Adjustable weighted eyelid closure devices and methods

Abstract

Provided herein are embodiments of a weighted eyelid closure device for use in treating lagophthalmos. In accordance with an embodiment, the device can be implanted by an oculoplastic surgeon into a patient's eyelid, to treat lagophthalmos. The device's weight can then be adjusted later by the surgeon, if necessary, without requiring removal of the entire device. For example, if it is discovered that an implanted device is too heavy or too light after it has been implanted within the patient's eyelid, the load of the device can be adjusted by modifying the previous load. Alternatively, a new load having the desired weight can be implanted.

1 . A weighted eyelid closure device, which can be implanted within a patient's eyelid to treat lagopthalmos, comprising:
 a base unit, formed in an elongated shape, and having obverse and reverse faces,
 wherein the base unit is sized so that it can be implanted within the interior of a patient's eyelid, and includes a plurality of pouches, and 
 wherein the elongated shape approximately matches that of the eyelid or eye; 
   a plurality of loads positioned within the plurality of pouches and arranged such that a weight of the plurality of loads is distributed non-uniformly across the elongated shape of the base unit; and   wherein the base unit is implanted within the patient's eyelid to treat lagopthalmos.   
     
     
         2 . The weighted eyelid closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pouches are a woven polymer material. 
     
     
         3 . The weighted eyelid closure device of  claim 1 , further including:
 a plurality of suture holes, distributed around the faces of the base unit, which allow the base unit to be attached to the interior of the eyelid.   
     
     
         4 . The weighted eyelid closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pouches include inner pouches and outer pouches, and wherein the plurality of loads incased in the inner pouches have a total weight greater than the plurality of loads incased in the outer pouches. 
     
     
         5 . The weighted eyelid closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pouches include inner pouches and outer pouches, and wherein the plurality of loads incased in the outer pouches have a total weight greater than the plurality of loads incased in the inner pouches. 
     
     
         6 . The weighted eyelid closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pouches include inner pouches and outer pouches, and wherein the inner pouches include a load made of a material that resists a change in shape, and wherein the outer pouches include a load made of a flexible material. 
     
     
         7 . The weighed eyelid closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit are the plurality of pouches are a color that blends with the color of the patient's eyelid. 
     
     
         8 . The weighted eyelid closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of loads are made of a mixture of a first material and a second material of a lower and/or equal atomic weight than the first material. 
     
     
         9 . The weighed eyelid closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of loads are made of tantalum. 
     
     
         10 . The weighted eyelid closure device of  claim 1 , further including:
 a plurality of trial weights each having a different weight, said plurality of trial weights adapted to adhere to an exterior of an eyelid to determine a weight that closes the patient's eyelid.   
     
     
         11 . A method for implanting a weighted eyelid closure device within a patient's eyelid to treat lagopthalmos, said method comprising the steps of:
 selecting a base unit, formed in an elongated shape, and having obverse and reverse faces,
 wherein the base unit is sized so that it can be implanted within the interior of a patient's eyelid, and includes a plurality pouches, and wherein the plurality of pouches include inner pouches and outer pouches, and 
 wherein the elongated shape approximately matches that of the eyelid or eye; 
   selecting a plurality of loads positioned within the plurality of pouches and arranged such that a weight of the plurality of loads are distributed non-uniformly across the elongated shape of the base unit; and   implanting the base unit within the patient's eyelid to treat lagopthalmos.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a based unit wherein the plurality of pouches are a woven polymer material.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 implanting the base unit using a plurality of suture holes distributed around the faces of the base unit, wherein the plurality of suture holes allow the base unit to be attached to the interior of the eyelid.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 incasing the plurality of loads in the inner pouches such that the inner pouches have a total weight greater than a weight of the plurality of loads incased in the outer pouches.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 incasing the plurality of loads in the outer pouches such that the outer pouches have a total weight greater than a weight of the plurality of loads incased in the inner pouches.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a base unit wherein the inner pouches include a load made of a material that resists a change in shape, and wherein the outer pouches include a load made of a flexible material.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a base unit including the plurality of pouches that are a color that blends with the color of the patient's eyelid.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a plurality of loads that include a mixture of a first material and a second material of a lower and/or equal atomic weight than the first material.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a plurality of loads that are made of tantalum.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a plurality of trial weights each having a different weight, said plurality of trial weights adapted to adhere to an exterior of an eyelid to determine a weight that closes the patient's eyelid.