CONTROLLER FOR DRY EYE TREATMENT SYSTEMS

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A treatment system for meibomian gland dysfunction and dry eye syndrome, comprising:
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 with minimal, or no restriction from the one or more strips; and a controller in communication with the one or more strips, wherein the controller is programmable to monitor and induce a temperature in the one or more strips to provide a therapy, wherein, the controller is further programmable to maintain a set point above a threshold temperature and below a maximum temperature over a predetermined treatment period, wherein the one or more strips are configured to emit thermal energy to the underlying region of skin, and wherein the one or more strips are shaped to follow a location of one or more meibomian glands contained within the underlying region of skin.