Device and method for treatment of eyelid diseases
View Patent ↗A container has an impermeable outer membrane sized to fit generally within the peri-orbital region and sufficiently flexible to mold to the structure of the closed eye. Heat which is generated by an exothermic reaction inside the container, which provides steady-state heat to the eyelids. A soft, non-abrasive, lint-free material is presoaked in a pH controlled (preferably antibacterial and hypoallergenic) detergent, with or without an ophthalmic antibiotic solution. The compress may also have a handle which makes holding and maneuvering the compress more feasible, while protecting the user's fingers from the heat, and preventing the contamination of the compress by the fingers. The compress may be packed in a watertight, sterile wrapper which will prevent drying of the detergent solution. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
1. A compress for treating eye conditions comprising:
a container having an impermeable outer membrane enclosing an interior volume of the container, the container sized to fit generally within the peri-orbital region and sufficiently flexible to mold to the shape of the eye, and a source of heat energy disposed within the interior volume of the container where the container is impermeable in that the source of heat energy does not pass outside the container, said heat energy generated by either a reheatable material or an exothermic chemical reaction, using
i) a chemical in the container that is to crystallize when a metal piece in the container with which it is in contact is physically altered, thereby releasing heat as a byproduct, or
ii) two chemicals, selected to have an exothermic reaction when mixed, separated by an inner membrane that is to become permeable by digital pressure without penetration of the impermeable outer membrane, allowing the two chemicals to mix in the container thereby releasing heat as a byproduct, or
iii) a chemical in the container that is reheatable by boiling or microwave.
2. The compress of claim 1 , further comprising:
a piece of absorptive material attached to the outer surface of the impermeable outer membrane, said material to absorb an amount of cleansing substance.
3. The compress of claim 2 further comprising:
an amount of said cleansing substance retained in the piece of absorptive material and having a pH range that would not cause ocular irritation if it gets into the eye.
4. The compress of claim 3 further comprising:
an amount of an ophthalmic antibiotic solution retained in the absorptive material.
5. The compress of claim 4 further comprising a sealed, sterile package in which the container, with the absorptive material retaining the cleansing substance with or without the antibiotic solution, are contained.
6. The compress of claim 2 further comprising a handle, attached to the container at a position away from the piece of absorptive material.
7. The compress of claim 6 wherein the handle is formed of the same material as the outer membrane.
8. A compress for treating eye conditions, comprising:
a sealed container having an impermeable outer membrane enclosing an interior volume of the container, the container being sized to fit generally within the peri-orbital region at an eye, the container being sufficiently flexible to mold to the shape of the eye,
wherein a chemical within the interior volume of the container is capable of warming up in response to any one of microwave radiation and boiling water being applied to the container, and
the outer membrane is to remain impermeable during any one of said microwave radiation and boiling water applications to prevent the chemical, within the interior volume, from passing outside the sealed container.
9. The compress of claim 8 further comprising a piece of absorptive material to absorb an amount of a cleansing substance that does not cause corneal irritation if it comes in contact with the eye, the piece of absorptive material being sized to allow the container and the piece of absorptive material, together, to fit within the peri-orbital region.
10. The compress of claim 8 further comprising a single, sterile package inside which the container is sealed.
11. The compress of claim 8 further comprising a piece of absorptive material to absorb an amount of an ophthalmic antibiotic solution, the piece of absorptive material being sized to allow the container and the piece of absorptive material, together, to fit within the peri-orbital region.
12. The compress of claim 8 further comprising a handle, attached to the outside surface of the container.