Dry eye treatment systems

• US 9,510,972 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2012
• Issued: 12/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sight Sciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sight Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Badawi, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiest, Philip R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zimbouski, Ariana
• Application Number:
  US13/645,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20130172829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,523 Days
• Field of Search: 604/294
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/124 specially adapted for the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0004 Eyes or part of the face surrounding the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0078 with a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0086 with a thermostat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0093 programmed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0094 using a remote control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0096 with a thermometer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0226 adhesive, self-sticking
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0242 heated by microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0244 with layers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/10 Wearable devices, e.g. garments, glasses or masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04

Abstract

Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. Moreover, the one or more strips may be configured to emit energy to the underlying region of skin and where the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomiam glands contained within the underlying region of skin.

Claims

1. A treatment system for dry eye syndrome, comprising:

an upper strip configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin of an upper eyelid of a subject such that the upper strip has a flexibility sufficient to accommodate movement of the upper eyelid to allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the upper strip;

a lower strip configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin of a lower eyelid of the subject, wherein the upper strip and lower strip are electrically coupled to one another; and

a controller in communication with the upper and lower strips via a connecting cable which transmits electrical energy to the upper and lower strips, the controller being programmable for a treatment therapy,

wherein the upper and lower strips are configured to receive the electrical energy and emit thermal energy to the underlying regions of skin, and

wherein the upper and lower strips each has a first curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a border of one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying regions of skin, and the upper and lower strips each further has a second curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a free margin of an upper or lower eyelid.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper strip and lower strip are electrically coupled to one another forming a wishbone design.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower strips comprise a contact surface for placement against the regions of skin.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower strips comprise a heating layer in thermal communication with the regions of skin.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a thermochromic layer in thermal communication with the heating layer.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is coupled to the connecting cable.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is programmed to control one or more parameters of the upper and lower strips.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the one or more parameters comprise a temperature, treatment time, frequency of treatment, or thermal profile of the upper and lower strips.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a portable electronic device removably coupled to the controller.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a smartphone or tablet.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the smartphone is programmed to provide an auditory, visual, or haptic indicator for communicating with the user.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower strips each has a thickness of up to 3.175 mm.

12. A method of treating dry eye syndrome, comprising:

adhering an upper strip to an upper eyelid of a subject such that the upper strip has a flexibility sufficient to accommodate movement of the upper eyelid to allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more strips while covering one or more meibomian glands contained within the upper eyelid with the upper strip, wherein the upper strip has a first curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a border of the one or more meibomian glands contained within the upper eyelid and a second curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a free margin of the upper eyelid;

adhering a lower strip to a lower eyelid of the subject such that one or more meibomian glands contained within the lower eyelid are covered by the lower strip, wherein the lower strip has a first curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a border of the one or more meibomian glands contained within the lower eyelid and a second curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a free margin of the lower eyelid, and wherein the upper strip and lower strip are electrically coupled to one another;

initiating a treatment with the upper and/or lower strips via a controller transmitting electrical energy to the upper and/or lower strips via a connecting cable; and

emitting thermal energy from the upper and/or lower strips to the upper and/or lower eyelids.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the upper and lower strips are adhered against a surface of skin.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein emitting thermal energy comprises applying thermal energy from a heating layer in the upper and lower strips.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein initiating comprises programming the upper and lower strips via a controller attached to the upper and lower strips.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein programming comprises controlling one or more parameters of the upper and lower strips.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling comprises controlling a temperature, treatment time, frequency of treatment, or thermal profile of the upper and lower strips.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein initiating further comprises displaying at least one parameter on a portable electronic device removably coupled to the controller.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising interfacing with a touch screen interface of the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising wirelessly communicating with the electronic device with a remote server.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the upper and lower strips each has a thickness of up to 3.175 mm.

23. A treatment system for dry eye syndrome, composing:

a first upper strip configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin of a first upper eyelid of a subject;

a second upper strip configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin of a second upper eyelid of the subject; and

a controller in communication with the first and second upper strips via a connecting cable which transmits electrical energy to the first and second upper strips, the controller being programmable for a treatment therapy,

wherein the first and second upper strips are each contoured with a first curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a border of one or more meibomian glands contained within the respective first and second upper eyelids and also each contoured with a second curved or arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a free margin of the respective first and second upper eyelids such that the first and second upper strips accommodate movement of the first and second upper eyelids to allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the first and second upper strips, and

wherein the first and second upper strips are configured to receive the electrical energy from the controller and emit thermal energy to the respective first and second upper eyelids.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the first and second upper strips each has a thickness of up to 3.175 mm.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the first and second upper strips are electrically coupled to one another via the connecting cable.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the first and second upper strips each comprise a contact surface for placement against the respective first and second upper eyelids.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the first and second upper strips each comprise a heating layer in thermal communication with the respective first and second upper eyelids.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the controller is coupled to the connecting cable via a port.

29. The system of claim 23 wherein the controller is programmed to control one or more parameters of the first and second upper strips.

30. The system of claim 28 wherein the one or more parameters comprise a temperature, treatment time, frequency of treatment, or thermal profile of the upper and lower strips.

31. The system of claim 23 further comprising a portable electronic device removably coupled to the controller.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a smartphone or tablet.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the smartphone is programmed to provide an auditory, visual, or haptic indicator for communicating with the user.