# US 12,109,415 B1 · System for treating meibomian gland dysfunction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,415 B1 - Document ID: US12109415B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/523,381 - Filed: 2023-11-29 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-29 - Applicants: Eric Rubinfeld - Inventors: Eric Rubinfeld - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109415B1 ## CPC - A61N 1/36046: {of the eye} - A61F 7/007: {characterised by electric heating} - A61F 7/02: Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling - A61M 21/00: Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis - A61N 1/025: {Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors} - A61N 1/0492: {Patch electrodes (A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence)} - A61N 1/36034: {specified by the stimulation parameters} - A61F 2007/0004: {Eyes or part of the face surrounding the eyes} - A61F 2007/0093: {programmed} - A61M 2021/0072: {with application of electrical currents} - A61M 2205/054: with electrotherapy - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2210/0612: Eyes - 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) - 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) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract According to some embodiments, a system and method for treating meibomian gland dysfunction is disclosed. The system comprises one or more electrode pads configured for placement on a patient's face on either a lower eyelid, an upper eyelid or both the lower and upper eyelids, a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium stores program code. The program code is executable by a processor to cause the processor to transmit an instruction to the controller to initiate a biofeedback indicator wherein the biofeedback does not cause muscle contraction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, the system comprising: one or more electrode pads configured for placement on a patient's face near a lower eyelid, an upper eyelid or both an upper eyelid and a lower eyelid; a processor; and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program code, the program code executable by a processor to cause the processor to: transmit an instruction to initiate a biofeedback indicator, wherein the biofeedback does not cause muscle contraction, wherein the instruction to initiate the biofeedback indicator is transmitted to a speaker disposed on the one or more electrode pads or the controller, wherein the biofeedback indicator is a tone and wherein the program code further causes the processor to: transmit an instruction to the one or more electrode pads to provide heat, and wherein the biofeedback and the heat are for melting impacted meibomian oil located in an obstructed meibomian gland of the upper and lower eyelids by providing heat and a biofeedback function to remind the patient to blink. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the biofeedback is a sound, vibration or pulse. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a level of the biofeedback may be adjusted based on a patient. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the heat may be adjusted based on the patient. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system automatically and gradually increases a temperature over a first two to three minutes until a temperature of between 41-45° C. is reached. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the system automatically and gradually increases a temperature over thirty seconds until a temperature of between 41-45° C. is reached. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the biofeedback comprises EMS (electro muscle stimulation) to the orbicularis muscle of the lower lids for alerting the patient to blink. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the biofeedback is provided every from 4-12 seconds. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrode pads are gel pads that is configured to emit EMS and heat. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a lower lid strip including an arcuate shape to follow a border of one or more eyelids. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the lower lid strip further includes an arcuate periphery which is shaped to extend and follow a free margin of the lower eyelid, upper eyelid or a combination of the lower and upper eyelids. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein placement on a patient's face near the lower eyelid comprises a location above the orbicularis oculi of the lower eyelid. ### Claim 13 A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, the system comprising: one or more electrode pads configured for placement on a patient's face near a lower eyelid, an upper eyelid or both an upper eyelid and a lower eyelid; a processor; a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program code, the program code executable by a processor to cause the processor to: transmit an instruction to (i) initiate biofeedback wherein the biofeedback does not cause muscle contraction and (ii) provide heat via the one or more electrode pads, wherein the system automatically and gradually increases the temperature over the first two to three minutes until a temperature of between 41-45° C. is reached and the biofeedback is provided every from 4-12 seconds. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the instruction to initiate the biofeedback indicator is transmitted to a speaker disposed on the one or more electrode pads or the controller, wherein the biofeedback indicator is a tone. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein a biofeedback may be adjusted based on a patient. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the heat may be adjusted based on the patient. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the biofeedback and the heat are for melting impacted meibomian oil located in an obstructed meibomian gland of the upper and lower eyelids by providing heat and a biofeedback function to remind the patient to blink. ### Claim 18 A system for treating meibomian gland dysfunction, the system comprising: one or more electrode pads configured for placement on a patient's face near a lower eyelid, an upper eyelid or both an upper eyelid and a lower eyelid; a processor; and a non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program code, the program code executable by a processor to cause the processor to: transmit an instruction to initiate a biofeedback indicator, wherein the biofeedback does not cause muscle contraction, wherein the instruction to initiate the biofeedback indicator is transmitted to a speaker disposed on the one or more electrode pads or the controller, wherein the biofeedback indicator is a tone and wherein the program code further causes the processor to: transmit an instruction to the one or more electrode pads to provide heat, wherein the system automatically and gradually increases a temperature over thirty seconds until a temperature of between 41-45° C. is reached.