67 results about "Lacrimal fluid" patented technology

A therapeutic lens for the treatment of an epithelial defect comprises a layer of therapeutic material disposed over the stroma and / or Bowman's membrane to inhibit water flow from the tear liquid to the stroma and / or Bowman's membrane, such that corneal deturgescence can be restored to decrease corneal swelling and light scattering. The layer may cover and protect nerve fibers to decrease pain. The layer may comprise an index of refraction to inhibit light scatter from an anterior surface of the stroma and / or Bowman's membrane. The lens may comprise a curved anterior surface that provides functional vision for the patient when the epithelium regenerates. The layer of therapeutic material can be positioned on the eye in many ways, for example with a spray that is cured to adhere the layer to the exposed surface of the stroma and / or Bowman's membrane.

Disclosed is a flexible insert (100) for placement on the human eye, comprising a light source (110) in said insert such that light emitted from the light source is shielded from the human eye upon correct placement of the insert on the human eye, a light-responsive material (120) placed in the light path of the light source, said light-responsive material emitting light upon stimulation by the light from said light source, the intensity of said stimulated emission being sensitive to a chemical interaction of the light-sensitive material with an analyte of interest, a photodetector (130) for detecting the light emitted by the light-responsive material; and a transmitter (140) coupled to the photodetector for transmitting a photodetector reading. The insert may be used in conjunction with a reader for automated monitoring of an analyte of interest such as glucose in the tear fluid of its wearer.

An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to safely deliver an ophthalmic fluid, the ophthalmic fluid atomizer including a body having a proximal end and a distal end and a reservoir connected to the body, wherein the reservoir contains an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein, wherein the ophthalmic fluid is selected from the group consisting of a decongestant and a tear substitute. The atomizer further includes a discharge plate disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough. The atomizer further includes a propulsion means for transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the reservoir to the discharge plate, wherein transmission of the ophthalmic fluid across the discharge plate generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels unassisted from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum that has a magnitude that is insufficient to trigger at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye.

An ocular plug design and method of insertion is described for the treatment of dry eye. This ocular plug is generally a narrow rod-like cylinder of appropriate diameter, which may be tapered at one end, for insertion into an ocular channel, such as the punctum or the canaliculus. The plug is prepared from a hydrophilic polymeric material which forms a hydrogel upon absorption of water, but is rigid in its nonhydrated form. The plug is hydrated, formed into a length and diameter which is appropriate for insertion into an ocular channel (i.e., it is elongated), and dried so as to become frozen in its elongated state prior to insertion into the ocular channel. Once inserted into the ocular channel, the plug absorbs water, thereby becoming a hydrogel which is soft and pliable, and it expands to adapt to the size and shape of the patient's punctum or canaliculus. Once the plug expands to the size of a particular ocular channel, the plug is met with resistance from the surrounding tissue. At that point, expansion of the plug ceases and the plug can effectively block tear drainage through the ocular channel.

A system and method are provided for measuring the thickness of a tear film layer and the heights of tear menisci around upper and lower eyelids of an eye. A plurality of images are acquired between consecutive blinks the eye using optical coherence tomography (OCT). The images depict the tear film layer and tear menisci as distinct from the cornea of the eye. In an embodiment, a plurality of reflectivity profiles from an OCT image are aligned and averaged. The difference between a first peak and a second peak of the average reflectivity profile is measured to determine the thickness of the tear film layer. The heights of the upper meniscus and the lower meniscus can also be measured from the same OCT image. In an embodiment, thickness measurements from the plurality of OCT images are combined. The measurements can be used to diagnose tear disorders, analyze treatments of dry eye and evaluate artificial tears.

A punctum plug includes a distal tip, a proximal cap and a body connecting the tip to the cap. The cap has a proximal surface which remains exposed in the eye upon implantation of the punctum plug. A passage for an insertion tool extends distally in the punctum plug from an opening along the proximal surface. One or more recesses in the proximal surface collect tear fluid by surface tension, and each recess is laterally offset in its entirety from the opening and does not overlap or align with the opening. The number of recesses is indicative of the size of the punctum plug. A method of punctal occlusion involves collecting tear fluid in the one or more recesses and adhering the tear fluid in the one or more recesses by surface tension.

A grid formed with apertures of a predetermined shape is illuminated with light from a lamp and projected onto a tear meniscus accumulated on the lower eyelid. The aperture image projected on the tear film is imaged by a CCD camera. The tear meniscus functions as a concave mirror, so that the magnification factor depends on the radius of meniscus curvature. A processor calculates the magnitude of the grid image and evaluates the radius of meniscus curvature. Since the volume of lacrimal fluid varies depending upon the radius of meniscus curvature, the latter is used as a value representing the lacrimal fluid volume for dry eye diagnose purposes.

A composition for promoting lacrimal secretion which can be used safely and effectively in the lacrimal secretion promoting therapy, not in the conventional supplemental therapy of lacrimal fluid components is provided. The composition comprises a component which activates PAR-2. Also, a contact lens which retains and / or contains said composition for promoting lacrimal secretion is provided.

A percutaneous absorption type ophthalmic preparation comprising muscarinic receptor agonist is prepared, which can promote lacrimal fluid secretion by administration to the skin surface of the eyelid, and which causes fewer side effects such as miosis, thereby to provide a percutaneous absorption type ophthalmic preparation capable of maintaining a therapeutically effective concentration of a muscarinic receptor agonist for promoting lacrimal fluid secretion, which is associated with fewer side effects such as miosis, and a method of promoting lacrimal fluid secretion by administering a percutaneous absorption type ophthalmic preparation containing a muscarinic receptor agonist to the skin surface of the eyelid.

The present invention relates to a vitamin A liposome artificial tears eye drops for preventing and curing xerophthalmia and ophthalmokopia. Its composition includes fat-soluble vitamin A, liposome encapsulating material, vitamin E and artificial tears hydrated liquor, in which the fat-soluble vitamin A is vitamin A palmitate or vitamin A acetate, the liposome encapsulating material is soya bean lecithin and cholesterol, and the composition of artificial tears hydrated liquor includes sodium hydrogen carbonate, sodium chloride, glucose, potassium chloride, calcium chloride and water. Besides, according to requirements one or several kinds of auxiliary components of menthanol, PVP and HPMC, etc. also can be added.

The present invention provides an opthalmologic apparatus that can noninvasively measure the state of the lacrimal layer formed on the cornea surface and that can quantitatively measure the state of the lacrimal layer without utilizing a reflection image from the retina.The opthalmologic apparatus according to the present invention comprises an optical projection system for projecting light of a specified pattern onto a cornea surface, and an imaging device for photographing a reflection image of the projected light from the cornea surface. An operating unit calculates the degree of distortion of the reflection image on the basis of the density value distribution of the image photographed by the imaging device. The operating unit can determine the state of the lacrimal layer using the calculated degree of distortion.

The present invention provides pharmaceuticals for the prevention or treatment of diseases associated with decrease in tear. That is, the present invention provides pharmaceuticals for the prevention or treatment of diseases associated with decrease in tear such as dry eye, dry disorders of cornea and conjunctiva, disorders of the keratoconjunctival epithelium, syndrome with decrease in tear secretion, xerophthalmia, dry eye due to aging, opthalmopathy in Stevens-Johnson syndrome, opthalmopathy in Sjögren's syndrome, keratoconjunctival ulcer, dryness in wearing of contact lens or the like, which comprises a β3 adrenoceptor stimulant. The present invention also provides a combination pharmaceutical comprising a β3 adrenoceptor stimulant and a β2 adrenoceptor stimulant.

The present invention provides an ophthalmic percutaneous absorption type preparation containing an ophthalmic drug and a vasoconstrictor, which can increase the amount of the ophthalmic drug transferred through the eyelid to a topical area in the eye, particularly the anterior segment of the eye such as conjunctiva, lacrimal fluid, aqueous humor, cornea and the like by administration to the skin surface of an eyelid.

A purpose of the present invention is to remove dryness and unpleasantness in eyes of contact lens wearers and to obtain favorable moist feel and wearing feel by stabilizing a lacrimal fluid layer on the surface of eyeballs of the wearers. By using an ophthalmic composition containing polyvinyl pyrrolidone, the lacrimal fluid layer existing on ionic contact lenses can be stabilized via adsorption of polyvinyl pyrrolidone on the ionic contact lenses. By adding a viscosity-increasing agent to the ophthalmic composition, the lacrimal fluid layer can be maintained in a stable state over a long period of time.

A biomaterial mass is inserted through a punctum into a canaliculus in the lacrimal outflow system with a syringe. The mass has an outer cross section that is less than the inner cross section of the canaliculus. The mass absorbs liquid to swell to form a lacrimal filler or sealing mechanism. The lacrimal filler has an external cross section that conforms to the internal cross section of the canaliculus and a soft outer surface relative to the surrounding tissues to prevent erosion of the canaliculus lining. The lacrimal filler forms an occlusion that prevents the outflow of liquid through the lacrimal outflow system to retain tears within the eye to maintain eye lubrication and wetness. The mass and syringe are provided in kit with a rubber stopper and, optionally, a punctal dilator, an injecting catheter, and an enzyme for dissolving or degrading the lacrimal filler at a later time.

The invention relates to an orthokeratology lens for myopia correction and control, wherein the inner surface is divided into four regions such as a base arc region, a reverse arc region, a modulation arc region and a periphery arc region from the center to the edge, the modulation arc region is a spherical or aspherical arc connected with the reverse arc region and the periphery arc region, and various small width waveform modulations are performed so as to effectively increase a center positioning function of the orthokeratology lens, promote lacrimal fluid exchange, optimize positive pressure of the base arc region, and increase the effective pressure surface of the base arc region.

A composition for promoting lacrimal secretion which can be used safely and effectively in the lacrimal secretion promoting therapy, not in the conventional supplemental therapy of lacrimal fluid components is provided. The composition comprises a component which activates PAR-2. Also, a contact lens which retains and / or contains said composition for promoting lacrimal secretion is provided.

An electrotransport device is provided for the site specific delivery of drugs or other beneficial agents across or under a skin or tissue surface. In one embodiment, the electrotransport device is configured in whole, or in part, to be implanted under a subject's stratum corneum, and uses an electrical current to facilitate drug or other beneficial agent delivery through a semipermeable membrane and into the tissue of the subject. In another embodiment, a device for intraocular delivery of drug or beneficial agent is disclosed which device is placed on the conjunctiva of a subject, wherein lacrimal fluid completes a circuit for delivering the drug or beneficial agent. Methods of using the devices of the present invention are also provided.

The invention discloses a preparation method of a degradable artificial lacrimal canaliculus and its clinical application in treating lacrimal duct obstruction or dacryocystitis. The main components of the artificial lacrimal canaliculus are biodegradable type I collagen, chitosan and medical polyvinyl alcohol. Type I collagen has the effect of rapidly stopping bleeding and promoting wound healing, chitosan can play the role of antibacterial, anti-adhesion, and anti-scar, and polyvinyl alcohol enhances the supporting capacity of artificial lacrimal canaliculus. The lacrimal canaliculus produced by the invention has an inner diameter of 0.5-0.7mm, an outer diameter of 0.9-1.5mm, and a length of ≥20mm. The ingredients are evenly mixed, the inner and outer surfaces are smooth, and the lacrimal canaliculus has good toughness and elasticity, and is convenient for clinical operations. After 10 to 30 minutes of contact with water, it quickly absorbs water and swells, which can play a role in mechanical positioning and preventing the lacrimal canaliculus from slipping. After the wound is healed, the small tube is gradually degraded, and the degradation product can flow out from the nasal cavity with tears, without the need for secondary surgery to remove it, which improves the effect of treating lacrimal duct obstruction and avoids abrasions caused by secondary surgery. According to the different requirements of degradation time, a certain degree of chemical cross-linking can be carried out on the lacrimal canaliculus to adjust its degradation rate in the lacrimal duct.

A lacrimal drainage manometer includes a syringe, a pressure sensor operably coupled to the syringe, a flow sensor operably coupled to the syringe, and a user feedback unit. The syringe includes a syringe body and a piston. The syringe body defines a fluid cavity in fluid communication with a cannula, which is configured for insertion into at least a portion of a lacrimal drainage system. The piston is for dispensing a fluid from the fluid cavity through the cannula. The user feedback unit is in electrical communication with each of the pressure sensor and the flow sensor. The user feedback unit is operably coupled to the syringe and configured to provide user feedback based on data from the pressure sensor and / or the flow sensor.

The invention provides an external traditional Chinese medicinal composition for treating xerophthalmia and a preparation method thereof. The external traditional Chinese medicinal composition for treating the xerophthalmia is prepared from the following raw materials: wolfberry, chrysanthemum, salviae miltiorrhizae, cortex phellodendri, pearl powder, borneol and menthol. The external traditional Chinese medicinal composition for treating the xerophthalmia has the advantages that pathological changes of lacrimal gland tissues of an experimental xerophthalmia mouse, lacrimal glands of which are damaged by injected pingyangmycin, in morphology can be obviously alleviated, quantity of tear fluid can be obviously increased, breakup time of a tear film is prolonged, and quantity of the tear fluid secreted by a normal domestic rabbit can be obviously increased.

A grid formed with apertures of a predetermined shape is illuminated with light from a lamp and projected onto a tear meniscus accumulated on the lower eyelid. The aperture image projected on the tear film is imaged by a CCD camera. The tear meniscus functions as a concave mirror, so that the magnification factor depends on the radius of meniscus curvature. A processor calculates the magnitude of the grid image and evaluates the radius of meniscus curvature. Since the volume of lacrimal fluid varies depending upon the radius of meniscus curvature, the latter is used as a value representing the lacrimal fluid volume for dry eye diagnose purposes.

It is intended to provide a method of selecting a contact lens suitable for a wearer and / or a care system therefor, by which the occurrence of problems (for example, worsening in the feel during wearing, lowering in the oxygen permeability of the lens, shortening in the lens life, lowering in the visual acuity, corneal injury, etc.) can be minimized to thereby ensure a high safety for the eye, namely, a method which comprises collecting the lacrimal fluid of a wearer, detecting the protein content and / or the lipid content in the lacrimal fluid thus obtained (Step S5), estimating the dirt adhesion characteristics of the wearer to a contact lens based on the protein content and / or lipid content thus detected, and then selecting a contact lens suitable for the wearer and / or a care system therefor from among a plurality of contact lenses and a plurality of care systems (Step S6).

The invention provides a traditional Chinese medicine composition used for treating xerophthalmia and a preparation method thereof. The traditional Chinese medicine composition comprises the following bulk drugs: borneol, radix bupleuri, cortex fraxini, asparagus cochinchinensis, codonopsis pilosula, dogwood, chrysanthemum, campsis grandiflora, radix paeoniae alba, exocarpium benincasae, ligusticum wallichii, equisetum hiemale, elecampane, hawthorn leaves, groundsel, verbena, cortex acanthopanacis, concha haliotidis, rhodiola rosea, feather cockscomb seed and glossy privet fruit. The traditional Chinese medicine has the beneficial effects of being used for treating the xerophthalmia, good in curative effect, and quick in effect taking, and having good functions in the aspects of increasing lacrimal fluid volume, prolonging the breakup time of a tear film and improving the xerophthalmia.

The invention relates to a tear drainage reconstruction system that can be regularly degraded. The reconstruction system is made by adopting polydioxanone (PDO) that is a degradable polymeric biomaterial. The system comprises an upper lacrimal duct part, a lower lacrimal dust part, a main lacrimal duct, a concave dacryocyst part and a nasolacrimal duct part. The system has good flexibility, certain elasticity, extensibility, breaking strength and compression strength performance and is a lamella micro-porous tubular structure that integrates stable nasolacrimal duct supporting function, 'tears pump' function, dacryocyst drainage function, 'drug control-release' function, the function of accelerating the fade-away of chronic inflammation of a lacrimal duct and the repairing function of mucous membrane injury of the lacrimal duct together. The reconstruction system has the advantages that an implanting method is a simple and convenient, the fixation in the lacrimal duct is the stable and reliable and the iatrogenic lacrimal duct injury can not appear, the regular degradation can be realized without secondary take-out and the reconstruction system is suitable for various lacrimal duct obstruction diseases and has high curative ratio of the lacrimal duct obstruction, especially, the reconstruction system has the stable and reliable medium-to-long term effect. The tears drainage reconstruction system currently is the only perfect material for high-degree lacrimal duct reconstruction that combines the physiological drainage of the tears with the pathological mechanism of lacrimal injury repair.

Lacrimal inserts such as punctal plugs may be utilized for delivery of medication to the eye. The plug includes a body portion sized to pass through a lacrimal punctum and be positioned within a lacrimal canaliculus of the eyelid. The plug may contain a core, or reservoir, at least partially within the body portion comprising a therapeutic agent that is configured for controlled, pulsatile release into the eye.

A lacrimal drainage manometer includes a syringe, a pressure sensor operably coupled to the syringe, a flow sensor operably coupled to the syringe, and a user feedback unit. The syringe includes a syringe body and a piston. The syringe body defines a fluid cavity in fluid communication with a cannula, which is configured for insertion into at least a portion of a lacrimal drainage system. The piston is for dispensing a fluid from the fluid cavity through the cannula. The user feedback unit is in electrical communication with each of the pressure sensor and the flow sensor. The user feedback unit is operably coupled to the syringe and configured to provide user feedback based on data from the pressure sensor and / or the flow sensor.

The invention relates to an ophthalmic operative implant, in particular to a permanent lacrimal pump physiological mechanism imitating lacrimal drainage device capable of imitating lacrimal passage dissection and a lacrimal pump physiological mechanism provided for a full lacrimal passage obstruction patient. According to the adopted following technical scheme, the lacrimal pump physiological mechanism imitating lacrimal drainage device is characterized by comprising a lacrimal ductule, a liquid collection tube, a communicating tube and an outlet, wherein one end of the lacrimal ductule is arranged in a vertical upward bending manner; an end part at the other end of the lacrimal ductule is communicated with the liquid collection tube after being upwarped; the upwarped end part of the lacrimal ductule is connected to the middle upper part of the liquid collection tube; the lower end of the liquid collection tube is connected with the communicating tube; the communicating tube is provided with a bent part and an upward vertical part in a bending manner; the upper end of the vertical part is connected with the outlet. By using the scheme, the novel lacrimal pump physiological mechanism imitating lacrimal drainage device for restoring active lacrimal drainage and reducing anatomical physiological structure change is provided for the patients with complex lacrimal passage obstruction.

Disclosed are lacrimal inserts and their method of use for delivery of medication to the eye. The plug includes a body portion sized to pass through a lacrimal punctum and be positioned within a lacrimal canaliculus of the eyelid and includes means for directional release of medication into the lacrimal fluid. The plug may contain a core, or reservoir, at least partially within the body portion comprising a therapeutic agent that is configured to controlled release into the eye.

The present invention provides an ophthalmic percutaneous absorption type preparation containing an ophthalmic drug and a vasoconstrictor, which can increase the amount of the ophthalmic drug transferred through the eyelid to a topical area in the eye, particularly the anterior segment of the eye such as conjunctiva, lacrimal fluid, aqueous humor, cornea and the like by administration to the skin surface of an eyelid.