Device and method to treat eye conditions, eyelids conditions, or both

Abstract

A device for treating eyes, eyelids or both, in the form of a handheld housing is disclosed herein. The device has a first chamber, a second chamber acting as a vapor reservoir, and hydrophilic material disposed within the first chamber. The hydrophilic material has a plurality of pores configured to allow the fluid to seep from the first chamber to the hydrophilic material. A heating element is positioned adjacent the hydrophilic material to convert the fluid to a vapor and continuously regulate a temperature of the vapor. A user interface is disposed on an outside of the housing and configured to control a variable circulator, which in turn controls the temperature of the vapor reaching the user. A method for treating eyes, eyelids, or both is also disclosed.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A handheld device for treating an eyelid of a user, the device comprising:
 a housing having a bottom, a top and a side wall;   a fluid reservoir within the housing;   a vapor reservoir located in the housing and having an opening in the top of the housing, wherein the vapor reservoir is positioned at least partially above the fluid reservoir;   a hydrophilic material extending from the fluid reservoir to the vapor reservoir;   a heating element positioned in the vapor reservoir, adjacent the hydrophilic material, wherein the heating element converts fluid absorbed into the hydrophilic material from the fluid reservoir to a vapor in the vapor reservoir and regulates a vapor temperature of the vapor inside the vapor reservoir;   electronics in the housing;   a user interface on an outside of the housing and in communication with the electronics;   a variable circulator in airflow communication with the vapor reservoir, wherein the variable circulator is in communication with the electronics, which controls a speed of the variable circulator to automatically regulate the vapor temperature;   a temperature sensor in the vapor reservoir; and   a tubular attachment removably coupled with the top of the housing, over the opening, to direct the vapor from the top of the housing toward the eyelid, wherein the tubular attachment comprises an eye cup disposed on an end of the tubular attachment for fitting over the eyelid of the user.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the eye cup comprises:
 at least a first vent to further regulate the vapor temperature; and   a hollow neck portion on a bottom end of the eye cup,   wherein the eye cup is removably attached to the end of the tubular attachment, and   wherein the neck portion comprises a slit for mating the neck portion with the end of the tubular attachment.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular attachment is connected to a ball and socket joint positioned at the top of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a power switch on the outside of the housing, in electronic communication with the electronics;   a flow rate sensor in the vapor reservoir, coupled with the electronics; and   a timer in communication with the electronics that turns the handheld device on and off automatically at preset times.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a motor in communication with the electronics that when actuated powers the variable circulator; and   a rechargeable battery in connection with the motor and in connection with a charging port provided in the housing.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a fill port on the housing, for accepting the fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising an antimicrobial agent coupled with the hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one light emitting diode positioned in the vapor reservoir and configured to emit short-wavelength ultraviolet light to kill or inactivate microorganisms in the vapor. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a medicated compound reservoir in fluid communication with the hydrophilic material via a pathway including a valve, such that the user has the ability to inject a medicated compound into the medicated compound reservoir which flows into the fluid reservoir for vaporization. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a perforated metal buffer positioned between the heating element and the hydrophilic material, the heating element being positioned at a top of the hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         12 . A method for treating an eyelid of a user, the method comprising:
 adding fluid to a fluid reservoir in a housing of a handheld device;   attaching a tubular attachment to a top of the housing, over an opening in the housing;   placing a first end of a hydrophilic material in the fluid in the fluid reservoir, such that a second end of the hydrophilic material is located above the first end, in a vapor reservoir of the handheld housing;   heating the fluid in the hydrophilic material within the vapor reservoir with a heating element positioned in the vapor reservoir, adjacent the second end of the hydrophilic material, to convert the fluid to a vapor;   activating a variable circulator on an inner surface of a wall of the vapor reservoir to move the vapor in the vapor reservoir;   sensing a vapor temperature with a temperature sensor in the vapor reservoir;   receiving the sensed vapor temperature with electronics of the handheld device; and   automatically controlling a speed of the variable circulator with the electronics, based on the sensed vapor temperature; and   placing an eye cup attached to an end of the tubular attachment over the eyelid of the user, to direct the vapor to the eyelid of the user.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising automatically regulating the vapor temperature by adjusting the heating element with the electronics, based on the sensed vapor temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising attaching the eye cup to the end of the tubular attachment, wherein the eye cup is sized to fit over both eyes of the user, and wherein directing the vapor comprises directing the vapor towards the user's right eye and the user's left eye uniformly. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising venting a portion of the vapor through multiple vents in least one of the eye cup or the tubular attachment, wherein the eye cup is removably attached to the tubular attachment. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising adjusting the tubular attachment relative to the handheld housing via a ball and socket joint connecting the tubular attachment to the handheld housing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising receiving a user input from the user via a user interface on the handheld housing to adjust a treatment setting, wherein the user interface is coupled with the electronics. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising recharging a battery located inside the handheld housing and used to power at least the variable circulator, wherein the handheld housing comprises a charging port for recharging the battery. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising emitting short-wavelength ultraviolet light from at least one light emitting diode located in the vapor reservoir, to kill or inactivate microorganisms in the vapor.