APPARATUS FOR TREATING MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION

• US 20120016275A1
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Published: 01/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Korb, Donald R., Willis, Timothy R., Gravely, Benjamin T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,685,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/17
• 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 2018/046 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/048 in gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0004 Eyes or part of the face surrounding the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0059 with an open fluid circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00772 Apparatus for restoration of tear ducts
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0014 cylinder-like, i.e. rollers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/00 Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for electro-medical massage devices applying electric current by contact A61N1/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0643 Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/025 Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser 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

Abstract

An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction caused by meibomian gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the meibomian 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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating dry eye in humans wherein a flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland of an eyelid, the apparatus comprising:

an energy source configured to apply energy to the eyelid for softening the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland; and

a force applicator for applying a regulated force to the eyelid in order to express the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the force applicator is configured to apply the regulated force such that the regulated force milkingly compresses the eyelid to express the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a back plate, wherein the back plate and the force applicator are configured such that the eyelid may be positioned between the back plate and the force applicator;

and

wherein the force applicator is configured to be actuated such that the eyelid is gripped between the force applicator and the back plate to apply the regulated force to the eyelid to express the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the energy source is configured to apply thermal energy to the obstruction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the thermal energy applied is selected from a group of heat generating modalities consisting of conduction, convection and radiation.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the energy source is configured to apply thermal energy to the obstruction sufficient to heat the obstruction to between about 37°

C. and about 47°

C.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the energy source is coupled to an eyelid surface and is configured to at least in part milkingly compress the eyelid to express the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through the meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the force applicator comprises a roller.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the force applicator is partially or completely disposed in a hand held device.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one or more of the energy source and the force applicator are configured to be coupled to the eyelid.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a temperature measurement and feedback control loop configured to maintain an amount of energy applied by the energy source.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the force applicator is configured to apply an adjustable constant force and a pulsatile force as part of the regulated force.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a vacuum for applying suction to assist in expressing the softened obstruction from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through the meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland.

14. An apparatus for treating dry eye in humans wherein a flow of naturally occurring secretion to an eye is occluded due to the presence of an obstruction located within a meibomian gland channel of a meibomian gland in an eyelid, the apparatus comprising:

an energy source configured to apply thermal energy to the eyelid for softening the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland to heat the obstruction to a temperature sufficient to turn the obstruction from a solid to a flowable state; and

a force applicator for applying a regulated force to the eyelid in order to express the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an orifice of the meibomian gland.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the energy source is configured to heat the obstruction to a temperature of between about 42°

C. and about 46°

C.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the force applicator is configured to apply the regulated force such that the regulated force milkingly compresses the eyelid to express the softened obstruction from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through a meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a back plate,

wherein the back plate and the force applicator are configured such that the eyelid may be positioned between the back plate and the force applicator, and

wherein the force applicator is configured to be actuated such that the eyelid is gripped between the force applicator and the back plate to apply the regulated force to the eyelid to express the softened obstruction from within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through the meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the thermal energy applied is selected from a group of heat generating modalities comprising conduction, convection and radiation.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the force applicator is partially or completely disposed in a hand held device.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein one or more of the energy source and the force applicator is coupled to the eyelid.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the force applicator is configured to apply an adjustable constant force and a pulsatile force as part of the regulated force.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14 further including an applicator for applying a pharmacological agent to the meibomian gland.

23. The apparatus according to claim 14 further including a vacuum for applying suction to assist in the extraction of the softened obstruction from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through the meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland.

24. The apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising a temperature measurement and feedback control loop configured to maintain an amount of thermal energy applied by the energy source.