Method and apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction

• US 8,025,689 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2010
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: TearScience Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Willis, Timothy R., Korb, Donald R., Gravely, Benjamin T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SMITH, KAITLYN ELIZABETH
• Application Number:
  US12/821,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 607/96, 604/289
• US Class Current: 607/96
• 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

A method and apparatus for treating gland dysfunction caused by gland obstruction in order to restore the natural flow of secretion from the 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. A method of 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 and comprising:

lifting the eyelid away from the eye;

softening the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland; and

applying a regulated force to the eyelid.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the regulated force is applied by an energy source coupled to an eyelid surface for mincingly compressing 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 method according to claim 2 wherein the energy source coupled to the eyelid surface for milkingly compressing 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 comprises a roller.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the eyelid is positioned between a back plate and a force applicator, and the method further comprises:

actuating the force applicator 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.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of softening comprises the application of thermal energy to the obstruction.

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

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of softening further includes heating the obstruction to between about 37°

C. to about 47°

C.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of applying a regulated force to the eyelid is performed with a hand held device.

9. A method of 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 and comprising:

lifting the eyelid away from the eye;

softening the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through an application of thermal energy to heat the obstruction to a temperature sufficient to turn the obstruction from a solid to a flowable state; and

applying a regulated force to the eyelid.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the obstruction is heated to a temperature of between about 42°

C. and about 46°

C.

11. The method according to claim 10 further including applying vacuum to extract the softened obstruction from the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland through the meibomian gland orifice of the meibomian gland.

12. The method according to claim 9 wherein the regulated force is applied by an energy source coupled to an eyelid surface for milkingly compressing 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.

13. The method according to claim 9 wherein the eyelid is positioned between a back plate and a force applicator, and the method further comprises:

actuating the force applicator 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.

14. The method according to claim 9 wherein the thermal energy applied is selected from a group of heat generating modalities comprising conduction, convection and radiation.

15. The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of applying a regulated force to the eyelid is performed with a hand held device.

16. The method according to claim 9 wherein the regulated force comprises an adjustable constant force and a pulsatile force.

17. The method according to claim 9 further including applying a pharmacological agent to the meibomian gland.

18. A method of 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:

coupling a device to the eyelid;

softening the obstruction located within the meibomian gland channel of the meibomian gland with regulated heat; and

applying a regulated force and heat via the device to the eyelid.

19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the regulated force is applied to an eyelid surface to 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.

20. The method according to claim 18 wherein the regulated heat is selected from a group of heat generating modalities comprising conduction, convection and radiation.

21. The method according to claim 18 wherein the regulated heat is maintained by a temperature measurement and feedback control loop.

22. The method according to claim 18 wherein the step of softening further includes heating the obstruction to between about 37°

C. and about 47°

C.