Patent Application
20190060115
This application concerns the use of a handheld device to provide thermal therapy for patients. In particular, this handheld device provides thermal therapy to patient's tissue surface including eye surfaces.
Thermal therapy refers to the application of heat or temperature variation to tissues to stimulate physiological activities. Thermal therapy may also be used for tumor ablation and to increase or decrease blood flow to treated tissue by inducing vascular constriction or dilation in the treated area. Tissues receiving thermal therapy may be in various regions across the human or animal body.
Thermal therapy delivery is dependent on the contact surface between the device used for thermal therapy and the patient's tissue. There is a need for a thermal therapy delivery device that is flexible in providing different contact surfaces as well as different contact mechanisms. The delivery of thermal therapy may also be in conjunction with other activities such as massage, expression or debridement of affected tissue.
The ability to deliver consistent treatment sessions is clinically valuable in thermal therapy. Length of treatment, time interval between treatments, temperature, temperature variation, and thermal therapy in combination with other therapies are parameters that may be controlled for effective treatments. Monitoring and tracking of these parameters allow for results to be repeatedly tracked and investigated.
Thermal therapy devices have several challenges. Where fluids are the means for delivering thermal energy, fluid maintenance is cumbersome. Fluid conduits are relatively large and subject to kinking and blockage. Fluid is also prone to leakage and contamination and requires periodic changing. Sanitization of fluid-containing devices is also laborious.
The invention disclosed herein addresses the problems stated herein and other existing problems in the art of thermal therapy.
The present invention relates to a medical device for delivering thermal therapy to tissue. More particularly, the present invention relates to a microprocessor or analog circuit-controlled device that is handheld and powered by either an internal battery or a cable that is connected to an external power source. The device is used to deliver several thermal therapies/treatments to a patient's tissue surface including eye surfaces using various interchangeable thermally-conductive metal thermal energy applicator (instruments) that are heated to various temperatures and in some cases enable compression of tissue by the user's mechanical action. When used to treat eyelids, the eyelid margin and more specifically the Meibomian glands may be treated in order to express fluid and contents from the Meibomian glands.
In a specific embodiment, the present invention relates to the device as used for the treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD), or posterior blepharitis; a common physiological ailment related to the lack of proper flow of Meibomian gland secretions, resulting in a condition known as Dry Eye Disease (DED). There are standard Debridement and Expression hand held tools that are used to treat MGD. However, these instruments are not thermally controlled. The present invention enables a clinician to conduct these treatments using actively heated instruments that apply specific heat to the patient-contacting surfaces only, along with thermal massage of the eyelid surfaces prior to these treatments using a Thermal Massage Instrument. It has been observed that conducting these treatments utilizing these actively-heated instruments on patient-contacting surfaces is much more comfortable for the patient and facilitates the ‘uncapping’ of clogged or non-performing Meibomian glands and the debridement or removal of epithelial cells from the surface of an eyelid which when followed by the heated expression of the Meibomian glands, enhances the expression of Meibomian fluid and reduces symptoms of DED. It is known that the human eyelid cools very rapidly and that simply heating the eyelid using a warm compress does not enable successful expression of the glands as the temperature of the meibum and the eyelid returns to body temperature within a minute of heat removal. Therefore, active heating of the instruments is required for successful Debridement and Expression of the Meibomian Glands. Passively heating instruments (e.g., pre-heating the tools in an oven) is also inadequate, as heat loss results in rapid reduction in temperature and the temperature is unable to be adequately controlled during the procedures. Actively heating allows heat energy to be transferred into the patient-contacting surface constantly during the procedure in order to maintain approximately constant temperature at that surface and thus obtain optimum results.
The present invention allows for user selectable temperature set points. The embodiment shown allows the user to select any of the available different treatments, each with a specific pre-programmed set point temperature that has been clinically determined to be optimum for the specific therapy/treatment. Further embodiments may include more or less discrete set points. Yet further embodiments may allow for a continuously adjustable set point within a given temperature range. The internal control system of the device regulates the heating element in order to control the temperature at the patient side of the Instrument part based on measurement of the conductive metal temperature on a surface close to the heating element. An empirical algorithm based on test data or a theoretical algorithm is used to adjust the control temperature to whatever is required in order to obtain the set point temperature at the patient-contacting surface of the Instrument part.
Currently there is no known handheld device that provides the combination of these therapies/treatments using actively-heated instruments. The present invention fulfills this need by utilizing newly available technology.
In this invention, there is provided a system for providing thermal therapy, the system comprising:
heater power electronics to control heat generation;
microprocessor electronics to control a heating element, user interaction, and device communication;
a heating element positioned for operative connection with a thermal energy applicator;
a removable thermal energy applicator comprised of at least one contact surface configured to communicate thermal energy between the applicator and the patient's tissue, the removable thermal energy applicator is configured to securely connect to the housing; and
a heat flow adapter configured to operatively connect to the removable thermal energy applicator and the heating element at the adapter-applicator interface;
wherein the heater power electronics, the microprocessor electronics, and the heating element are housed in a housing.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the heating element is a resistive heating pad, a thermoelectric cooler, a resistive heating blanket, or a coil of resistance wire.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the removable thermal energy applicator comprises a contact surface oriented orthogonally with respect to the body of the applicator.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the removable thermal energy applicator comprises a debridement tool.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the removable thermal energy applicator comprises two thermal rollers.
There is provided a system as above, wherein one of the thermal rollers is heated and the other is non-heated, and wherein the non-heated roller is made of metal or soft material such as plastic or elastomer.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the non-heated roller is detachable from the remainder of the removable thermal energy applicator.
There is provided a system as above, wherein pressure exerted to tissue being compressed between two rollers is limited by a physical stop or other mechanisms such as adjustable spring to limit the amount of pressure exerted on the tissue being treated in order to reduce or eliminate the risk of causing scarring or other damage to the tissue.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the removable thermal energy applicator comprises two paddles acting as contact surfaces.
There is provided a system as above, wherein both paddles are thermally controlled.
There is provided a system as above, wherein one paddle is heated and the other paddle is non-heated, and wherein the non-heated paddle is made of metal, plastic or elastomer.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the non-heated paddle is detachable from the remainder of the removable thermal energy applicator.
There is provided a system as above, wherein pressure exerted to tissue being compressed between two paddles is limited by a physical stop or other mechanisms such as adjustable spring to limit the amount of pressure exerted on the tissue being treated in order to reduce or eliminate the risk of causing scarring or other damage to the tissue.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the system is configured to operatively communicate with a remote computing device.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the remote computing device is configured to track operating parameters of the device and output usage information for general data collection, use in clinical treatment, or monetarily charge of the users.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the remote computing device is further configured to communicate with a third-party computing device and receive information from the third-party computing device to control the device.
There is provided a system as above, further comprising a battery housing to contain a battery and battery charging and load sharing electronics.
There is provided a system as above, further comprising a thermal cut out device to serve as a fuse.
There is provided a system as above, further comprising a USB connector for power provision and communication with the microprocessor for software loading.
There is provided a system as above, further comprising a graphical display for displaying information relating to the use of the system.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the graphical display is LED, OLED, or LCD display.
There is provided a system as above, wherein the graphical display allows for user interface with the display.
There is provided a system as above, further comprising a temperature sensor operatively connected to measure temperature created by the heating element and configured to communicate temperature measurements to the microprocessor electronics.
This present invention is capable of being embodied in various forms. The description below of several embodiments is made with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the claimed subject matter and is not intended to limit the attached claims to the specific embodiments illustrated. The headings used throughout this disclosure are provided for convenience only and are not to be construed to limit the claims in any way. Embodiments illustrated under any heading may be combined with embodiments illustrated under any other heading.
As used herein, the verb “to comprise” in this description, claims, and other conjugations are used in its non-limiting sense to mean those items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded.
Reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements are present, unless the context clearly requires that there is one and only one of the elements. The indefinite article “a” or “an” thus usually means “at least one.” Additionally, the words “a” and “an” when used in the present document in concert with the words “comprising” or “containing” denote “one or more”.
The term “thermal energy applicator” or the “Instrument” refers to a removable part that may be operatively connected and removed from the body of the device, the end of which comes into contact with the patient's tissue.
Embodiments of this application relate to a device that provides a heated surface for purposes of medical treatment or physical therapy. The device contains all the electronics, power conditioning, heating element, and a thermal energy applicator or Instrument. It may also contain a battery, either rechargeable or primary, in which case the device will operate with either internal battery power or power from a cord that is connected to an external power source. The operating voltage may be direct current, less than 30 VDC, typically 5-10 VDC.
The heating element may be a heater pad or heater blanket that contains resistive elements, a heater coil consisting of resistance wire, or any similar Joule heating device that converts electricity into heat using resistance. The heating element may also be a Thermoelectric Cooler (TEC), sometimes referred to as a Thermoelectric Module (TEM), otherwise known as a Peltier, or more descriptively a Peltier device assembly consisting of a plurality of alternating n-type and p-type semiconductors connected electrically in series, arranged such that their thermal output due to the Peltier effect is in parallel upon application of electrical current. The polarity applied to the TEC is such that the hot side is towards the Instrument part.
The device may also contain one or more temperature sensors, such as a thermistor, thermocouple or resistance temperature detector (RTD) for the purpose of measuring the heated surface temperature for feedback into the temperature control system and also in some embodiments for displaying to the user in real time. The device may also contain a thermal cutoff that acts as a fuse that is connected to the electronics in such a manner as to cause power to the heating element to be switched off, using a relay or other means, in the event of an electronics failure that causes excessive heating of the surface.
In an embodiment, the device may further comprise a thermal energy applicator or an Instrument. The Instrument may comprise an elongated body with at least one contact surface configured to communicate thermal energy between the applicator and the patient's tissue. The Instrument may be removed or connected to the body of the device, such that thermal energy may be conducted from the heating element to the Instrument. Engagement of the Instrument to the body of the device may be by levers or by other means. A heat flow adapter may be used to operatively connect the Instrument and the heating element to channel and distribute heat flow.
The Instrument may comprise at least one contact surface adapted for various purposes. The contact surface may be a single contact surface and oriented at different angles with respect to the body of the Instrument. The contact surface may be two contact surfaces and comprise other shapes or other additional functions. The contact surface may comprise paddles, debridement tools, thermal rollers, or unheated paddles. The paddles may be removable, or may be made of plastic or elastomer material to reduce trauma inflicted on the tissue at treatment sites.
The Instrument part, which is the patient contact portion of the device, may be removable from the device. This allows the Instrument to be cleaned and sterilized independently. More significantly, this allows for numerous physical shapes and sizes of interchangeable Instrument parts to be used in the same device. Thus, for one particular use, such as Meibomian Gland Dysfunction treatment, the Instrument part may be of a particular size and shape suitable for contacting the eyelid. As another example, the part size and shape may be made suitable for treatment of another eye disorder based on where the area targeted for treatment is located and the geometric features best suited to treat that disorder.
In one embodiment, the device may be operated completely independently with respect to the number of times it is used and the durations of operation. The user simply turns the device on, selects a treatment, continues to select treatments until the therapy session is completed, and then turns the device off.
In a further embodiment, the device may be operated in a controlled manner, in that the number of times it is used and the durations of operation are recorded, internally within the device and/or in a separate computer, this separate computer being either a designated device that works with the handheld device or a non-specific, commercial computer that may exist in proximity to the device or exists on an external server. Communication between the device and external computers may range from a simple commercial method such as USB, Blue Tooth and Ethernet to more complex electronics such as is used in a smart phone. The record collected may enable a second party that owns, leases, or otherwise has a legal contract with the user to charge a fee based on the number of operating sessions, the durations of sessions, the combination of the sessions or duration of sessions or some other parameters.
In a further embodiment, the device is normally in an inactive state when powered on, waiting for an external communication. The user may then request or purchase a therapy session or sessions, this request being made using the communication methods aforementioned or through any other communication method. In this case, the separate computer may act as a host computer. The host computer may then determine if the request or purchase is authorized, and may potentially process the purchase transaction. The host computer may also be commanded to make the authorization by a third party. If authorized, then the host computer may send a communication to the device which allows it to be operated per the request or purchase. Upon completion of the session or sessions, the device may return to the inactive state.
The record of use may also be stored on a computer network, an internet website, or the Cloud. Furthermore, the device may be programmed such that pre-authorization is required via the internet, Cloud, or other electronic communication methods before the device is able to be operated, thus enabling the aforementioned second party to charge a fee in advance for future therapy/treatment sessions.
Referring to
Alarms or alerts may be communicated to the user visually via a message on the graphical Display (7) which may blink, or visually via either dedicated discrete LEDs or a blinking of one of the existing LEDs in an embodiment wherein LEDS are used in place of a graphical display as the user interface. In addition, an auditory alarm such as a piezoelectric speaker may be built into the internal electronics to further supplement alarm or alert communication. Additionally, a timer may be built into the graphical display to assist the clinician user in delivering a specific therapy for a specific duration of time.
In the embodiment shown, a USB connector is used to provide power to the device using a USB cord from any standard USB power-providing device. This can be a computer or a simple USB charger. The power cord may be used to charge an internal rechargeable battery, or in another embodiment may be used to power the device without need of an internal battery. Other connectors may be used to connect the device to a power source, either to charge an internal rechargeable battery or to provide power to the device.
In another embodiment of the Expression Instrument, both paddles may be thermally controlled in order to apply heat equally to the tissue being compressed.
In certain patient cases, including the expression of Meibomian Glands, limiting the compression force imparted to the eyelid is important to reduce trauma during the expression procedure. The amount of force compressing the paddles together may be limited by limiting the stroke of the lever and utilizing the elastic characteristics of the unheated assembly to produce an effective spring force. In one embodiment, limiting of the stroke may be made to be user-adjustable with the addition of a suitable mechanism such as with a thumb screw (9) shown in
In addition to the tapered configuration (26) shown in
The Temperature Sensor (22) is shown located at the Heat Flow Adapter (15) surface, although in a further embodiment it may be instead located nearer to the patient-contacting surface of the Instrument part if it is desired to control the temperature at a location farther from the heating element and closer to where the heat is conducted to the patient. The benefit of this method is potentially greater temperature accuracy. However, this method presents more difficulty with temperature control due to thermal latency and is either more complicated if the sensor is built into the Instrument part given the electrical connection or is more cumbersome for the user if the sensor would need to be removed/replaced in order to remove/replace the Instrument part.
The device is constructed primarily of available off-the-shelf components: microprocessor PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly), Battery charging and load sharing PCBA, Battery, graphical Display, LEDs, switches buttons, various basic PCBA components, connectors, H-bridge controller, inductors, capacitors, resistors, wires, fasteners, etc. Custom parts include several injection-molded plastic parts, the internal machined, cast or 3D-printed metal parts, and the machined or otherwise formed Heated Instrument parts.
The microprocessor operating system is off-the shelf and the firmware application is custom-written if used. If the system is completely analog-based with no microprocessor, then no firmware is required.
The metal parts that conduct heat may be constructed from any metal that has high thermal conductivity. These include several aluminum alloys such as alloys 6101 and 6063 which are relatively inexpensive and light and may be thinly plated with nickel, chrome, or other plating or coating to provide enhanced corrosion resistance. Silver is the best metal for thermal conductivity and may be used to obtain maximum heat transfer at the expense of higher material cost. Pure copper is an excellent material and may likewise be used at the expense of higher machining costs.
Parts may be assembled by hand and/or by automated means. Parts that are connected to each other are done so using any combination of the conventional mechanical fastening techniques (e.g., screws, pins, etc.). PCBAs are constructed per typical commercial manufacturing methods. Operations such as soldering are conventionally performed using standard tools.
Variations and modifications will occur to those of skilled in the art after reviewing this disclosure. The disclosed features may be implemented, in any combination and sub-combination (including multiple dependent combinations and sub-combinations), with one or more other features described herein. The various features described or illustrated above, including any components thereof, may be combined or integrated in other systems. Moreover, certain features may be omitted or not implemented.
Examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the scope of the information disclosed herein. All references cited are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties and made part of this application.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/550,655, filed Aug. 27, 2017. Each of the above-referenced patent applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62550655 | Aug 2017 | US |
