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The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 9314369 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Apr. 19, 2016

Filed:

Jan. 17, 2008

System for inner eyelid treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction

Applicants:

Stephen M. Grenon, Durham, NC (US);

John Martin Jans, Hillsborough, NC (US);

Jordan W. Hutchinson, Durham, NC (US);

Keith Gausmann, Cary, NC (US);

Inventors:

Stephen M. Grenon, Durham, NC (US);

John Martin Jans, Hillsborough, NC (US);

Jordan W. Hutchinson, Durham, NC (US);

Keith Gausmann, Cary, NC (US);

Assignee:

TearScience, Inc., Morrisville, NC (US);

Attorney:

Withrow & Terranova, PLLC

Primary Examiner:

Cris L Rodriguez

Assistant Examiner:

Hao D Mai

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A61F 7/00 (2006.01); A61F 9/007 (2006.01); A61F 7/12 (2006.01); A61H 7/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/12 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/04 (2006.01); A61H 15/00 (2006.01); A61N 7/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
A61F 7/12 (2013.01); A61F 9/00772 (2013.01); A61H 7/00 (2013.01); A61B 18/12 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00084 (2013.01); A61B 2018/046 (2013.01); A61B 2018/048 (2013.01); A61F 7/007 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0004 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0059 (2013.01); A61H 2015/0014 (2013.01); A61N 7/00 (2013.01);
Abstract

A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction. A controller controls a lid warmer attached onto a patient's eye to generate 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 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.

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