# US 11,076,985 B2 · Conjunctival cover and methods therefor

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- Number: US 11,076,985 B2
- Document ID: US11076985B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/777,358
- Filed: 2020-01-30
- Published: 2020-07-30
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2013-11-04
- Assignees: TearOptix, Inc.
- Applicants: Tearoptix, Inc.
- Inventors: Vance M. Thompson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076985B2

## CPC

- A61F 9/0017: {implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts}
- A61K 9/0051: {Ocular inserts or implants}
- 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)
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)

## Abstract

A conjunctival cover including an annular generally curved shell having a conjunctival portion structured to conform to and overly at least part of the conjunctiva of an eye. The annular generally partially spherical shell defines a generally central opening. The central opening is sized to leave a cornea of the eye substantially or partially uncovered when the conjunctival cover is applied to the eye.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A conjunctival cover, comprising:
an annular shell having a conjunctival portion structured to conform to and overlie at least part of a conjunctiva of an eye;
the annular shell defining a central opening therethrough, the central opening being sized to leave at least a portion of a cornea of the eye uncovered when the conjunctival cover is applied to the eye and being bounded by an inner ring; and
the annular shell being also bounded by an outer ring extending around a periphery thereof;
a body of the annular shell extending radially between the inner ring and the outer ring in at least two cover portion segments that are separated by at least two arcuate openings therebetween.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The conjunctival cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular shell comprises multiple layers.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The conjunctival cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular shell is structured to cover the conjunctiva and retain a reservoir of tears between the annular shell and the conjunctiva.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The conjunctival cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular shell is sized to extend at least partially into fornices of the eye superiorly and inferiorly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The conjunctival cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer ring is elliptical or oval in shape.

### Claim 6

A conjunctival cover, comprising:
an annular shell having a conjunctival portion structured to conform to and overlie at least part of a conjunctiva of an eye;
the annular shell defining a central opening therethrough, the central opening being sized to leave at least a portion of a cornea of the eye uncovered when the conjunctival cover is applied to the eye and being bounded by an inner ring; and
the annular shell being also bounded by an outer ring extending around a periphery thereof;
a body of the annular shell extending radially between the inner ring and the outer ring, an outer perimeter of the annular shell extending outwardly in a first dimension to a greater extent than a second dimension oriented substantially perpendicular to the first dimension.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The conjunctival cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein the annular shell comprises multiple layers.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The conjunctival cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein the annular shell is structured to cover the conjunctiva and retain a reservoir of tears between the annular shell and the conjunctiva.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The conjunctival cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein the annular shell is sized to extend at least partially into fornices of the eye superiorly and inferiorly.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The conjunctival cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein the outer ring is elliptical or oval in shape.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The conjunctival cover as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first dimension is oriented horizontally.