System for inner eyelid treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction
First Claim
1. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
- a controller;
a lid warmer, wherein the lid warmer is adapted 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 a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland;
a heating element abutting against an eyelid side of the lid warmer so that heat generated is located adjacent an inner eyelid of the patient'"'"'s eye to apply heat to the meibomian gland;
a controller interface adapted to couple the controller to the lid warmer,wherein the controller is further adapted to;
send a first signal to the lid warmer to apply heat to the inner surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland; and
maintain the first signal to the lid warmer to maintain the heat on the inner surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid for a period of time; and
an eye cup that is of a size and shape to conform to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the eye cup, based on receiving a second signal from the controller, applies a force to the external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid sufficient to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction. A controller controls a lid warmer attached onto a patient'"'"'s eye to generate heat on the inside of the eyelid to provide conductive heat transfer to the meibomian glands. The application of heat 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 levels more quickly and efficiently when heating the inside of the eyelid. Reaching such higher temperature levels may be instrumental 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. An eyecup may be employed to generate a force on the outside of the patient'"'"'s eyelid to improve conductive heat transfer and reduce blood flow in the eyelid that causes convective heat loss. Thus, the application of force can further increase the temperature level and/or reduce the time to reach desired temperature levels for removing obstructions.
247 Citations
52 Claims
-
1. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
-
a controller; a lid warmer, wherein the lid warmer is adapted 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 a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland; a heating element abutting against an eyelid side of the lid warmer so that heat generated is located adjacent an inner eyelid of the patient'"'"'s eye to apply heat to the meibomian gland; a controller interface adapted to couple the controller to the lid warmer, wherein the controller is further adapted to; send a first signal to the lid warmer to apply heat to the inner surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland; and maintain the first signal to the lid warmer to maintain the heat on the inner surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid for a period of time; and an eye cup that is of a size and shape to conform to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the eye cup, based on receiving a second signal from the controller, applies a force to the external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid sufficient to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising:
-
a controller; a lid warmer, wherein the lid warmer is adapted 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 a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland; a controller interface adapted to couple the controller to the lid warmer, wherein the controller is further adapted to; send a first signal to the lid warmer to apply heat to the inner surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in a meibomian gland; and maintain the first signal to the lid warmer to maintain the heat on the inner surface of the patient'"'"'s eyelid for a period of time; and an eye cup that is of a size and shape to conform to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid, wherein the eye cup, based on receiving a second signal from the controller, applies a force to the external surface of a patient'"'"'s eyelid sufficient to express the obstruction from the meibomian gland. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
-
Specification