Method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction employing heated medium
First Claim
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1. A method of treating dry eye wherein a flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland in an eyelid, and comprising the steps of:
- softening the obstruction in the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland; and
applying 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 from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland located at the top of the meibomian gland channel.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction caused by gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the 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.
236 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method of treating dry eye wherein a flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland in an eyelid, and comprising the steps of:
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softening the obstruction in the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland; and applying 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 from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland located at the top of the meibomian gland channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of treating dry eye wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland in an eyelid, and comprising the steps of:
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softening the obstruction in the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland by application of thermal energy to the eyelid to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 37°
C. to about 47°
C.;applying a first force to the eyelid, wherein the first force comprises a regulated directional force applied to the meibomian gland channel in a direction from a bottom of the meibomian gland channel to a top of the meibomian gland channel; applying a second pulsatile force to the eyelid while continuing to apply the first force to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland located at the top of the meibomian gland channel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of treating dry eye wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland in an eyelid, and comprising the steps of:
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softening the obstruction in the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland by application of thermal energy to the eyelid to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 37°
C. to about 47°
C., the thermal energy being delivered by conduction from a heated medium contained in an expandable bladder applied to the surface of the eyelid;applying a first force to the eyelid by positioning the bladder proximate the eyelid and selectably expanding the bladder, wherein the first force comprises a regulated directional force applied to the meibomian gland channel in a direction from a bottom of the meibomian gland channel to a top of the meibomian gland channel; applying a second pulsatile force to the eyelid by applying a pulsatile force to the bladder to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland located at the top of the meibomian gland channel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for treating dry eye wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland in an eyelid, and comprising:
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heating means for softening the obstruction in the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland by application of thermal energy to the eyelid to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 37°
C. to about 47°
C., the thermal energy being delivered by conduction from a heated medium contained in an expandable bladder applied to the surface of the eyelid;means for delivering a first force to the eyelid by positioning the bladder proximate the eyelid and selectably expanding the bladder, wherein the first force comprises a regulated directional force applied to the meibomian gland channel in a direction from a bottom of the meibomian gland channel to a top of the meibomian gland channel; means for applying a second pulsatile force to the eyelid by applying a pulsatile force to the bladder to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland located at the top of the meibomian gland channel in connection with the second pulsatile force. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of treating dry eye wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction in a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland in an eyelid, and comprising the steps of:
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softening the obstruction in the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland by application of thermal energy to the eyelid to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 37°
C. to about 47°
C.;applying 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 from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland located at the top of the meibomian gland channel. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification