heat, aspiration, chemical agents and pharmacological agents to loosen and thereafter remove the obstructive material.
225 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for treating dry eye wherein a flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland of an eyelid, the apparatus comprising:
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an energy source configured to apply energy to the eyelid for softening the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland; and a force applicator for applying a regulated force to the eyelid, wherein the force applicator expresses the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland; and a back plate, wherein the back plate and the force applicator are configured such that the eyelid may be positioned between the back plate and the force applicator; and wherein the force applicator is configured to be actuated such that the eyelid is gripped between the force applicator and the back plate to apply the regulated force to the eyelid to express the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for treating dry eye wherein a flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland in an eyelid, the apparatus comprising:
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an energy source configured to apply thermal energy to the eyelid for softening the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland to heat the obstruction to a temperature sufficient to turn the obstruction from a solid to a flowable state; and a force applicator for applying a regulated force to the eyelid, wherein the force applicator expresses the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland; and a back plate, wherein the back plate and the force applicator are configured such that the eyelid may be positioned between the back plate and the force applicator, and wherein the force applicator is configured to be actuated such that the eyelid is gripped between the force applicator and the back plate to apply the regulated force to the eyelid to express the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through the meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification