Apparatus for inner eyelid treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction

Abstract

An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction. A lid warmer may be attached onto a patient's eye to apply 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 also 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.

1 . An apparatus for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising: 
 a lid warmer, comprising: 
 an insulator; and  
 a heating element embedded in the insulator,  
   wherein the lid warmer is adapted to be positioned behind a patient's eyelid on the external surface of the sclera of a patient's eye, and    wherein the lid warmer is adapted to apply heat, via the heating element, to the inner surface of the patient's eyelid applying a heat to tissue proximate a patient's meibomian gland to a temperature level to melt, loosen, or soften an obstruction in the meibomian gland.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator is adapted to be positioned behind a patient's eyelid on the external surface of the sclera of a patient's eye.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the lid warmer further comprises a platform that extends from the insulator.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator further comprises an electrical interface coupled to the heating element such that electricity is applied to the heating element to generate heat when an energy source is coupled to the electrical interface.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a controller interface adapted to be coupled to a controller,    wherein the controller interface is coupled to the heating element to couple the controller to the heating element.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the controller interface comprises electrical wiring, wherein the electrical wiring electrically couples to the heating element.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator further comprises at least one thermistor to sense the heat generated by the heating element.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator further comprises a fuse, wherein the fuse is in tact if the insulator has not been previously installed on a patient's eye.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein insulator comprises an insulation that surrounds the heating element to prevent heat created by the heating element from damaging the patient's eye when positioned on the patient's eye.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the insulation is comprised of air.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator is comprised from a material from the group consisting of: Lexan, plastic, a biocompatible material, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and epoxy.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an eyecup comprising a bladder, wherein the eyecup is adapted to be positioned on the external surface of the patient's eyelid,    wherein the eyecup is adapted to apply a force, via the bladder, to the external surface of the patient's eyelid.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the bladder is expandable to apply a force to the external surface of the patient's eyelid.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the lid warmer contains a lid warmer platform that extends from the insulator.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the lid warmer contains a platform that extends from the lens and wherein the platform extends through an orifice in the eyecup to sandwich the patient's eyelid between the insulator and the bladder.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the insulator further comprises an electrical interface coupled to the heating element such that electricity is applied to the heating element to generate heat when an energy source is coupled to the electrical interface.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the eyecup comprises a carrier having a carrier interface that is coupled to the electrical interface when the lid warmer platform is inserted into an orifice of the eyecup.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the eyecup further comprises a latching mechanism that is engaged to allow the lid warmer platform to be removed from an orifice of the eyecup.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the latching mechanism is comprised of finger grips that are gripped and squeezed to release the lid warmer platform from the eyecup orifice to release the lid warmer from the eyecup.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the eyecup comprises a carrier having a carrier interface that is coupled to the electrical interface when the lid warmer platform is inserted into the orifice of the eyecup, and 
 wherein the latching mechanism is comprised of a carrier platform formed as part of the carrier and a eyecup platform coupled to the eyecup that together form a clip that when squeezed, releases the lid warmer platform from the eyecup orifice to release the lid warmer from the eyecup.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 a controller interface adapted to be coupled to a controller;    wherein the carrier interface is coupled to the controller interface to couple the controller to the bladder and the heating element when the lid warmer platform is inserted into the eyecup orifice.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the controller interface comprises electrical wiring, and a pneumatic tubing, wherein the electrical wiring electrically couples to the heating element and the pneumatic tubing fluidly couples to the bladder when the lid warmer platform is inserted into the eyecup orifice.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the insulator contains a temperature regulator to regulate the energy applied to the heating element to regulate the heat generated by the heating element.