Eye Therapy System

Abstract

Heat is generated in corneal fibrils in a cornea of an eye according to a selected pattern. The heat causes the corneal fibrils corresponding to the selected pattern to transition from a first structure to a second structure. The second structure provides a desired reshaping of the cornea. A cross-linking agent is then activated in the region of corneal fibrils according to the selected pattern. The cross-linking agent prevents the corneal fibrils from changing from the second structure. Thus, embodiments stabilize corneal tissue and improve its biomechanical strength after desired structural changes have been achieved in the corneal tissue. Accordingly, the embodiments help to preserve the desired reshaping of the cornea.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method for applying therapy to an eye, comprising:
 applying a cross-linking agent to a cornea of an eye; and   generating radiation according to a specific pattern to cause reshaping and cross-linking of corneal fibrils of the cornea according to the same specific pattern.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the applying the cross-linking agent includes applying heat-sensitive liposomes containing the cross-linking agent to the cornea. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the radiation causes the heat-sensitive liposomes to release the cross-linking agent according to the specific pattern. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the heat-sensitive liposomes are applied to the cornea according to the specific pattern. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein only corneal fibrils corresponding to the specific pattern are exposed to the cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the generated radiation activates the cross-linking agent according to the specific pattern. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 determining if further activation of the cross-linking agent is required; and   if it is determined that further activation of the cross-linking agent is required, generating additional radiation to further activate the cross-linking agent according to the specific pattern.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the generating radiation comprises:
 generating a first amount of radiation to cause reshaping of the corneal fibrils according to the specific pattern, the applying the cross-linking agent including applying heat-sensitive liposomes containing the cross-linking agent after the first amount of radiation is generated; and   after applying the heat-sensitive liposomes, generating a second amount of radiation to release the cross-linking agent from heat sensitive liposomes according to the specific pattern.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the reshaping coincides with the cross-linking. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the generating radiation is controlled by a controller configured to control one or more parameters for the generation of the radiation. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the one or more parameters includes a magnitude of the radiation generated. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more parameters includes a number of times the radiation is generated 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the one or more parameters include a length of time for which the radiation is generated. 
     
     
         33 . A system for applying therapy to an eye, comprising:
 a cross-linking agent delivery device configured to deliver a cross-linking agent to a cornea of the eye; and   an applicator configured to apply radiated energy to the cornea according to a specific pattern to cause both cross-linking and reshaping of corneal fibrils of the cornea corresponding to the specific pattern.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the radiated energy is heat. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the cross-linking agent is contained within heat-sensitive liposomes delivered to the cornea. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising a controller configured to control the energy applied by the applicator to the cornea during the cross-linking and reshaping of the cornea fibrils. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the magnitude of energy applied to the cornea according to the specific pattern, the length of time the energy is applied to the cornea according to the specific pattern, or the number of times the energy is applied to the cornea according to the specific pattern. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the cross-linking agent is delivered to the cornea in an ophthalmic solution or an ophthalmic ointment. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the cross-linking agent is Riboflavin.