Electrical Methods and Devices for Ophthalmic Treatment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023364438-A1
Application number	US-202318226686-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 26, 2023
Priority date	Dec 27, 2018
Publication date	Nov 16, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lens or eye mask for treating an eye of a patient includes a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) that is configured to fit over at least a portion of a surface of the eye and a plurality of electrode pairs that are arranged on the flexible PCB. An electrical source is configured to provide electrical energy to each electrode pair to create a near electromagnetic field within the eye and thereby therapeutically treat target tissue within the eye. A spacing between electrodes of each electrode pair is controlled to achieve a predetermined penetration depth of the near electromagnetic field within the eye.

First claim

1 . A system for treating an eye of a patient comprising:
a lens that is configured for positioning on the eye of the patient, the lens having an inner surface that is positionable against the eye and an outer surface that is opposite the inner surface; a first conductive component that is positioned on the lens; a second conductive component that is positioned on the lens and that is separated and electrically insulated from the first conductive component, the first conductive component and the second conductive component being positioned on the lens so that when the lens is positioned on the eye, the first conductive component or the second conductive component is positioned adjacent a limbus of the eye; and an electrical source that provides electrical energy to the first conductive component or the second conductive component to induce a current within the eye between the first conductive component and the second conductive component and thereby deliver electromagnetic energy to target tissue within the eye to therapeutically treat the target tissue.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic energy therapeutically treats the target tissue by heating the target tissue.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive component and the second conductive component comprise electrodes that electrically contact the eye and that deliver a resistive current through tissue of the eye between the electrodes.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive component and the second conductive component comprise a pair of capacitors, wherein an insulative material is positioned between each capacitor and the eye, and wherein the pair of capacitors deliver a displacement current through tissue of the eye between the pair of capacitors.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive component and the second conductive component are employed to image at least a portion of the eye via electrical impedance tomography.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic treatment of the target tissue comprises reducing an intraocular pressure of the eye for treatment of glaucoma.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lens comprises a flexible printed circuit board.

8 . A lens or eye mask for treating an eye of a patient comprising:
a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) that is configured to fit over at least a portion of a surface of the eye; a plurality of electrode pairs that are arranged on the flexible PCB; and an electrical source that provides electrical energy to each electrode pair of the plurality of electrode pairs; wherein: each electrode pair is configured to create a near electromagnetic field within the eye; a spacing between electrodes of each electrode pair is controlled to achieve a predetermined penetration depth of the near electromagnetic field within the eye; and the near electromagnetic field within the eye therapeutically treats target tissue within the eye.

9 . The lens or eye mask of claim 8 , wherein said near electromagnetic field therapeutically treats the target tissue within the eye by locally heating the target tissue.

10 . The lens or eye mask of claim 8 , wherein the spacing between each electrode of each electrode pair is between 0.1 and 5 mm.

11 . The lens or eye mask of claim 8 , wherein the electrode pairs are arranged on the flexible PCB so that when the eye mask is positioned on the eye, each electrode pair is positioned near a limbus of the eye so that the near electromagnetic field within the eye therapeutically targets a ciliary body or ciliary processes.

12 . The lens or eye mask of claim 8 , further comprising one or more sensory electrodes that are configured to image at least a portion of the eye via electrical impedance tomography.

13 . The lens or eye mask of claim 12 , wherein each electrode pair of the plurality of electrode pairs includes one or more sensory electrodes, and wherein each electrode pair and one or more sensory electrodes form an electrode group that is able to simultaneously provide an electrical energy based treatment and measure or sense one or more parameters of the electrical energy based treatment.

14 . A method for treating glaucoma in an eye of a patient comprising:
positioning a lens on a surface of the eye, the lens comprising a conductive component that is positioned adjacent to a surface of the eye; and providing electrical energy to the conductive component to induce a current within the eye and thereby deliver electromagnetic energy to target tissue within the eye to therapeutically treat the target tissue; wherein the lens comprises a flexible printed circuit board (PCB).

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the conductive component is a loop conductor and wherein the electrical energy is provided to induce an inductive current within the eye.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the conductive component is a first conductive component, and wherein the lens further comprises a second conductive component that is positioned adjacent to the surface of the eye so that the second conductive component is separated and electrically insulated from the first conductive component, wherein electrical energy is provided to the first conductive component or the second conductive component to induce a resistive or capacitive current within the eye.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first conductive component and the second conductive component are positioned on the lens so that when the lens is positioned on the eye, the first conductive component or the second conductive component is positioned adjacent or radially outward of a limbus of the eye.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first conductive component and the second conductive component are separated by a distance of between 0.1 and 5 mm.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first conductive component and the second conductive component comprise an electrode pair and wherein the lens includes between 5 and 40 electrode pairs that are arranged and spaced apart on the lens in an annular configuration.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein at least some of the electrode pairs includes a sensory electrode that is configured to measure or sense one or more parameters or conditions of the target tissue.

Assignees

• Iridex Corp

Inventors

• Chen Howard

Classifications

• A61N1/403 Primary

  for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia · CPC title

• H05K1/0277

  Bendability or stretchability details (H05K1/038, H05K3/4691 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B3/14

  Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography · CPC title

• A61N1/0472

  Structure-related aspects · CPC title

• A61B5/0536

  Impedance imaging, e.g. by tomography · CPC title