Contoured Adhesive Eyelid Strips for Open-Eye Meibomian Gland Heating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye syndrome are cumbersome, require the patient to keep their eyes closed or obstructed, and do not effectively utilize the natural blinking mechanism for gland secretion.
Innovation Solution
Adhesive strips are contoured to adhere to the eyelids, delivering heat or energy to meibomian glands, allowing natural blinking for oil secretion without obstruction, and may include layers for drug delivery or mechanical forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional warm compresses or masks are used to treat meibomian gland dysfunction, then heat delivery to the glands is achieved, but the patient's eyes must be kept closed or obstructed which prevents natural blinking and causes discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the treatment device into multiple thin adhesive strips that can be selectively placed on the eyelids. These strips are segmented rather than a single large mask, allowing heat delivery while leaving the eye opening unobstructed for natural blinking.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive strips are applied locally to specific regions of the eyelids where meibomian glands are located, rather than covering the entire eye area. This localized approach delivers heat where needed while maintaining eye functionality and comfort.
2Reliability
If traditional treatments require prolonged eye closure to deliver sufficient heat, then treatment efficacy is improved, but patient compliance decreases due to discomfort and inability to perform daily activities
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment system transitions from a static eye-closed protocol to a dynamic approach where patients can blink naturally while the adhesive strips remain in place and continue delivering heat. This dynamic capability improves both compliance and practical usability.
Solution Approach 2:
The natural blinking mechanism is utilized as part of the treatment process itself. The strips remain adhered during blinking, and the mechanical action of blinking may assist in gland secretion, turning a natural physiological function into a therapeutic benefit rather than requiring suppression of it.
3Ease of operation
If adhesive strips are applied to deliver heat to meibomian glands, then treatment can be performed with open eyes and natural blinking, but the strips must be precisely contoured and positioned to avoid eye obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive strips are formed with curved or arcuate shapes that conform to the natural curvature of the eyelids. This curvature allows the strips to follow the anatomical contours of the eyelid surface, ensuring proper positioning and heat delivery while avoiding obstruction of the eye opening.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The strips facilitate effective treatment of meibomian gland obstructions by leveraging natural blinking, enabling prolonged treatment without discomfort, improving compliance, and enhancing treatment efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
delivering heat or energy to meibomian glands
Data Source
AI summary
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.