# US 10,478,264 B2 · Apparatus and method for applying light in ocular and periocular areas > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,264 B2 - Document ID: US10478264B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/232,968 - Filed: 2018-12-26 - Published: 2019-05-02 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-07 - Assignees: Lumenis Ltd. - Applicants: Lumenis Ltd. - Inventors: Kfir Azoulay - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478264B2 ## CPC - A61B 90/04: {Protection of tissue around surgical sites against effects of non-mechanical surgery, e.g. laser surgery (protection of eyes against laser radiation A61F9/022)} - A61F 9/0079: {using non-laser electromagnetic radiation, e.g. non-coherent light or microwaves} - A61F 9/008: using laser - A61N 5/0613: {Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment} - A61B 2090/0445: {by absorption} - A61B 2090/049: {against light, e.g. laser} - A61F 2007/0004: {Eyes or part of the face surrounding the eyes} - A61F 2007/0087: {Hand-held applicators} - A61N 5/067: using laser light - A61N 2005/063: {comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres} - A61N 2005/0644: {Handheld applicators} - A61N 2005/0651: {Diodes} - A61N 2005/0665: {Reflectors} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) ## Abstract A removable tip for a light energy handpiece comprises a hollow conduit configured to surround a light guide in the handpiece; a support extension having a length longer than a length of the hollow conduit; and a shielding extension coupled to the support extension at an angle less than 180 degrees and located in front of the hollow conduit. The shielding extension is configured to be inserted behind an eyelid and extend to the fornix, the shielding extension comprised of a thermally insulative material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of protecting ocular tissue during application of light energy, the method comprising: providing a handpiece having a light energy device, the handpiece having a tip having a shielding extension configured to be inserted posterior to an eyelid; inserting the shielding extension behind the eyelid prior to applying light energy to the eyelid; applying light energy from the light energy device to the eyelid; wherein the light energy device comprises an LED; and wherein the shielding extension is comprised of a sufficiently thermally insulative material such that heat from a target tissue is prevented from reaching ocular tissue located posterior to the eyelid in a quantity that would damage the ocular tissue. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shielding extension is configured to be inserted posterior to an eyelid between the ocular conjunctiva and palpebral conjunctiva. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tip is a removable tip. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the removable tip comprises: a hollow conduit configured to surround a light guide in the handpiece; a support extension having a length longer than a length of the hollow conduit; and the shielding extension coupled to the support extension to an angle less than 180 degrees and located distal to the hollow conduit; and the shielding extension configured to be inserted behind an eyelid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shielding extension is configured to create a mechanical separation of the target tissue from adjacent posterior structures. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shielding extension is configured to be flexible such that it can be deformed to define irregular surfaces when inserted. ### Claim 7 A method of protecting ocular tissue during application of light energy, the method comprising: providing a handpiece having a light energy device, the handpiece having a tip having a shielding extension configured to be inserted posterior to an eyelid; inserting the shielding extension behind the eyelid prior to applying light energy to the eyelid; applying light energy from the light energy device to the eyelid; wherein the light energy device comprises an LED; and wherein the shielding extension comprises at least two layers; wherein a first layer is a proximal layer to the handpiece and the second layer is a distal layer of the shielding extension; and wherein the distal layer is configured to be in direct contact with posterior organs to be protected and the proximal layer is configured to be in contact with the eyelid; wherein the distal layer is configured to insulate the posterior organs from heat energy and the proximal layer is configured to conduct heat away from the posterior organs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tip comprises a material that is biocompatible with ocular tissue. ### Claim 9 A method of protecting ocular tissue during application of light energy, the method comprising: providing a handpiece having a light energy device, the handpiece having a tip having a shielding extension configured to be inserted posterior to an eyelid; inserting the shielding extension behind the eyelid prior to applying light energy to the eyelid; applying light energy from the light energy device to the eyelid; wherein the light energy device comprises an LED; and wherein the handpiece further comprises a heat sink thermally coupled to the shielding extension. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the handpiece further comprises a cooling source thermally coupled to the shielding extension via the support extension. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the length of the hollow conduit is configured as a distance guide for maintaining a predetermined distance between the surface tissue to be treated and a crystal light guide in the handpiece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shielding extension is at an angle less than 180 degrees to the tip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shielding extension is at an angle of 90 degrees to the tip. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tip includes a light guide to apply light energy to the eyelid, further comprising the step of contacting the light guide to the eyelid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying light energy to an anterior surface is to treat for meibomian gland dysfunction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tip is comprised of a disposable material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shielding extension is comprised of a flexible material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heat sink is part of the tip. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the tip is a removable tip.