Methods, apparatuses, and systems for reducing intraocular pressure as a means of preventing or treating open-angle glaucoma

Abstract

Embodiments include methods, apparatuses, and systems for reducing elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in a patient to either prevent or treat open-angle glaucoma. Heat is applied to the trabecular meshwork in the patient's eye without damaging proteins in the trabecular meshwork. The application of heat to the trabecular meshwork has the effect of relaxing or loosening protein clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork, which are either reducing or obstructing of the outflow of aqueous humor, thereby increasing the patient's IOP and causing ocular hypertension (OHT). By loosening or relaxing clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork, the outflow path for aqueous humor is increased or restored, which can lower IOP and either prevent or treat glaucoma. Force may also be applied to the patient's eye to apply pressure to the trabecular meshwork to further assist in the loosening or relaxing of clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 541,291 filed on Sep. 26, 2006 and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING MEIBOMIAN GLAND DYSFUNCTION EMPLOYING FLUID JET,” which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 434,033 filed on May 15, 2006 and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING GLAND DYSFUNCTION EMPLOYING HEATED MEDIUM,” which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 700,233 filed on Jul. 18, 2005 and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING GLAND DYSFUNCTION,” all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.[0002]The present application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 541,308 filed on Sep. 29, 2006 and entitled “MELTING MEIBOMIAN GLAND OBSTRUCTIONS,” which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 434,054 filed on May 16, 2006 and entitled “METHOD AND A...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]Embodiments of the present invention include methods, apparatuses, and systems for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) levels in a patient as a means of either preventing or treating open-angle glaucoma. The breakthrough of the present invention is that heat, when applied at a temperature above body temperature and directed to the trabecular meshwork in the patient's eyes, can sustainably reduce IOP. The application of heat to the trabecular meshwork has the effect of loosening or relaxing protein clogs or blockages or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork that may either be reducing or obstructing of the outflow of aqueous humor thereby increasing the patient's IOP as a result. Preferably, the heat is directed to circumference area of the sclera in a line towards the trabecular meshwork and outside or out of line with the pupil and iris of the eye for safety reasons. This may also enable higher temperatures of heat to be applied to compensate for any heat transfer losses that may occur. The applied heat can be diffuse and non-focused to direct heat energy to the trabecular meshwork via intervening tissue.

[0012]Force can also applied to the patient's eye globe to apply pressure to the trabecular meshwork. Pressure can further assist in the loosening or relaxing of protein clogs or other inhibitors in the trabecular meshwork. The force may be increased and decreased continuously to provide a massaging force to the trabecular meshwork. The relaxation of protein clogs or blockages or other inhibitors has the effect of restoring the outflow of aqueous and sustainably lowering IOP for treating open-angle glaucoma.

Problems solved by technology

In some people, the damage may be caused by poor blood supply to the vital optic nerve fibers, a weakness in the structure of the nerve, or a problem in the health of the nerve fibers themselves.

However in most people, this damage is the result of a reduction or blockage of circulation of aqueous or its drainage, known as open-angle glaucoma.

As a result, intraocular pressure (IOP) can rise, causing ocular hypertension (OHT).

Both can be used to decrease the production of aqueous humor in the eye, but side effects can occur, including headaches, eye irritation, and / or blurred or dimmed vision.

Further, the effectiveness of medication diminish over time.

Several issues can exist with laser trabeculoplasty.

One issue is that the IOP lowering effect tends to disappear over time.

IOP may only be adequately controlled for just a few years.

Successive treatment may be limited without risking coagulative damage to the trabecular meshwork.

Another issue that may be encountered with laser trabeculoplasty is pressure spiking.

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