112 results about "Meibomian gland" patented technology

Systems, methods, and devices used to treat eyelids, meibomian glands, ducts, and surrounding tissue are described herein. In some embodiments, an eye treatment device is disclosed, which includes a scleral shield positionable proximate an inner surface of an eyelid, the scleral shield being made of, or coated with, an energy-absorbing material activated by a light energy, and an energy transducer positionable outside of the eyelid, the energy transducer configured to provide light energy at one or more wavelengths, including a first wavelength selected to heat the energy-absorbing material.

Dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat or other forms of energy, pressure, drugs, moisture, etc. (alone or in combination) to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. Moreover, the one or more strips may be configured to emit energy to the underlying region of skin and where the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomiam glands contained within the underlying region of skin.

A method for treating a patient having meibomian gland disease, ocular irritation associated with delayed tear clearance, or recurrent corneal epithelial erosion, is disclosed. Preferably, the method concerns treatment of a patient with topical tetracycline, a derivative or analogue of tetracycline, or a chemically modified tetracycline (CMT). Oral administration of a CMT is also disclosed as part of the method for treating meibomian gland disease, ocular irritation associated with delayed tear clearance, or recurrent corneal epithelial erosion.

The present invention provides process for producing non-aqueous compositions for normalizing meibomian gland secretions. The present invention further provides compositions and methods for treating and/or preventing the signs and/or symptoms of dry eye disease.

Systems, methods, and devices used to treat eyelids, meibomian glands, ducts, and surrounding tissue are described herein. In some embodiments, an eye treatment device is disclosed, which includes a scleral shield positionable proximate an inner surface of an eyelid, the scleral shield being made of, or coated with, an energy-absorbing material activated by a light energy, and an energy transducer positionable outside of the eyelid, the energy transducer configured to provide light energy at one or more wavelengths, including a first wavelength selected to heat the energy-absorbing material. Wherein, when the eyelid is positioned between the energy transducer and the scleral shield, the light energy from the energy transducer and the heated energy-absorbing material of the scleral shield conductively heats a target tissue region sufficiently to melt meibum within meibomian glands located within or adjacent to the target tissue region.

Provided are methods and systems for treating or preventing dry eye syndrome in a subject. The methods involve applying light of a set of photomodulating parameters to the region of the eyelid. The light of these particular photomodulating parameters will increase the production of collagen, elastin or both thereby improving the tone of the eyelid. Improved eyelid tone will increase the level of meibum secreted through the meibomian duct thereby treating or preventing dry eye syndrome. Particular apparatuses are provided that emit and locate light of the necessary photomodulating parameters tailored for delivery to the eyelid areas activating fibroblasts specifically in this area and thereby improving eyelid tone and meibomian gland function.

Controllers for dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. A controller is in communication with the one or more strips and is programmable to monitor a temperature of the one or more strips to provide a treatment therapy above a threshold temperature of, e.g., 39° C., and below a maximum temperature of, e.g., 48° C., over a treatment period of 12 minutes.

A manual device for massaging one or both of the upper and lower lids of the eye, the device comprising: a body, composed of flexible resilient biocompatible material, wherein the body provides jaws or lips, wherein the lips are biased into a spaced relationship by the material of the body, and wherein each lip is adapted to engage either the upper or lower eyelid, such that movement of the lips causes movement of at least one eyelid with respect to the other. The devices can conveniently be used to manipulate the meibomian glands of the eye in an optimum orientation, for example for alleviating or treating dry eye.

Ophthalmological image analysis techniques that can present objective information about the state of distribution of the Meibomian glands are provided. An ophthalmological image analyzer 1 comprises a designator 22, an extractor 23 and a calculator 24. The designator 22 is configured to designate an area A to be analyzed in a photographed image I of an eyelid of an eye. The extractor 23 is configured to extract Meibomian-gland subareas B that represent Meibomian glands in the eyelid, on the basis of the luminance value of each pixel in the area A being analyzed which is designated by the designator 22. The calculator 24 is configured to acquire distribution information of Meibomian glands in the area A being analyzed, on the basis of the Meibomian-gland subareas B.

Controllers for dry eye treatment apparatus and methods are described herein which generally comprise a patch or strip affixed to the skin of the upper and/or lower eyelids to deliver heat to the one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying skin. The treatment strip or strips include one or more strips configured to adhere to an underlying region of skin in proximity to one or both eyes of a subject such that the one or more strips allow for the subject to blink naturally without restriction from the one or more patches. A controller is in communication with the one or more strips and is programmable to monitor a temperature of the one or more strips to provide a treatment therapy above a threshold temperature. Additionally forceps for mechanically expressing the Meibomian glands may be included with the strips and/or controller.

Warm compresses are the most widely prescribed effective medical therapy for several common eye conditions namely dry eye syndrome, blepharitis and chalazia. These problems are caused by blockage of natural oil flow through pores located behind the eyelashes (meibomian glands). Warm compresses open these pores and restores normal flow of natural oils to the eye surface; these oils moisturize the eye by preventing evaporation of tears from the eye surface. The novel aspects of this invention that make it unique include the ability to generate long lasting, self-perpetuating moist heat, with hands free convenience. By allowing patients to continue to work, play, read or watch television while receiving the therapeutic benefits of a moist warm compress this invention is highly likely to increase compliance and improve quality of life for millions of patients with these common and highly troublesome eye conditions.

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for the diagnosis and removal of the devitalized and/or dead cell material formed in the lid margin to attempt to restore a normal lid margin. In this manner, the devitalized and/or dead cell material are removed or the amount present is reduced or no longer present to prevent, reduce, or affect the transport of lipid secreted by the meibomian glands to the tear film to reduce evaporative dry eye and improve dry eye conditions in patients. The diagnosis and removal of devitalized and/or dead cell material may be performed at desired intervals. Patients that suffer from conditions that block meibomian gland orifices, partial, infrequent, or inhibited blinking resulting in reduced lipid secretions from meibomian glands, and/or blockages in meibomian gland channels reducing secretion of lipids through the meibomian gland orifices may require more frequent diagnosis and treatment to remove devitalized and/or dead cell material.

The invention relates to a meibomian gland heating and fumigating device for xerophthalmias. The meibomian gland heating and fumigating device comprises a wearable assembly, a temperature control assembly and a medicine assembly. The meibomian gland heating and fumigating device is simple in operation, the temperature is controllable in a meibomian gland hot compressing process, and the guarantee of controlling the skin around eyes at a relatively appropriate temperature in a working process is realized, so that the problems that an existing physical hot compressing method is great in temperature fluctuation and the hot compressing time and temperature are difficult to control are avoided, and the hot compressing effect is improved. Heating power generated by infrared rays can permeate through the deep layer of the skin, so that the blood circulation is quickened; the operating temperature of an infrared heating plate is controlled at 38-42 DEG C; the therapy of the infrared heating plate is a non-invasive therapy, safe and convenient, and is free of toxic and side effects; the heating temperature and time can be individually selected according to the conditions of each patient. Meanwhile, the device provided by the invention contains traditional Chinese medicine fumigation; medicine absorption and availability can be promoted while pipes of meibomian glands are open; the device is suitable for different types of xerophthalmias, and the therapeutic safety and effectiveness for the xerophthalmias are improved.

The invention provides a method for carrying out processing on a meibomian gland image to obtain gland information. The method comprises the following steps: obtaining a meibomian gland image, and manually sketching a gland region and a meibomian gland region in the meibomian gland image; through an image Convolution-Highlight Detail operator, enhancing the outline of the glands and distinguishing glands and eyelids; through an image Threshold operator, adjusting parameter values and extracting the glands; through a morphology operator, further distinguishing the glands to enable the glands to be segmented clearly, and calculating the area of the central gland; and manually sketching the length of the central gland and automatically calculating the average length of the glands, and thus gland information is obtained. The method can carry out quantitative analysis on the meibomian gland images, and accurately calculate the information of deletion percentage and the central gland mean value and the like; and meanwhile, the method can accurately distinguish the glands, thereby providing accurate data for users and furthermore, providing scientific basis for MGD clinical diagnosis.

The invention discloses a meibomian gland massaging apparatus, which comprises a massaging head, a massaging head connecting part and a handheld body, wherein a platform is arranged at the upper side of the handheld body; a side plate is arranged at the back side of the platform; the side plate and the handheld body are connected into a whole body; a slideway is formed in the inner side of the side plate; the slideway is an arc-shaped groove; a driving device is connected to a sliding block in the slideway; one end of the massaging head connecting part is connected to the sliding block and the other end is connected to the massaging head; a power switch is arranged on the handheld body; by virtue of the power switch, a sliding block driving device in the handheld body and an electric heating wire in the massaging head are controlled; and the sliding block, under the action of the sliding block driving device, is driven to do an arc-shaped motion in the slideway. The massaging apparatus provided by the invention can be used for conducting safe and efficient massaging on meibomian gland, with good coverage, and difficulty of massaging the meibomian gland can be greatly reduced.