WO2022092399A1

WO2022092399A1 - Ultrasonic treatment device for treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction

Info

Publication number: WO2022092399A1
Application number: PCT/KR2020/016572
Authority: WO
Inventors: 황경원; 문평수
Original assignee: 웰스메디텍 주식회사
Priority date: 2020-10-27
Filing date: 2020-11-23
Publication date: 2022-05-05
Also published as: KR102446920B1; KR20220055784A

Abstract

Disclosed is an ultrasonic treatment device for treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction wherein meibomian gland dysfunction can be treated using an ultrasonic module inserted between an eyelid and a cornea. The present invention comprises: a frame configured to be worn on a face; an eye cover connected to the frame and covering an eye; an ultrasonic module which is inserted between an eyelid and a cornea covered with the eye cover and generates ultrasonic waves toward the closed eyelid; and a module holder for connecting one side of the ultrasonic module to one side of the frame such that the ultrasonic module is suspended from the frame.

Description

Ultrasound therapy device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction

The present invention relates to an ultrasound therapy device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, which can treat meibomian gland dysfunction using an ultrasound module inserted between the eyelid and the cornea.

Meibomian gland is a type of sebaceous gland in the eyelid, and it forms an oil layer on the tear layer by secreting fat. There are 30-40 meibomian glands on the upper eyelid and about 20-30 on the lower eyelid.

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) refers to a state in which the function of the meibomian glands existing at the edge of the eyelids is reduced, and a white transparent mass is formed in the secretory ducts, and the meibomian glands are blocked. Due to this, the secretion of fat components is reduced and tears are excessively evaporated, which may cause dry eye syndrome.

As a treatment for dry eye syndrome, a technique for reducing eye fatigue and treating dry eye syndrome by delivering volatile substances generated from plant powder together with a magnetic field of a magnet to the eye by wearing it on the face in the following (Patent Document 1) is disclosed. In addition, in (Patent Document 2), a technology for treating dry eye syndrome by activating the functions of lacrimal glands, meibomian glands, and goblet cells by irradiating a low-power laser using a contact lens connected to an optical fiber or a contact lens with a laser-generated LED is disclosed. there is.

(Patent Document 1) Korean Patent No. 10-1518036 (Registered on April 29, 2015)

(Patent Document 2) Korean Patent No. 10-1860030 (Registered on May 15, 2018)

In the above (Patent Document 1), since the magnetic field forming means and the drug releasing means are provided in the main body, there is a problem in that the structure is complicated and the economic burden due to the increase in cost increases.

In addition, in the above (Patent Document 2), it is difficult to install a laser generating member that generates a low-power laser on a thin and transparent contact lens, and there is a risk of causing thermal damage to the eye during the treatment process by irradiating the low-power laser, and excessive output If the level is lowered, there is a problem in that the treatment time becomes longer.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasound treatment apparatus for the treatment of meibomian gland insufficiency, which can be treated by breaking through a blocked passage of the meibomian gland using ultrasound generated from an ultrasound module inserted between the eyelid and the cornea.

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, there is provided an ultrasound treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, comprising: a frame worn on the face; an eye cover connected to the frame and covering the eye; an ultrasound module inserted between the eyelid and the cornea covered with the eye cover and generating ultrasound toward the closed eyelid; and a module holder connecting one side of the ultrasound module and one side of the frame so that the ultrasound module is suspended from the frame.

In addition, the eye cover is characterized in that it is rotatably installed in the frame.

In addition, the eye cover includes a cover body and a support plate extending from one side of the cover body, and a protruding pin is formed at an end of the support plate to be hinged to the frame.

In addition, the eye cover includes a cover body and a pocket formed in the cover body, and when the cover body intersects with the module holder, the pocket portion is a groove with one side facing the eyeball to avoid interference with the module holder. It is characterized in that it is formed.

In addition, the ultrasonic module includes a diaphragm including a central portion to which one side of the module holder is connected and an edge portion surrounding the central portion, a protective pad connected to the rear surface of the diaphragm and protecting the cornea, and an ultrasonic element installed between the diaphragm and the protective pad characterized in that

In addition, the diaphragm is formed in a convex dome shape, and a ring-shaped groove is formed at a boundary between the center portion and the edge portion.

In addition, the module holder is characterized in that it is detachably coupled to the fitting hole of the frame.

In addition, the module holder is characterized in that it is formed of a single strand of wire connecting one side of the ultrasound module and one side of the frame.

In addition, the module holder includes a positioning pin extending from one end of the wire, and a fixing tip extending from the other end of the wire, the positioning pin being inserted into the positioning groove of the frame, and the fixing tip being attached to the ultrasonic module. It is characterized in that it is fixedly coupled.

In addition, the frame is characterized in that it includes a front frame positioned in front of the face and a pair of side frames respectively connected to the left and right sides of the front frame.

In addition, the side frame is hinged to the front frame and can be folded, and the side frame is characterized in that it extends in the direction of the wearer's ear.

According to the present invention, it is possible to manufacture with a simple structure using the ultrasound generated by the ultrasound module inserted between the eyelid and the cornea, thereby reducing the economic burden and preventing the risk of thermal damage.

According to the present invention, the eye cover covering the eyeball is disposed on the eyelid and gently pressed to suppress the movement of the eyelid due to carelessness, so that the patient can receive treatment service safely and comfortably.

According to the present invention, since the eye cover and the ultrasound module rotatably installed on the frame worn on the face do not interfere with each other, the operation of inserting the ultrasound module into the eyelid for treatment preparation or withdrawing the ultrasound module after treatment is completed can be easily and conveniently performed. It has the advantage of excellent usability.

1 is an exploded perspective view of an ultrasound treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasound module of FIG. 1 .

3 is a view for explaining an operation of inserting the ultrasound module between the eyelid and the cornea according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a view illustrating a state in which the eye cover is lifted upward when the ultrasound module according to an embodiment of the present invention is inserted between the eyelid and the cornea.

5 is a view illustrating a state in which the insertion of the ultrasound module is completed and the eye cover rotates downward to cover the eyeball according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation in which an ultrasound module generates ultrasound toward an eyelid according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by describing embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals in each figure indicate like elements. Also, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also, when a part "includes" a certain component, it means that other components may be further included, rather than excluding other components, unless otherwise stated.

Referring to FIG. 1, the ultrasound treatment apparatus includes a frame 10 worn on the face, an eye cover 20 that covers the eyes, an ultrasound module 40 that generates ultrasound toward the eyelids, and an ultrasound module in the frame 10 ( 40) may include a module holder 30 for rotatably connecting the. Here, the frame 10 is connected to the left and right sides of the front frame 12 positioned in front of the face when worn by the user receiving treatment, and to the left and right sides of the front frame 12 so as to span the user's ear, and the side surface extending in the ear direction It may include a frame 11 . In the embodiment, a pair of side frames 11 are hinged to the front frame 12 to apply a folding structure, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the frame 10 may be formed of an integrated elastic material.

In the embodiment, the front frame 12 is formed in the shape of a bar extending in the horizontal direction, but a wearing structure in which the middle part of the frame is bent and a nose support is attached to be seated on the bridge of the nose may be applied like general glasses.

In addition, when the front frame 12 is disposed to face the eyebrows, a flexible cushioning member is additionally attached to the rear surface of the front frame 12 so that it is gently attached to the forehead, thereby improving the wearing comfort. A sponge that can be attached using double-sided tape can also be used as a buffer member.

In order to detachably connect the pair of eye covers 20 , a pair of insertion grooves 13 , which are partly dug in the width direction, may be formed in the front frame 12 . The pair of insertion grooves 13 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance corresponding to the left eye and the right eye. A pair of pin grooves 14 facing each other are formed inside each of the insertion grooves 13 . The eye cover 20 is rotatably connected to the pin groove 14 .

In order to connect the module holder 30 to the front frame 12, a position fixing groove 16 dug to a certain depth is formed in the center of the bottom surface of the front frame 12, and the position fixing groove 16 is located close to the position fixing groove 16. A pair of fittings 15 are formed to protrude. Each fitting hole 15 is formed with a fitting hole drilled in the horizontal direction and opened downward.

The eye cover 20 may include a cover body 21 and a support plate 23 extending from one side of the cover body 21 . One end of the support plate 23 can be inserted into the insertion groove 13, and protruding pins 24 are formed extending from both ends. The protruding pin 24 is fitted into the pin groove 13 and may rotate the cover body 21 in the fitted state. For example, when the cover body 21 is moved upward as shown in FIG. 4 when preparing for treatment, the ultrasound module 40 can be placed in the eyelid without being disturbed in the front direction of the eyelid. In addition, during treatment, as shown in FIG. 5 , the eyeball can be covered by moving the cover body 21 downward. At this time, the lower surface of the eye cover 20 is placed on the eyelid and pressed gently. Accordingly, the movement of the eyelids caused by carelessness is suppressed, so that the patient can receive treatment services safely and comfortably.

Since interference with the module holder 30 may occur when the eye cover 20 is moved downward in this way, the pocket portion 22 is formed in the cover body 21 . The pocket portion 22 is formed as a groove in which the lower surface of the cover body 21, that is, one side facing the eyeball is opened and dug to a predetermined depth.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the ultrasonic module 40 may include a diaphragm 41 , an ultrasonic element 45 , and a protective pad 46 .

The diaphragm 41 is formed in a convex dome shape. The diaphragm 41 includes a disk-shaped central portion 43 to which one side of the module holder 30 is connected, and a rim portion 42 surrounding the central portion 43 . A ring-shaped groove 44 is formed at the boundary between the central portion 43 and the edge portion 42 .

The ultrasonic element 45 is embedded between the diaphragm 41 and the protective pad 46 and is driven according to an ultrasonic oscillation signal applied from the outside through a signal cable (not shown). Ultrasonic waves are generated through the diaphragm 41 by driving the ultrasonic element 45 . In the embodiment, the ultrasonic element 44 is implemented as an integrated body, but a plurality of ultrasonic elements are arranged at regular intervals to arrange an element array, and by limiting to the rear surface of any one of the central part 43 and the edge part 42 . It is also possible to arrange an array of elements. The frequency of the ultrasonic waves generated by the diaphragm 41 may be changed by a controller (not shown) adjusting the applied ultrasonic oscillation signal. For example, the frequency of ultrasonic waves suitable for dissolving substances blocking the passage of the meibomian gland is adjusted in the range of 5 MHz to 10 MHz. can do. In addition, the ultrasonic frequency suitable for dissolving substances to flow out of the meibomian gland is adjusted in the range of 0.5 MHz to 3 MHz, which promotes blood circulation by applying ultrasonic energy to the entire eyelid and discharges waste products through direct vibration. can be maximized. Accordingly, the control unit may perform the treatment by adjusting the treatment time and the frequency range of the ultrasound according to the control program.

The protective pad 46 is installed on the rear surface of the diaphragm 41 . Since the protective pad 46 is in close contact with the cornea 3 , silicone, which is a biocompatible material, may be used.

1 and 3 , the module holder 30 may be formed of a single strand of wire bent in an L-shape connecting one side of the ultrasound module 40 and one side of the frame 10 . Here, the module holder 30 may include a positioning pin 31 extending in the longitudinal direction from one side, and a fixing tip 32 extending in the longitudinal direction from the other side. The fixing tip 32 is integrally fixed to the central portion 43 of the diaphragm 41 .

The wire-shaped module holder 30 can be inserted into the fitting hole 15 with one side open, and can be combined or separated by pulling it out.

Since the module holder 30 has a structure that rotates upward and downward in a state coupled to the fitting hole 15, the ultrasound module 40 fixed to the fixing tip 32 in the treatment preparation process can be easily placed between the eyelids and the cornea. can be inserted. At this time, when the positioning pin 31 is inserted into the positioning groove 16, the diaphragm 41 is aligned with the center of the eyeball. The positioning pin 31 helps the operation of inserting the diaphragm 41 fixed to the fixing tip 32 into the center of the eyeball without deviating from the center of the eyeball.

Referring to FIG. 6 , when the ultrasound module 40 is inserted, the rim portion 42 of the diaphragm 41 is completely covered by the upper eyelid 1 and the lower eyelid 3 , and is fixed to the central portion 43 . The module holder 30 is positioned outside the gap between the open eyelid 1 and the lower eyelid 3 . In addition, as the ultrasonic element 45 to which the ultrasonic oscillation signal is applied is driven in a state where the lower surface of the cover body 21 of the eye cover 20 gently presses the

eyelids

1 and 3, the edge portion 42 of the diaphragm 41 is ) to generate ultrasonic waves towards the eyelids. Accordingly, a treatment service is made to clear the clogged passage of the meibomian glands in the upper and lower eyelids.

As described above, according to the embodiment, it can be manufactured with a simple structure using the ultrasound generated from the ultrasound module inserted between the eyelid and the cornea, thereby reducing the economic burden and preventing the risk of thermal damage. By gently pressing the eyelids to suppress inadvertent eyelid movements, the patient can receive treatment services safely and comfortably. In addition, according to the present invention, since the eye cover and the ultrasound module rotatably installed on the frame worn on the face do not interfere with each other, the operation of inserting or withdrawing the ultrasound module can be easily and conveniently performed.

The description of the present invention described above is for illustration, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can understand that it can be easily modified into other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. will be.

The present invention can be applied to an ultrasound treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland insufficiency, which can be treated by using ultrasound to break through the clogged passage of the meibomian gland.

Claims

frame worn on the face;

an eye cover connected to the frame and covering the eye;

an ultrasound module inserted between the eyelid and the cornea covered with the eye cover and generating ultrasound toward the closed eyelid;

An ultrasound treatment apparatus for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction comprising a; a module holder connecting one side of the ultrasound module and one side of the frame so that the ultrasound module is suspended from the frame.
According to claim 1,

The eye cover is an ultrasonic treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, characterized in that rotatably installed on the frame.
3. The method of claim 2,

The eye cover includes a cover body and a support plate extending from one side of the cover body,

Ultrasonic treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, characterized in that a protruding pin is formed at the end of the support plate in order to be hinged to the frame.
3. The method of claim 2,

The eye cover includes a cover body and a pocket formed in the cover body,

Ultrasound treatment apparatus for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, characterized in that the pocket portion is formed as a groove with one side opposite to the eyeball opened in order to avoid interference with the module holder when the cover body intersects the module holder.
According to claim 1,

The ultrasonic module includes a diaphragm including a central portion to which one side of the module holder is connected and an edge portion surrounding the central portion, a protective pad connected to the rear surface of the diaphragm and protecting the cornea, and an ultrasonic element installed between the diaphragm and the protective pad Ultrasound treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, characterized in that.
6. The method of claim 5,

The diaphragm is formed in a convex dome shape,

An ultrasonic treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, characterized in that a ring-shaped groove is formed at the boundary between the center and the rim.
According to claim 1,

The module holder is an ultrasonic treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, characterized in that detachably coupled to the fitting of the frame.
According to claim 1,

The module holder is an ultrasound treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, characterized in that formed of a single wire connecting one side of the ultrasound module and one side of the frame.
9. The method of claim 8,

The module holder includes a positioning pin extending from one end of the wire, and a fixing tip extending from the other end of the wire,

The positioning pin is inserted into the positioning groove of the frame,

The fixed tip is an ultrasound treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, characterized in that fixedly coupled to the ultrasound module.
According to claim 1,

The frame includes a front frame positioned in front of the face and a pair of side frames connected to the left and right sides of the front frame, respectively.
11. The method of claim 10,

The side frame is hinged to the front frame and can be folded,

The side frame is an ultrasound treatment device for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction, characterized in that extending in the direction of the wearer's ear.