Devices and Methods for Stimulating Tear Secretion

• Main Author: Shavit, Ronen
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 10.08.2023
• Subjects: ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSESOR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY; ELECTROTHERAPY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MAGNETOTHERAPY; MASSAGE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING ORSTIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY

In various implementations, a device for stimulating the lacrimal gland and optionally the meibomian gland of an eye of a user by emitting light on the retina may include a control unit and an optical system connected to the control unit and arranged in the viewing direction of the user. The optical system may include at least one light source and may be configured for providing light stimulation pulses to an eye of the user by the at least one light source. Implementations of the device may also include a power supply unit for supplying power to the control unit and/or optical system. The light stimulation pulses activate the pupillary light reflex and one or more reflexes selected from blink reflex, corneal reflex, menace reflex, and lacrimal reflex. When the device is in operation mode a light intensity gradient between the light pulses emitted by the at least one light source and the light around the eye may be maintained at 2 or more lumens. The light stimulation pulses may induce blinking of the eye of the user.