IP Library › Granted Patent US 12690908
Granted Patent B2
US 12690908 · App. 19/546,158 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Methods of alleviating symptoms of ocular surface discomfort using medical ice slurry

Inventors: James Anthony Stefater, III (Boston, MA); Tomasz Pawel Stryjewski (Somerville, MA); Sameer Sabir (Arlington, MA)
Assignee: EYECOOL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
A61B18/02A61F7/10A61K9/0048A61K9/10A61K47/10A61M19/00G02C5/001A61B2018/00327A61F2007/0004A61F2007/0056A61F2007/0285
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12690908
App. No.
19/546,158
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method of alleviating symptoms of ocular surface discomfort, the method comprising: topically applying a cold slurry adjacent to a corneal limbus of an eye of a patient, wherein the cold slurry comprises water and a freezing point depressant, wherein the topical application of the cold slurry is configured to cause a degree of numbing of a cornea of the eye for a period of time, and wherein an ocular sensation of the eye is restored following the period of time.

Claims (27)

1 . A method of causing hypesthesia of an eye of a subject, the method comprising:

applying to at least one portion of the eye a cold slurry formulation contained within a material that is thermally conductive, such that the cold slurry formulation does not have direct contact with the at least one portion of the eye;

wherein the cold slurry formulation includes water and a freezing point depressant and the application of the cold slurry formulation causes hypesthesia of the at least one portion of the eye for a period of time of more than about two days, and an ocular sensation of the at least one portion of the eye is restored following the period of time.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the eye comprises a sclera.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive material comprises at least one of a metal and a polymer.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a sclera of the eye of the patient is cooled to a temperature of between about −6° C. and about 4° C. during the application of the device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein application of the cold slurry formulation directs cooling only to one or more areas of potential therapeutic effect.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the material that is thermally conductive substantially prevents cooling of an untargeted portion of the eye, such that undesired side effects are substantially minimized.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the undesired side effects include irritation of the eye.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein hypesthesia includes a reduction of ocular discomfort without a complete blockage of ocular sensation.

9 . A method of causing hypesthesia of an eye of a subject, the method comprising:

applying a device to at least one portion of the eye of the subject, the device comprising a thermally conductive material comprising at least one of a metal and a polymer, the device comprising a cold slurry that comprises water and a freezing point depressant,

wherein the application of the device causes hypesthesia of the at least one portion of the eye for a period of time of more than about two days, and an ocular sensation of the at least one portion of the eye is restored following the period of time.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one portion of the eye comprises a sclera.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the freezing point depressant is glycerol.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a sclera of the eye of the patient is cooled to a temperature of between about −6° C. and about 4° C. during the application of the device.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein application of the cold slurry formulation directs cooling only to one or more areas of potential therapeutic effect.

14 . A method of causing hypesthesia of an eye of a subject, the method comprising:

providing a device including a thermally conductive material that contains a cold slurry formulation;

applying the device including the thermally conductive material to at least one portion of the eye;

wherein the cold slurry formulation includes water and a freezing point depressant and the application of the device causes hypesthesia of the at least one portion of the eye for a period of time of more than about two days, and an ocular sensation of the at least one portion of the eye is restored following the period of time.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one portion of the eye comprises a sclera.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the thermally conductive material comprises at least one of a metal and a polymer.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the freezing point depressant is glycerol.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein a sclera of the eye of the patient is cooled to a temperature of between about −6° C. and about 4° C. during the application of the device.

19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein application of the cold slurry formulation directs cooling only to one or more areas of potential therapeutic effect.

20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein hypesthesia includes a reduction of ocular discomfort without a complete blockage of ocular sensation.