Systems and methods for the treatment of eye conditions

• US 9,763,827 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2014
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tear Film Innovations, Inc. (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kelleher, Brian S., Gambhir, Kabir
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Kaitlyn
• Application Number:
  US14/529,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20150057701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0004 Eyes or part of the face surrounding the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0087 Hand-held applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0088 Radiating heat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/00 Heating or cooling appliances for medical or therapeutic treatment of the human body heating or cooling means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses A47C21/00 ; massage, therapeutic baths A61H; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields or ultrasound A61N; electric heating elements H05B
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00718 Restoration of lid function
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0079 using non-laser electromagnetic radiation, e.g. non-coherent light or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0184 by raising an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0242 by a fluid circulating in the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0257 by a heat accumulator, e.g. a sand or liquid reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0285 : with Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 : with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5028 : Contact activation, i.e. activated at contact with a surface of the user to be treated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5038 : freely programmable by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 : Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 : Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 : wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/024 : Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/505 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 : using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 : with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 : using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/004 : specially adapted for a specific therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 : Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0643 : Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 : Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0654 : Lamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 : Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 : Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 : Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices used to treat eyelids, meibomian glands, ducts, and surrounding tissue are described herein. In some embodiments, an eye treatment device is disclosed, which includes a scleral shield positionable proximate an inner surface of an eyelid, the scleral shield being made of, or coated with, an energy-absorbing material activated by a light energy, and an energy transducer positionable outside of the eyelid, the energy transducer configured to provide light energy at one or more wavelengths, including a first wavelength selected to heat the energy-absorbing material.

Claims

1. A method of treating meibomian gland disease in at least a portion of an eyelid by a clinician, comprising:

positioning a back plate of a treatment device between an eyeball and an eyelid of a patient;

using the treatment device to heat tissue of the eyelid adjacent to the meibomian glands of the patient to a temperature sufficient to melt or soften meibum of the meibomian glands;

positioning a compressive element of the treatment device adjacent to the outer surface of the eyelid while the back plate of the treatment device is positioned between the eyeball and the eyelid, wherein the compressive element is mechanically linked to the back plate and an aperture exists between the back plate and the compressive element which permits viewing of the eyelid margin by the clinician through the aperture;

applying a compressive force to the eyelid using the compressive element or the back plate;

visually monitoring through the aperture the eyelid margin along the portion of the eyelid being treated while the compression force is being applied;

adjusting treatment to the eyelid while the compressive force is being applied and the eyelid margin is being viewed through the aperture in order to increase an amount of meibum expressed from the orifices.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting treatment to the eyelid comprises adjusting an amount of compressive force or an amount of heat applied to the eyelid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting treatment to the eyelid comprises adjusting an amount of compression applied to the eyelid by sliding the compressive element along a movement path relative to the eyelid and the back plate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressive element and the back plate are connected to a single housing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressive element compresses a portion of the eyelid without obstructing the clinician'"'"'s view of the eyelid margin adjacent to a compressed eyelid portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the eyelid margin is visually monitored through a magnifying lens.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the compressive element, magnifying lens, and the back plate are connected to a single housing.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the back plate and the magnifying lens are mechanically connected to maintain a fixedly spaced relationship.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the back plate and the magnifying lens are mechanically connected to maintain an adjustably spaced relationship.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the compressive element and the magnifying lens are mechanically connected to maintain a fixedly spaced relationship.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the compressive element and the magnifying lens are mechanically connected to maintain an adjustably spaced relationship.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the compressive element, magnifying lens, and the back plate are mechanically linked to a handheld housing.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the eyelid margin is viewed by the clinician via a camera and a display.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressive element and the back plate are mechanically linked to a handheld housing.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the back plate is rigidly linked to a handheld housing and the compressive element is movably linked to the handheld housing.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the compressive element is rigidly linked to a handheld housing and the back plate is movably linked to the handheld housing.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the both the compressive element and the back plate are movably linked to a handheld housing.