Back to results
US 9,802,062 B2Granted
Method, system and use for therapeutic ultrasound
OwnerMatthew Bujakinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The described embodiments relate to methods, systems and uses for therapeutic ultrasound, and in particular, to methods, systems and uses for therapeutic ultrasound for treating or alleviating eye conditions. The described embodiments relate to methods, systems and uses that involve an ultrasound device configured for treatment of an eye condition, where the device comprises at least one ultrasound transducer for coupling to at least a portion of an eyelid to supply ultrasound waves to an area proximate to the portion of the eyelid according to treatment parameters, wherein the treatment parameters comprise a treatment frequency and a treatment period.
Claims23
A system for treating an eye condition comprising:
- an ultrasound device comprising at least one ultrasound transducer adapted to couple to at least a portion of an eyelid using a coupling medium to vibrational supply ultrasound waves to an area proximate to the portion of the eyelid according to treatment parameters, the portion of the eyelid including a gland blocked by solidified lipids, the treatment parameters defining a treatment frequency for the ultrasound waves within a frequency range and a treatment period proportional to the treatment frequency;
- a vaulted scleral contact lens to protect ocular tissue, wherein the lens is configured for placement over the eye globe and under the eyelid to form a chamber of air between the posterior surface of the contact lens and the cornea, wherein the chamber of air provides a barrier to the ultrasound waves, the lens being separate from the ultrasound device, wherein the chamber of air provides acoustic impedance so that the ultrasound waves do not propagate the chamber of air;
- a temperature and attenuation measurement device positioned on or within the contact lens to capture measurement data, the measurement data comprising temperature data, the temperature and the attenuation measurement device configured to provide the measurement data to the ultrasound device to compare the temperature data to a predetermined safety threshold, wherein the device generates a warning alert to shut down upon determining if the measurement data is above the predetermined safety threshold or adjust the ultrasound transducer so that the temperature measurement is within the safety threshold upon determining that the temperature data is below the safety range, wherein the temperature measurement device and the attenuation measurement device comprises a thermal couple and a hydrophone;
- an ultrasound imaging camera, wherein the device is operable in a therapeutic mode to heat the area proximate to the portion of the eyelid using the ultrasound waves and a diagnostic mode to image the area proximate to the portion of the eyelid using the ultrasound imaging camera, wherein the ultrasound device is configured to operate in diagnostic mode and therapeutic mode concurrently to provide real-time imaging during treatment;
- wherein the ultrasound waves emulsify the solidified lipids blocking the gland by providing heat energy to the solidified lipids and mobilize the emulsified lipids to promote clearance from the gland using oscillations supplied by the ultrasound waves to create micro cavitation and acoustic streaming of the emulsified lipids.
2 more elements
A method for treating an eye condition using a therapeutic ultrasound device, the method comprising:
- coupling at least one ultrasound transducer to at least a portion of an eyelid using a coupling medium, wherein the ultrasound device comprises at least one ultrasound transducer for supplying ultrasound waves to an area proximate to the portion of the eyelid according to treatment parameters;
- placing a vaulted scleral contact lens over the eye globe and under the eyelid to protect ocular tissue, the vaulted scleral lens forming a chamber of air between the posterior surface of the contact lens and the cornea, wherein the chamber of air provides a barrier to the ultrasound waves, the lens being separate from the ultrasound device;
- positioning a temperature and attenuation measurement device on or within the contact lens to capture measurement data, the measurement data comprising temperature data, the temperature and attenuation measurement device configured to provide the measurement data to the ultrasound device to compare the temperature data to a predetermined safety threshold, wherein the device generates a warning alert to shut down upon determining if the measurement data is above the predetermined safety threshold or adjust ultrasound transducer so that the temperature measurement is within the safety threshold upon determining that the temperature data is below the safety range, wherein the temperature measurement device and the attenuation measurement device comprises a thermal couple and a hydrophone;
- operating the device in a therapeutic mode to heat the area proximate to the portion of the eyelid by propagating vibrational ultrasound waves to an area proximate to the portion of the eyelid using the ultrasound transducer and the coupling medium according to the treatment parameters, the treatment parameters defining a treatment frequency for the ultrasound waves within a frequency range and a treatment period proportional to the treatment frequency;
- concurrently operating the device in a diagnostic mode to image the area proximate to the portion of the eyelid using the ultrasound imaging camera to provide real-time imaging during treatment;
- providing acoustic impedance using the chamber of air as the ultrasound waves do not propagate the chamber of air;
- emulsifying the solidified lipids blocking the gland using the propagating vibrational ultrasound waves to provide heat energy to the solidified fats;
- and
- mobilizing the emulsified lipids to promote clearance from the gland using oscillations supplied by the propagating vibrational ultrasound waves that create micro cavitation and acoustic streaming of the liquefied fats.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.