Liquid pipeline device for eye heating head

Abstract

The invention provides a liquid pipeline device for an eye heating head, and the device comprises a heating head connector which is used for connecting the eye heating head in a contact eyelid region in a use state; the pipeline channel is a liquid circulation channel, and the pipeline channel is connected with the heating head connector; the peristaltic pump is used for providing power required by liquid flowing; the temperature central control device is connected to the pipeline channel and is configured to control the temperature of the liquid; in the use state, the liquid pipeline device is connected with the eye heating head to form a closed channel, the peristaltic pump drives liquid in the liquid pipeline device and the eye heating head to flow circularly, and the technical bottlenecks of existing eye treatment equipment in the aspects of heating uniformity, temperature control precision and use cost are solved by optimizing heat conduction and temperature control.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to medical equipment, in particular to a liquid pipeline device for an eye heating head. Background Art

[0002] Dry eye syndrome is a common ocular surface disease, with primary clinical manifestations including dry eyes, foreign body sensation, burning sensation, visual fatigue, and red eyes. In recent years, with the increasing use of electronic screens, worsening environmental pollution, and the aging population, the incidence of dry eye syndrome has continued to rise, becoming a significant issue affecting visual health and quality of life worldwide. Studies have shown that meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is one of the primary causes of dry eye syndrome. Meibomian glands are specialized sebaceous glands located at the margins of the upper and lower eyelids. Normally, each eyelid contains approximately 30-40 meibomian glands, arranged in parallel and distributed longitudinally within the eyelid. Meibomian glands are primarily responsible for secreting lipid components, which form the lipid layer of the tear film, significantly reducing tear evaporation and maintaining tear film stability.

[0003] When the meibomian gland ducts become blocked or the glands become dysfunctional, the lipids they secrete cannot be discharged smoothly, the tear film lipid layer becomes thinner, and the tear evaporation rate is accelerated, causing the surface of the eyeball to be exposed to the air for a long time, thus causing dry eye. In this case, if the meibomian gland obstruction persists, the gland structure may undergo irreversible changes, including deformation, atrophy, or even complete loss. Once atrophy occurs, it will be difficult for the meibomian glands to return to their normal state. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention of meibomian gland dysfunction are of great significance for alleviating dry eye symptoms and preventing the disease from worsening.

[0004] Among dry eye treatment options, physical therapy methods such as hot compresses have demonstrated excellent clinical efficacy and high acceptance. The primary therapeutic mechanism of constant-temperature hot compresses is to heat the meibomian glands, softening the highly viscous or solidified lipids within them and promoting the discharge of glandular contents, thereby unclogging the ducts and restoring their normal secretory function.

[0005] In addition, hot compresses can promote blood circulation in the eye and surrounding tissues, relieve eye muscle tension, reduce visual fatigue, and improve patient comfort. Based on this principle, constant temperature heating technology is also widely used to treat other conditions related to eye inflammation, obstruction, or circulatory disorders, such as styes, chalazions, blepharitis, eye fatigue, and dry eyes.

[0006] Especially in the early stages of a chalazion or stye, hot compresses can effectively promote local blood circulation, alleviate inflammation, and promote the natural resorption of the lesion. Furthermore, in the later stages of recovery from eyelid trauma, such as periorbital hematoma (usually within 48 hours of injury), hot compresses can help absorb the hematoma, reduce soft tissue swelling and pain, and improve local skin color. These findings demonstrate the widespread and clinically effective application of constant-temperature hot compresses in ophthalmic treatment.

[0007] Traditional hot compress methods include using hot towels, steam eye masks, or electrically heated eye masks. While convenient, these methods have significant limitations. Hot towels cool easily, their temperature cannot be kept constant, and frequent replacement is inconvenient. Steam eye masks rely on chemical reactions to generate heat, resulting in imprecise temperature control and high disposable costs. While electrically heated eye masks can provide a relatively constant heat source, they can suffer from poor contact, uneven heating, and unstable temperatures. Furthermore, excessively high temperatures can cause damage to eye tissue, while excessively low temperatures make effective treatment difficult, impacting both treatment effectiveness and increasing eye safety risks.

[0008] In recent years, some eye heating heads that use electrodes as heat sources have appeared on the market. These devices achieve temperature control of the heated area through integrated heating plates and temperature sensors, improving the accuracy and stability of heating. However, since the eye heating heads need to directly contact the eyelids and even the surface of the eyeball, to ensure safety and hygiene, the contact materials must be medical-grade, disposable, which significantly increases the cost of consumables. The heating plates and temperature control elements are precision electronic components, and their integration into disposable heating heads further increases overall manufacturing and operating costs, limiting their promotion and application in primary medical institutions and daily home treatments.

[0009] On the other hand, some treatment devices attempt to use liquid as a heating medium, transferring heat from the heating source to the heating head through a liquid circulation system. Liquid heat transfer has high thermal capacity and stability, can maintain a constant temperature at low temperature differences, avoid local overheating, and the overall system cost is lower than electronic heating solutions. However, most existing liquid heating systems have imperfect circulation designs. In addition, some simplified design devices fail to fully achieve precise temperature control and local difference compensation in the heating area, and may still cause problems such as treatment temperature fluctuations and uneven heating that affect the efficacy.

[0010] Currently, ocular thermostats on the market generally face the following technical bottlenecks: (1) poor heat source stability and low temperature control accuracy; (2) high material cost of the heating head, making it difficult to achieve low-cost sustainable use; (3) the heating method carries the risk of local overheating or uneven heating; and (4) the system lacks a hygiene control mechanism, posing a risk of cross-infection. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new ocular thermostat liquid pipeline heating system that combines precise temperature control, uniform heat conduction, safe and convenient use, reasonable structural design, and low material cost to meet the growing needs of the ophthalmology field and improve the safety, effectiveness, and sustainability of the heating process. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a liquid pipeline device for an eye heating head, which is suitable for eye treatment devices that use liquid as a heating medium. It can ensure the safe and stable conduction of heat from the eye heating head during treatment. It is particularly suitable for physical treatment of ocular surface diseases such as dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction. It aims to solve the problems existing in the existing technology such as uneven heating, poor temperature control accuracy, high equipment usage cost, and difficulty in cleaning and maintenance.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, a liquid pipeline device for an eye heating head comprises: A heating head connector is connected to an eye heating head for contacting the eyelid area.

[0013] Peristaltic pump, a peristaltic pump is used to provide the power required for liquid flow.

[0014] The pipeline channel is a channel for liquid circulation. It is made of medical-grade stainless steel and has good corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. It is used to improve the safety and durability of the system.

[0015] The temperature central control device is connected to the pipeline channel and is configured to control the liquid temperature to achieve precise adjustment of the temperature of the output end of the eye heating head.

[0016] When in use, the liquid pipeline device is connected to the eye heating head to form a closed channel, and the peristaltic pump drives the liquid in the liquid pipeline device and the eye heating head to circulate.

[0017] Preferably, the liquid is clean water to which rust inhibitors and antibacterial agents are added. The liquid circulates in the liquid piping device and the eye heating head and does not directly contact the human body or the outside world, thereby reducing the risk of cross infection and liquid contamination.

[0018] Preferably, the liquid piping device further includes a self-cleaning water inlet and a self-cleaning water outlet. These self-cleaning water inlet and outlet are sealed when in use. In the cleaning mode, the self-cleaning water inlet is connected to a replacement liquid source, and the self-cleaning water outlet is connected to a waste liquid collector. The water inlet is used to inject new clean liquid during the cleaning mode, and the self-cleaning water outlet is used to drain existing liquid from the liquid piping device.

[0019] Preferably, the liquid piping device includes a cleaning module. When the liquid piping device receives a user signal to enter a cleaning state via a button, touchscreen, or other means, or automatically enters the cleaning state periodically according to a preset setting, the cleaning module activates the self-cleaning outlet to connect to the waste liquid collector. After the peristaltic pump completely drains the liquid from the pipeline channel, the self-cleaning inlet connects to the replacement liquid source, allowing clean liquid to flow into the pipeline channel. The self-cleaning process can be triggered by the user or automatically executed periodically, for example, once a month, to effectively prevent bacterial growth and pipe wall corrosion.

[0020] Preferably, the central temperature control device includes a temperature sensor, a heating plate, and a temperature negative feedback module. The temperature sensor is installed at the heater head connector and is used to sense the output temperature of the liquid at the end in real time. The heating plate is used to perform a temperature increase operation based on the signal fed back by the temperature sensor. The temperature negative feedback module includes an electronic control unit and a voltage regulation circuit, which is used to adjust the operating state of the heating plate in real time based on the difference between the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the set target temperature.

[0021] Preferably, the temperature negative feedback module adopts a DC voltage control method and includes a voltage converter, which is used to convert the voltage of the external power supply into a target voltage suitable for the heating plate, thereby achieving fine-grained control of the heating process and improving the sensitivity and stability of temperature regulation.

[0022] Preferably, the pipeline channel adopts a double-layer structure, the inner layer is a liquid circulation channel, and the outer layer is wrapped with a layer of insulation material.

[0023] Preferably, the self-cleaning water inlet and the self-cleaning water outlet are equipped with a filter screen.

[0024] Preferably, when in use, the liquid circulates through the peristaltic pump at a flow rate of 40-60 ml / min.

[0025] Furthermore, the system's structural design supports modular disassembly and assembly, facilitating independent maintenance and replacement of each unit and module (such as the heating head connector, peristaltic pump, and temperature control unit), making it suitable for continuous use and rapid maintenance in medical institutions and home scenarios.

[0026] Compared with traditional resistance heating, steam eye masks or electronic heating sheets, the liquid pipeline device for the eye heating head provided by the present invention has the following significant technical advantages: 1. Using liquid as heat medium, it has higher heat capacity and heat transfer uniformity, effectively avoiding the local overheating problem existing in traditional heating elements; 2. High temperature control accuracy, which can achieve temperature control within ±1°C, ensuring that the eye tissue receives hot compress treatment within a safe range; 3. The liquid circulation system is well sealed and highly safe, preventing liquid leakage or eye contamination; 4. One-touch automatic cleaning function reduces manual maintenance costs and improves hygiene standards; 5. The heating component is physically isolated from the parts that come into contact with the eyes, and all parts except the eye mask can be reused, significantly reducing operating costs.

[0027] Therefore, the liquid pipeline device for the eye heating head proposed in the present invention overcomes the technical difficulties of existing eye heating devices such as uneven heating, difficult maintenance of hygiene, and inaccurate temperature control, and has good clinical application prospects and industrial promotion value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a liquid pipeline device for an eye heating head according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the control flow of a liquid pipeline device for an eye heating head according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments serve to illustrate the operating principles of the present invention's fluid conduit device for an ocular heating head, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The present invention aims to provide a fluid conduit device for an ocular heating head that, by optimizing heat conduction, temperature control, and hygiene management, addresses the technical bottlenecks of existing ocular treatment equipment in heating uniformity, temperature control accuracy, and cost. The device is particularly suitable for the physical treatment of ocular surface diseases such as dry eye and meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

[0030] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a liquid pipeline device for an eye heating head according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the liquid pipeline device for the eye heating head includes a heating head connector 11, a peristaltic pump 12, a pipeline channel 13, a valve 14, a temperature control device 15, a self-cleaning water inlet 16 and a self-cleaning water inlet 17.

[0031] The heater connector 11, the terminal for outputting the liquid temperature, connects directly to the eye heater, which contacts the patient's eyelids. Made of medical-grade silicone, the heater has a smooth, soft surface, ensuring a secure fit and evenly distributing heat across the contact surface through heat conduction through the liquid.

[0032] The peristaltic pump 12 is the system's core power source. Through its unique extrusion-based operating principle, it generates stable pressure to drive the liquid through a continuous circulation within the tubing channel 13. Equipped with an adjustable speed motor, the peristaltic pump 12 allows users to adjust the flow rate based on treatment duration or liquid viscosity, enhancing system flexibility.

[0033] The conduit channel 13 is made of medical-grade stainless steel, which offers excellent corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. It resists oxidation and corrosion caused by prolonged liquid circulation, extending the device's service life and reducing the risk of infection. In a preferred embodiment, the conduit channel 13 employs a double-layer structure, with an inner layer serving as a liquid circulation channel and an outer layer wrapped in an insulating material to effectively reduce heat radiation and maintain liquid temperature stability.

[0034] The valve 14 is provided at a key node of the pipeline channel 13 to regulate the inflow and outflow of the liquid flow to ensure pressure balance and flow rate stability during the circulation process.

[0035] The temperature control device 15 is connected to the pipeline channel 13, and integrates a heating plate, a temperature sensor and an electronic control unit. It is responsible for real-time monitoring and adjusting the liquid temperature to maintain the output temperature within a constant range required for treatment, such as 37°C to 45°C, to meet the treatment needs of different patients.

[0036] The heating plate in the temperature control device 15 is made of high thermal conductivity aluminum-based material. According to the real-time data feedback from the temperature sensor, the temperature is adjusted by DC voltage. The target temperature can be set between 38°C and 42°C according to the patient's needs, covering the common temperature range of hot compresses for dry eye.

[0037] The central temperature control unit 15 features a built-in microprocessor and an integrated temperature negative feedback module. This voltage converter converts the 220V AC power from the external power supply into 5-12V DC power suitable for the heater, ensuring fine-grained control and energy efficiency during the heating process. During system operation, a temperature sensor monitors the liquid temperature at the heater head connector 11 in real time. The negative feedback module dynamically adjusts the heater power based on the difference between the sensed temperature and the set target temperature, ensuring uniform heat transfer and avoiding localized overheating or cold spots.

[0038] The temperature control unit 15 also supports multi-stage temperature settings, allowing users to select different temperature gradients based on the treatment phase. For example, starting at 38°C to soften lipids, increasing to 40°C in the middle to promote glandular secretion, and maintaining 42°C in the late stage to alleviate inflammation. The system also features a timer function, allowing treatment durations of 10 to 30 minutes to be set, with automatic shutdown to prevent overheating or patient discomfort.

[0039] The self-cleaning water inlet 16 and self-cleaning water outlet 17 are used to inject and discharge liquid during the cleaning state. Triggered by a user-activated one-touch clean button or periodically automatically, the cleaning module activates the cleaning state, cleaning the pipelines to prevent bacterial growth and corrosion, ensuring the long-term hygiene and safety of the system. In a preferred embodiment, the self-cleaning water inlet 16 and self-cleaning water outlet 17 are equipped with filters to prevent impurities from entering the pipelines, thereby extending the service life of the system.

[0040] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid is clean water to which rust inhibitors and antibacterial agents are added. Rust inhibitors such as phosphate compounds can effectively inhibit oxidation reactions on the surface of stainless steel pipes, while antibacterial agents such as quaternary ammonium compounds inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pipeline channel 13 supports modular disassembly, and the heating head connector 11, the peristaltic pump 12 and the temperature control device 15 can be replaced independently, which is convenient for maintenance and upgrading.

[0042] The heating head connector 11 and the eye heating head are designed to be detachable structures, and users can replace eye heating heads of different sizes or shapes as needed to adapt to the eye anatomical differences of children or adult patients.

[0043] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a control flow of a liquid pipeline device for an eye heating head according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the control process of the liquid pipeline device begins with starting the system in step 21, and then enters the treatment mode judgment in step 22. The system is divided into two modes: use state and cleaning state according to user selection or setting.

[0044] In use, peristaltic pump 12 is activated in step 23, and liquid circulates through the liquid conduit assembly and the enclosed passageway of the ophthalmic heating head. Liquid circulates through peristaltic pump 12 at a rate of 40-60 ml / min, an optimized flow rate that ensures efficient heat transfer while avoiding turbulence and energy waste caused by excessively high flow rates.

[0045] In step 25, the temperature sensor feeds back the liquid temperature at the heating head connector 11 to the temperature negative feedback module in real time. The module dynamically optimizes the temperature control by adjusting the voltage output of the heating plate to prevent temperature differences caused by ambient temperature changes, uneven liquid flow or pipeline heat loss.

[0046] The central temperature control device 15 achieves precise temperature regulation of the liquid through proportional-integral-differential control (PID control). PID control is a feedback control algorithm that dynamically adjusts the temperature based on system deviation (the difference between the target value and the actual output value). Its core concept is to calculate the control variable through a combination of proportional (P), integral (I), and differential (D) elements, dynamically adjusting the output power of the heater.

[0047] Step 27 determines whether the liquid temperature meets the standard. If the temperature meets the standard, step 29 is executed, and the temperature control device 15 maintains a constant temperature output and ensures that the temperature deviation is controlled within ±1°C through the temperature negative feedback module to meet the treatment safety and comfort of the eye tissue; if the temperature does not meet the standard, the temperature control device 15 adjusts the heating operation according to the real-time feedback of the temperature sensor, and continues to cycle steps 25 and 27 until the set target temperature is reached.

[0048] In the cleaning state, first execute step 24 to initiate the draining process. In step 26, the cleaning module activates the self-cleaning outlet 17 to open the drain valve, connecting it to the waste liquid collector. The peristaltic pump 12 then drains the liquid from the pipeline 13. In step 28, the cleaning module activates the self-cleaning inlet 16 to open the refill valve, connecting it to the replacement liquid source, allowing clean liquid to flow into the pipeline 13. This draining and refilling process can be repeated multiple times. After the final refilling of the pipeline 13, the self-cleaning process is complete. Step 30 is executed to close all valves, and step 31 is executed to reset the system, followed by step 22 again. Valve 14 is open in the cleaning state, allowing old liquid to be discharged through the self-cleaning water outlet 17 and new liquid to enter from the self-cleaning water inlet 16. The cleaning cycle is preferably set to once a month. The cleaning process uses warm water mixed with a low concentration of disinfectant to thoroughly remove residues and potential microorganisms in the pipeline.

[0049] In addition, the liquid pipeline device for the eye heating head also includes a fault detection function. When the temperature is abnormal or the pump pressure is insufficient, the system will automatically pause operation and issue an alarm to prompt the user to perform inspection or maintenance.

[0050] In practical applications, the liquid piping device for the eye heating head provided by the present invention is suitable for physical treatment of various eye diseases. Taking dry eye as an example, when using it, the patient only needs to fit the heating head connector 11 to the eyelid, start the system 21, set the target temperature to 40°C, and the peristaltic pump 12 drives the liquid circulation. The temperature control device 15 maintains a constant temperature through PID control. During the treatment process, heat is conducted through the liquid to soften the coagulated lipids in the meibomian glands, promote their discharge, restore the stability of the tear film, and significantly relieve dry eyes and foreign body sensation. For patients with chalazion or stye, the system can promote local blood circulation and accelerate the disappearance of inflammation by raising the temperature to 42°C. For the recovery of hematoma after eyelid trauma, the temperature is set at 38°C, which helps soften the tissue and promote absorption.

[0051] To validate the effectiveness of the fluid conduit device for the ocular heating head, a clinical simulation test was conducted. Ten patients with dry eye syndrome used the system for 20 minutes of daily hot compress treatment for two consecutive weeks. The results showed that the patients' tear breakup time (TBUT) was extended by an average of approximately 3 seconds, their Schirmer test values increased by approximately 5 mm, and their symptom scores decreased by approximately 30%, demonstrating that the system is significantly effective in improving tear film function and alleviating symptoms.

[0052] At the same time, after monthly cleaning of the pipeline channel, the total bacterial count was lower than the national medical equipment hygiene standard (less than 10 CFU / mL), verifying the reliability of the self-cleaning design.

[0053] The present invention has significant advantages over the existing technology. Traditional hot towels or steam eye masks are difficult to meet long-term treatment needs due to unstable temperature and inconvenience in use. Although electric heating eye masks provide constant temperature, the high cost of integrated electronic components and the difficulty in ensuring hygiene limit their popularity. The present invention uses liquid as a heat medium, which has a high heat capacity and heat transfer uniformity, avoiding the problem of local overheating; the temperature control accuracy is high, meeting the treatment requirement of ±1°C; the closed-circulation liquid system and one-button cleaning function effectively reduce the risk of cross-infection; the modular design and reusable components significantly reduce operating costs. The above characteristics make the present invention have broad application prospects in both clinical ophthalmic treatment and home self-treatment.

[0054] In summary, the liquid conduit device for an eye heater provided by this invention overcomes many technical difficulties associated with existing eye heaters by optimizing heat conduction, precise temperature control, and hygienic management. Future developments could include portable versions or integration with smart devices to enable remote monitoring and personalized treatment plans, meeting diverse market demands.

Claims

1. A liquid pipeline device for an eye heating head, characterized in that: include: A heating head connector, the heating head connector being used to connect the eye heating head contacting the eyelid area when in use; A pipeline channel, the pipeline channel is a channel for liquid circulation, and the pipeline channel is connected to the heating head connector; A peristaltic pump, wherein the peristaltic pump is used to provide power required for liquid flow; a temperature control device connected to the pipeline channel and configured to control the liquid temperature; When in use, the liquid pipeline device is connected to the eye heating head to form a closed channel, and the peristaltic pump drives the liquid in the liquid pipeline device and the eye heating head to circulate.

2. The liquid pipeline device according to claim 1, characterized in that The liquid is clean water added with rust inhibitor and bacteriostat.

3. The liquid pipeline device according to claim 1, characterized in that The liquid pipeline device also includes a self-cleaning water inlet and a self-cleaning water outlet. When in the use state, the self-cleaning water inlet and the self-cleaning water outlet are closed; when in the cleaning state, the self-cleaning water inlet is connected to the replacement liquid source, and the self-cleaning water outlet is connected to the waste liquid collector.

4. The liquid pipeline device according to claim 3, characterized in that The liquid pipeline device includes a cleaning module. When the liquid pipeline device enters the cleaning state, the cleaning module drives the self-cleaning water outlet to connect with the waste liquid collector. After the peristaltic pump discharges the liquid from the pipeline channel, the self-cleaning water inlet is connected with the replacement liquid source, and the cleaning liquid flows into the pipeline channel.

5. The liquid pipeline device according to claim 1, characterized in that The temperature central control device includes a temperature sensor, a heating plate and a temperature negative feedback module; the temperature sensor is installed at the heating head connector and is used to sense the output temperature of the liquid at the end in real time; the heating plate is used to perform a heating operation according to the signal feedback from the temperature sensor; the temperature negative feedback module includes an electronic control unit and a voltage regulation circuit, which is used to adjust the working state of the heating plate in real time according to the difference between the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and the set target temperature.

6. The liquid pipeline device according to claim 5, characterized in that The temperature negative feedback module adopts a DC voltage control method and includes a voltage converter. The voltage converter is used to convert the voltage of an external power supply into a target voltage adapted to the heating plate.

7. The liquid pipeline device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipeline channel adopts a double-layer structure, the inner layer is a liquid circulation channel, and the outer layer is wrapped with a layer of insulation material.

8. The liquid pipeline device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The self-cleaning water inlet and the self-cleaning water outlet are equipped with filter screens.

9. The liquid pipeline device according to claim 1, characterized in that: When in use, the liquid circulates through the peristaltic pump at a flow rate of 40-60 ml / min.

10. The liquid pipeline device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pipeline channel, heating head connector, peristaltic pump and temperature control device are all independent detachable modules.

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