Apparatuses for treatment of meibomian glands
First Claim
1. An apparatus treating mammalian meibomian glands wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion from a meibomian gland is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction within a meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland, comprising:
- a heater configured to apply regulated heat to an eyelid containing the meibomian glands to reach a temperature adequate to melt obstructions within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian glands and place the obstructions in a melted state;
a controller configured to maintain the heat for a time period adequate to melt the obstructions and place the obstructions in the melted state; and
a mechanical treatment applicator configured to mechanically treat one or more of the meibomian glands, wherein the mechanical treatment applicator is configured to contact the eyelid and to apply a directional compressive 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 while the obstruction remains in the melted state, wherein the directional compressive force expresses the melted obstructions located within the meibomian gland channel from within the meibomian gland channel through a meibomian gland orifice.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus for treating mammalian meibomian glands involves clearing the meibomian glands. The apparatus comprises a heater configured to apply a regulated heat to an eyelid containing the meibomian glands to a temperature adequate to melt obstructions in the meibomian glands to put the obstructions in a fluid or suspension (melted) state, and a controller maintaining the heat for a time period adequate to melt the obstructions. The glands can then be mechanically treated by a mechanical treatment applicator to express fluid from the glands by using a compressive force, wherein the treating is carried out either during the time period or after the time period but while the obstruction remains in a fluid state. Subsequent pharmacological treatment of the glands by use a pharmacological agent (topical or systemic) can then be used to assist in maintaining proper flow of lipids from the glands. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. An apparatus treating mammalian meibomian glands wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion from a meibomian gland is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction within a meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland, comprising:
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a heater configured to apply regulated heat to an eyelid containing the meibomian glands to reach a temperature adequate to melt obstructions within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian glands and place the obstructions in a melted state; a controller configured to maintain the heat for a time period adequate to melt the obstructions and place the obstructions in the melted state; and a mechanical treatment applicator configured to mechanically treat one or more of the meibomian glands, wherein the mechanical treatment applicator is configured to contact the eyelid and to apply a directional compressive 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 while the obstruction remains in the melted state, wherein the directional compressive force expresses the melted obstructions located within the meibomian gland channel from within the meibomian gland channel through a meibomian gland orifice. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus treating mammalian meibomian glands wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion from a meibomian gland is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction within a meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland, comprising:
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a heater configured to apply regulated heat of at least approximately 37 degrees Celsius to an eyelid containing the meibomian glands to melt obstructions within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian glands and place such obstructions in a melted state; a controller configured to maintain the heat for a time period adequate to melt the obstructions and place the obstructions in the melted state, and wherein the time period is between approximately 10 and 60 minutes; and a mechanical treatment applicator configured to mechanically treat one or more of the meibomian glands, wherein the mechanical treatment applicator is configured to contact the eyelid and to apply a directional compressive 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 while the obstruction remains in the melted state, wherein the directional compressive force expresses the melted obstructions located within the meibomian gland channel from within the meibomian gland channel through a meibomian gland orifice. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An apparatus treating mammalian meibomian glands wherein the flow of naturally occurring secretion from a meibomian gland is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction within a meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland, comprising:
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a heater configured to apply regulated heat in the range of approximately 44 to 47 degrees Celsius to an eyelid containing the meibomian glands to melt obstructions within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian glands and place the obstructions in a melted state; a controller configured to maintain the heat for a time period adequate to melt the obstructions and place the obstructions in the melted state, wherein the time period is between approximately 10 and 60 minutes; and a mechanical treatment applicator configured to mechanically treat one or more of the meibomian glands, wherein the mechanical treatment applicator is configured to contact the eyelid and to apply a directional compressive 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 while the obstruction remains in the melted state, wherein the directional compressive force expresses fluid or suspension of the obstructions located within the meibomian gland channel from within the meibomian gland channel through a meibomian gland, and wherein the mechanical treatment applicator is at least partially heated during the mechanical treatment. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. An apparatus treating meibomian gland dysfunction in a mammal wherein an occlusion blocks at least a portion of the flow of naturally occurring secretions out of a meibomian gland channel having a meibomian gland orifice comprising:
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a regulated heat source configured to apply a regulated heat from the regulated heat source proximate to the meibomian gland orifice for a selected time and at a selected temperature adequate to soften or liquefy at least a portion of the occlusion; and a mechanical treatment applicator configured to mechanically treat the meibomian gland channel using a directional compressive force while the at least a portion of the occlusion remains softened or liquefied, wherein the mechanical treatment applicator is configured to contact the eyelid and to apply the directional compressive 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, wherein the directional compressive force removes at least a portion of the occlusion located within the meibomian gland channel from within the meibomian gland channel through the meibomian gland orifice. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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69. An apparatus treating meibomian gland dysfunction in a mammal wherein an occlusion blocks at least a portion of the flow of naturally occurring secretions out of a meibomian gland channel having a meibomian gland orifice comprising:
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a regulated heat source configured to be placed proximate to the meibomian gland orifice for a selected time and at a selected temperature adequate to loosen, breakup, fracture, soften or liquefy at least a portion of the occlusion; and a mechanical treatment applicator configured to mechanically treat the meibomian gland channel prior to reversal of the effects of the application of the regulated heat source, wherein the mechanical treatment applicator is configured to contact an eyelid and to apply a directional compressive 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, wherein the directional compressive force removes at least a portion of the occlusion located within the meibomian gland channel from within the meibomian gland channel through the meibomian gland orifice.
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Specification