System for Treatment of Eye Conditions

Abstract

A dry eye treatment device is provided having a mask defining a treatment cavity which is positionable on a face of a user over the eyes. A temperature altering pack such as a gel pack is positionable within the treatment cavity and a fabric cover my surround the gel pack and have medication absorbed or placed upon the fabric material.

Claims

1. A dry eye treatment apparatus, comprising: a mask, said mask having a front wall extending to a sealing edge which extends a length of said sealing edge from a first side of said sealing edge at said perimeter edge of said front wall, to a perimeter edge of said sealing edge; a strap pathway formed upon an exterior surface of said front wall, said strap pathway running between a first end of said mask to a second end of said mask; said strap pathway defining a path for a biased contact of a strap adapted for holding said mask upon a face of a user; a treatment cavity defined by an area between said rear surface of said front extending to said perimeter edge of said front wall; a temperature altering pack sized for positioning within said treatment cavity, for communicating heat or cold to said treatment cavity; and wherein said mask is positionable with said sealing edge surrounding the eyes of said user in a contact with a face of said user, thereby positioning said treatment cavity in front of the eyes of said user, in an as-used position of said mask.

2. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: said strap pathway defined by an area between a pair of ribs extending away from said exterior surface of said front wall.

3. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: a first projection extending from said first end of said mask to a distal end; a first aperture formed in said first projection adjacent said distal end thereof; a second projection extending away from said second end of said mask, to a distal end; a second aperture formed in said second projection adjacent said distal end thereof; and said first projection and said second projection positioned a distance from said perimeter edge of said front wall, which is greater than length of said sealing edge.

4. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: a first projection extending from said first end of said mask to a distal end; a first aperture formed in said first projection adjacent said distal end thereof; a second projection extending away from said second end of said mask, to a distal end; a second aperture formed in said second projection adjacent said distal end thereof; and said first projection and said second projection positioned a distance from said perimeter edge of said front wall, which is greater than length of said sealing edge.

5. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising: said temperature altering pack formed of a flexible envelope having material therein adapted for heating or cooling; said temperature altering pack having two lobes separated by a recess depending at a central area into one side edge which is complimentary in shape to a bridge of said mask.

6. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 2, additionally comprising: said temperature altering pack formed of a flexible envelope having material therein adapted for heating or cooling; said temperature altering pack having two lobes separated by a recess depending at a central area into one side edge which is complimentary in shape to a bridge of said mask.

7. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 3, additionally comprising: said temperature altering pack formed of a flexible envelope having material therein adapted for heating or cooling; said temperature altering pack having two lobes separated by a recess depending at a central area into one side edge which is complimentary in shape to a bridge of said mask.

8. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 4, additionally comprising: said temperature altering pack formed of a flexible envelope having material therein adapted for heating or cooling; said temperature altering pack having two lobes separated by a recess depending at a central area into one side edge which is complimentary in shape to a bridge of said mask.

9. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 5, additionally comprising: a hinge formed in said central area of said temperature altering pack, said hinge defining a folding point of said temperature altering pack whereby a folding thereof stacks one of said two lobes substantially aligned and adjacent the other.

10. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 6, additionally comprising: a hinge formed in said central area of said temperature altering pack, said hinge defining a folding point of said temperature altering pack whereby a folding thereof stacks one of said two lobes substantially aligned and adjacent the other.

11. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 7, additionally comprising: a hinge formed in said central area of said temperature altering pack, said hinge defining a folding point of said temperature altering pack whereby a folding thereof stacks one of said two lobes substantially aligned and adjacent the other.

12. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 8, additionally comprising: a hinge formed in said central area of said temperature altering pack, said hinge defining a folding point of said temperature altering pack whereby a folding thereof stacks one of said two lobes substantially aligned and adjacent the other.

13. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 5, additionally comprising: a fabric cover having a shape complimentary to said temperature altering pack; said fabric cover having an interior cavity accessible through an opening in sidewalls forming said fabric cover; and said temperature altering pack engageable within said cover by communication thereof through said opening.

14. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 6, additionally comprising: a fabric cover having a shape complimentary to said temperature altering pack; said fabric cover having an interior cavity accessible through an opening in sidewalls forming said fabric cover; and said temperature altering pack engageable within said cover by communication thereof through said opening.

15. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 9, additionally comprising: a fabric cover having a shape complimentary to said temperature altering pack; said fabric cover having an interior cavity accessible through an opening in sidewalls forming said fabric cover; and said temperature altering pack engageable within said cover by communication thereof through said opening.

16. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 10, additionally comprising: a fabric cover having a shape complimentary to said temperature altering pack; said fabric cover having an interior cavity accessible through an opening in sidewalls forming said fabric cover; and said temperature altering pack engageable within said cover by communication thereof through said opening.

17. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 11, additionally comprising: a fabric cover having a shape complimentary to said temperature altering pack; said fabric cover having an interior cavity accessible through an opening in sidewalls forming said fabric cover; and said temperature altering pack engageable within said cover by communication thereof through said opening.

18. The dry eye treatment apparatus of claim 12, additionally comprising: a fabric cover having a shape complimentary to said temperature altering pack; said fabric cover having an interior cavity accessible through an opening in sidewalls forming said fabric cover; and said temperature altering pack engageable within said cover by communication thereof through said opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the invention. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting.

[0024] In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the mask of the present invention showing the strap pathway communicating across the entire exterior front facing surface and showing a sealing edge adapted fore sealed engagement with the face of a user thereby forming the treatment cavity.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the mask of FIG. 1 for treating dry eye conditions and showing the treatment chamber defined by the front wall transitioning to form a sidewall communicating between the front wall and a sealing edge.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a view of the front wall of the mask as in FIG. 1, and also showing a strap communicating across the entire front wall surface through a formed strap pathway and communicating through strap apertures extending from an edge on both ends of the mask.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a gel pack which is configured to engage within the treatment cavity of the mask, and which preferably is inserted into a fabric cover prior to operative placement in the treatment cavity.

[0029] FIG. 5 depicts the gel pack in an evenly folded position which is enabled a formed hinge, whereby the gel pack is bends properly during use and is more evenly heated and more easily shipped.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0030] In this description, any directional prepositions if employed, such as up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, first, second, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device or depictions as such may be oriented are describing such as it appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only. Such terms of direction and location are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the device herein has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0031] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-5, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1 device 10 for treating dry eye and/or irritated eye conditions and which is configured to control, maintain and/or increase or decrease the temperature and humidity to and around the eyes of a user.

[0032] The device 10 shown in exploded view of the multiple components which may be used in FIG. 3, will concurrently communicate moisture to areas of the face and eyes positioned within a defined treatment cavity 12 of the mask 14 when positioned in an as-used position on the face of a patient or user. In such an as-used position, the mask is engaged over the eyes and facial areas surrounding the eyes and the treatment cavity 12 is defined an area within a sealed engagement to surround both eyes of the user and the skin surrounding and in-between their eyes.

[0033] Shown in FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the mask 14 which is employed in all modes of the device 10 herein such as that in FIG. 3. Particularly preferred for the communication of even pressure to the mask 14, to hold it in sealed engagement to the face of a user, in the as used position, is the inclusion of a formed strap pathway 16 communicating across the entire front wall 20 of the mask 14 in-between opposing parallel ribs 18 extending away from the exterior surface of the front of the mask 14.

[0034] This formed pathway 16 when operatively engaged with a strap 22 as in FIG. 3, where the strap 22 contacts the entire front wall 20 along the pathway 16, provides an especially comfortable and enhanced sealed connection to the head of the user. This is because the strap 22, when tensioned around the back of the head of the user, and running across the entire pathway 16, provides a more even bias or forcing of the front wall 20, toward the face of the user, which communicates the even force and contact of the sealing edge 32 against the face of the user which is both more comfortable and less likely to leak during use.

[0035] Additionally, the pathway 16 directs the strap 22 at both ends of the mask 14, into and through apertures 28 formed in projections 30 extending from both ends of the mask 14. This engagement of the strap 22 is most preferred as it has been found that when the mask 14 is formed of a polymeric material, the combination of biasing force towards the face evenly across the pathway 16, yields sufficient force to hold the sealing edge 32 in sealed engagement with the face of the user. However, it has been found that it also yields a more comfortable engagement of the sealing edge 32 so the mask 14 may be comfortably worn for longer periods.

[0036] Of course the mask 14 can be employed with just a strap 22 engaged with the projections 30 by wrapping or engagement through the apertures 28, however this has been found not to yield the even pressure or bias toward the face of the user the positioning of the strap 22 across the entire pathway 16 yields.

[0037] Additionally, in the preferred mode of the strap 22 within the pathway 16, and engaged through the apertures 28 at both ends, in addition to providing a compression of the sealing edge 32 against the face with less pressure, also imparts a slight stretching or elongation of the body of the mask 14, at the two ends of the mask 14, in a pulling of the strap 22 at the ends to pull them in opposite directions. This slight stretching or elongation has been found to help maintain the mask 14 in the as-used position with the sealing edge 32 contacting the face of the user, as it tends to elongate or stretch the sealing edge 32 and remove wrinkles, and more evenly seal over the curve of the face.

[0038] So engaged, with the sealing edge 32 biased against the face, and stretched toward both ends by the engagement of the strap 22 through the apertures 28 in the projections 30, a treatment cavity 21 is formed. The treatment cavity 21 is defined by the area between the rear surface 21 of the front wall 20, the surface of the side wall 34 portion of the front wall, and the user's face, with the mask 14 in the as-used position.

[0039] In FIG. 2, this treatment cavity 12, without the face of the user providing the rear wall, is shown. Also shown is the sealing edge 32 engaged at the perimeter edge 23 of the sidewall 34 portion of the front wall 20. This sidewall 34 defines a depth of the treatment cavity, and is a portion of the front wall 20 which transitions in curve or angle, from a direction running substantially parallel to the sealing edge 32, to the sidewall portion 34 which curves or angles to run a direction toward the sealing edge 32, and traverse to the direction thereof.

[0040] Further shown in FIG. 2, are one of the two projections 30 which position the two apertures 28 forming passages for the strap 22, at both ends of the mask 14. The projections 30 extend away from the mask 14 from both respective ends, to position the apertures 28 a distance beyond, the exterior perimeter edge 33 of the underlying sealing edge 32 of the mask 14. This positioning of the apertures 38 is preferred because as noted above, the strap 22 once tensioned around the head of the user, will bias the front wall 20 and the sidewall portion thereof, toward the face of the user. Concurrently the two ends of the mask 14 and portions of the sealing edge 32, are pulled in opposite directions, which as noted has been found to improve contact of the sealing edge 32 over the contours of the user's face, to help maintain the mask 14 in a sealed engagement to the face of the user. The force of the strap 22 being imparted across the entire pathway, along with the slight stretching of the sealing edge 32, increases user comfort by minimizing the force imparted to the mask 14 against the face to maintain the seal.

[0041] Shown in FIG. 4 is an exploded view of all the components of the preferred mode of the device 10. As can be seen, a temperature altering pack, such as a gel pack 40, is depicted which has two rounded or circular lobes 42 separated by a recess 45 in one edge. The lobes 42 are sized to fit into the treatment cavity 12 and cover both eyes of the user, and the recess 45 is complimentary to the shape of the bridge 13 formed in the mask 14 which traverses over the nose of the user.

[0042] The gel pack 40 is filled with gel material which will store and provide a reservoir of transmittable heat or cold when engaged within the treatment cavity 12 with the mask 14 mounted to the as-used position. While defined as a gel pack 40 herein, any temperature altering pack or component, which may be heated or cooled, to generate heat or cold within the treatment cavity 12, is considered a gel pack 14. Also shown, is a preferred fabric cover 44 which has an opening 46 between the two sidewalls of the cover 44 for insertion of the gel pack 40 therein into an interior cavity. The gel pack 40 is preferably inserted within the fabric cover prior to engagement within the treatment cavity 12 and provides a more comfortable transmission of heat or cold than the plastic pouch defining the gel pack 40. The cover 44 is preferably formed of a soft woven or non woven textile material such as cotton, bamboo, polynosic rayon, and other soft textile fabrics. The cover is formed in a shape, complimentary to the shape of the gel pack 40. The use of the fabric cover 44 is preferred as it increases the utility of the device 10 in that it which can be moistened and/or impregnated with medication or other treatments. Such treatment can be employed for one or both of the skin and the eyes when positioned within the treatment cavity 12 with the gel pack 40 inserted within.

[0043] Including the cover 44 thus allows for the inclusion of a wide variety of medical and/or cosmetic treatments along with moisture which may be communicated to and around the eyes of the user in differing treatments. Further the gel pack 40 may be heated or cooled prior to insertion into the cover 44 and the treatment cavity, to provided a symbiotic combination with the medication and/or moisture and/or heat to the cosmetic or medicinal treatment imparted to the cover 44 when positioned within the treatment cavity 12 of the mask 14.

[0044] Additionally shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, is a hinge 48 or defined folding position at a central area of the gel pack 40 between the lobes 42. This hinge 48 is formed at a point in the plastic or polymeric material forming a flexible envelope 47 for the gel pack 40, by a fusing of a portion 41 of the two sidewalls defining the envelope 47 of the gel pack 40 at a central area. This fused portion 41 projects inward from the perimeter edge of the gel pack 40. This hinge 48 when so formed in a central area substantially centered between both ends and both lobes of the gel pack 40, is particularly preferred to provide a defined folding point, over the bridge of the nose of the user during use to operatively and equally position one of the two circular portions of the gel pack 40, properly over a respective eye of the user.

[0045] Further, the hinge 48 has also been found to help in both compacting shipment of the gel pack 40, by forming a centered fold without emptying all the contents of one circular area into the other circular area. Still further, when heating the gel pack 40 in a microwave oven, by positioning both of the two circular areas in substantial alignment, in a stack when folded such as shown in FIG. 5, a more even heating of both sides of the gel pack 40 occurs. The formed hinge 48 provides a means to form this fold of the gel pack 40 in the center every time, and thereby form the folded stack.

[0046] Although the invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. While the invention as shown in the drawings and described in detail herein discloses arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present invention, it is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described, may be employed in accordance with the spirit of this invention. Any and all such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.

[0047] Further, the purpose of the attached abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology to determine quickly, from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.