Methods of alleviating symptoms of ocular surface discomfort using medical ice slurry
Inventors
STEFATER, III, James Anthony • STRYJEWSKI, Tomasz Pawel • Sabir, Sameer
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12690908-B2
Publication Date
2026-07-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method of alleviating symptoms of ocular surface discomfort, the method comprising: topically applying a cold slurry adjacent to a corneal limbus of an eye of a patient, wherein the cold slurry comprises water and a freezing point depressant, wherein the topical application of the cold slurry is configured to cause a degree of numbing of a cornea of the eye for a period of time, and wherein an ocular sensation of the eye is restored following the period of time.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to methods to cause hypesthesia of an eye by applying a cold slurry formulation to an eye portion. The cold slurry formulation includes water and a freezing point depressant, and the application causes hypesthesia for a period of time of more than about two days with restoration of ocular sensation following that period of time.
The cold slurry formulation is applied such that the cold slurry formulation does not have direct contact with the at least one portion of the eye, while cooling is delivered through a thermally conductive, contained material that includes the thermally conductive material. The disclosed devices use thermally conductive material comprising at least one of a metal and a polymer and include the cold slurry formulation containing water and a freezing point depressant.
Embodiments further include directing cooling to at least one portion of the eye, including cooling the eye sclera, and in some implementations cooling the sclera to a temperature between about −6° C and about 4° C during application. The application can be directed to one or more areas of potential therapeutic effect, and hypesthesia can be characterized as reducing ocular discomfort without completely blocking ocular sensation.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three related method categories for causing ocular hypesthesia of an eye for more than about two days using a cold slurry containing water and a freezing point depressant, with ocular sensation restored thereafter, including application configurations with thermally conductive materials and device-based delivery.
Hypesthesia by applying a cold slurry without direct eye contact using a thermally conductive material
Applying to at least one portion of the eye a cold slurry formulation contained within a material that is thermally conductive, such that the cold slurry formulation does not have direct contact with the at least one portion of the eye, wherein the cold slurry formulation includes water and a freezing point depressant, and the application causes hypesthesia for a period of time of more than about two days with ocular sensation restored following the period of time.
Hypesthesia by applying an eye device with thermally conductive metal/polymer and a cold slurry
Applying a device to at least one portion of the eye of the subject, the device comprising a thermally conductive material comprising at least one of a metal and a polymer, the device comprising a cold slurry that comprises water and a freezing point depressant, wherein the application causes hypesthesia for a period of time of more than about two days and ocular sensation is restored following the period of time.
Hypesthesia by providing and applying a device containing a thermally conductive material with a cold slurry formulation
Providing a device including a thermally conductive material that contains a cold slurry formulation; applying the device including the thermally conductive material to at least one portion of the eye; wherein the cold slurry formulation includes water and a freezing point depressant and the application causes hypesthesia for a period of time of more than about two days, and ocular sensation is restored following the period of time.
Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on delivering a cold slurry formulation (water plus a freezing point depressant) using thermally conductive device/material configurations that cause hypesthesia lasting more than about two days with restoration of ocular sensation afterward, including embodiments where cooling targets an eye portion such as the sclera.
Stated Advantages
Hypesthesia is provided for a period of time of more than about two days, and an ocular sensation of the treated portion is restored following the period of time.
Hypesthesia reduces ocular discomfort without fully blocking ocular sensation.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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