Smart contact lens having heating system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smart contact lens for performing thermotherapy for eye diseases. Provided is the smart contact lens comprising: a body that is seated on the eyeball; and a heating module placed on the body, wherein the heating module comprises: a heating wire; and an electrical component part that receives a signal through a wireless power transmission and reception method from the outside, generates electrical energy, and supplies power to the heating wire.

Description

Smart contact lenses equipped with a heating system

[0001] The present invention relates to a smart contact lens capable of treating or improving eye diseases by performing thermal therapy.

[0002]

[0003] Ocular diseases refer to a variety of eye ailments, and treatment methods vary depending on the condition. Among these, heat therapy for ocular diseases is known to help alleviate various inflammations by applying heat to the affected area to promote blood circulation. This can be categorized into methods that deliver heat externally to the eyelids and methods that deliver heat directly from within the eyelids. External heat transfer, typically through a heated eye patch, offers the advantage of ease of use. However, heat loss occurs as it passes through multiple layers of eyelid skin, muscle, and tarsal plate, reducing therapeutic effectiveness. Meanwhile, an example of a device that generates heat internally within the eyelids is the Lipiflow. This device, with a specific thickness, is inserted between the eyelid and the eyeball. This device can be painful to wear, requiring anesthesia and expensive treatment at an ophthalmologist.

[0004] Therefore, it is a reality that there is a need to develop a means to improve the shortcomings and problems that may arise from these representative thermal therapy devices and to perform effective thermal therapy.

[0005]

[0006] One embodiment of the present invention aims to treat or improve eye diseases by more conveniently performing thermal treatment by attaching a heat-generating smart contact lens to the eye.

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention aims to perform treatment by wirelessly supplying power to a lens-shaped treatment device.

[0008]

[0009] The present invention relates to a smart contact lens that performs thermal treatment for eye diseases, comprising: a body that is placed on an eye; and a heating module arranged on the body; wherein the heating module includes a heating wire and an electric part that receives a signal from the outside by a wireless power transmission / reception method and generates electric energy to supply power to the heating wire.

[0010] In addition, the wireless power transmission and reception method may be any one of an RF communication method, an NFC communication method, an RFID communication method, and a WIFI communication method.

[0011] In addition, the RF communication method may be any one of a magnetic induction method, a magnetic resonance method, and an electromagnetic wave transmission method.

[0012] Additionally, the above-mentioned electric unit may be equipped with an antenna that receives signals from the outside.

[0013] In addition, the above-mentioned electric part may be equipped with a conversion part that converts the generated electric energy into power that can be supplied to the heating wire.

[0014] Additionally, the antenna may have a coil structure.

[0015] Additionally, the above-mentioned electric unit may further include a battery that stores power in the form of electrical energy.

[0016] Additionally, the heating module may be placed on a surface of the body that contacts the eyeball or a surface of the body that contacts the eyelid.

[0017] Additionally, at least a portion of the heating module may be embedded in the body.

[0018] Additionally, one end and the other end of the heating wire are connected to the electric part, and the heating wire can be arranged in the internal area formed by the antenna.

[0019] Additionally, the extension of the heating wire may be a path that curves along the extension direction of the antenna.

[0020] Additionally, the heating wire is transparent to light.

[0021]

[0022] One embodiment of the present invention can provide a smart contact lens that can be placed on the eye and allows for more convenient thermal treatment.

[0023] One embodiment of the present invention can provide a smart contact lens capable of performing thermal therapy by wirelessly supplying power to a lens-shaped treatment device.

[0024]

[0025] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a user wearing a smart contact lens according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a smart contact lens positioned toward the inner surface of the eyelid, such as the meibomian gland, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a smart contact lens according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 4 is a drawing showing various embodiments according to the arrangement and shape of the heating wire of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing various examples of an extended path of a heating line according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a smart contact lens according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a smart contact lens according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032]

[0033] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0034] In describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of known technologies related to the present invention will be omitted if they are deemed to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the invention. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined based on their functions in the present invention and may vary depending on the intent or custom of the user (1) or operator. Therefore, their definitions should be based on the overall content of this specification.

[0035] The technical idea of ​​the present invention is determined by the claims, and the following examples are merely a means of efficiently explaining the technical idea of ​​the present invention to a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a user (1) wearing a smart contact lens (100) (hereinafter, lens (100)) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Referring to Fig. 1, a user (1) can wear a lens (100) of the present invention for thermal therapy to the eyes or the area around the eyes. The lens (100) can transmit heat to the area around the eyes, including the meibomian glands (2) of the user (1), when worn. Fig. 2 is a drawing showing a lens (100) placed on the inner surface of the eyelid, such as the meibomian glands (2) (a type of sebaceous gland that secretes oil, an organ located at the edge of the eyelid) according to one embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, when the user (1) closes his or her eyes, the contact area between the meibomian glands (2) and the lens (100) increases, so that more active thermal therapy can be performed. Through such thermal therapy, it is possible to prevent eye diseases such as dry eye (3) by preventing a disorder in the function of secreting oil, which is the main function of the meibomian glands (2). Of course, this is not limited to the meibomian glands (2), and problems that may arise from various parts that can receive heat through the lens (100) can be improved through heat treatment.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a smart contact lens (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, it may include a body (110) that is mounted on an eyeball (3) and a heating module positioned inside the body (110). The heating module may include an antenna (120) that is capable of receiving signals from the outside, an electric unit (140) that is connected to the antenna (120) and generates electric energy based on the received signal and supplies power to a heating wire, and a heating wire (130) that is connected to the electric unit (140) and generates heat through power supplied from the electric unit.

[0040] The above-described heating wire (130) and the antenna (120) may be composed of a conductive metal, and may be formed in a thin wire shape with a circular or polygonal cross-section, starting from a printed thin film shape. As a more diverse example, the heating wire (130) and the antenna (120) may be a metal material including one or more of platinum (Pt), gold (Au), silver (Ag), nickel (Ni), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), graphene, and carbon nanotubes (CNT). These materials have low density, high electrical conductivity, excellent specific heat capacity, low power consumption, and characteristics that change linearly with the temperature of the conductor, and thus can be considered suitable materials for the heating wire (130) or the antenna (120).

[0041] The heating module is disposed in the body (110). The heating module may be disposed in a form exposed to the surface of the body (110), or at least a portion of the heating module may be disposed in a form embedded in the body (110). For example, as an example, when the body (110) is divided into a side in contact with the eyeball (3) and a side in contact with the eyelid, the heating module may be disposed on the side in contact with the eyeball (3) or the side in contact with the eyelid of the body (110). As another example, the heating module may be positioned between the side in contact with the eyeball (3) or the side in contact with the eyelid of the body (110), so that the entire body (110) may be embedded. In this case, the heating wire (130), which is a component of the heating module, may be embedded in the body (110), so that the surface of the heating wire (130) that generates heat may be avoided from being directly exposed to the outside. In addition, as another embodiment, only a part of the electric part (140), the heating line (130), and the antenna (120) may be exposed to the surface of the body (110) and a part may be embedded in the body. In one embodiment, the electric part (140) may be completely embedded in the body (110) and the antenna (120) and the heating line (130) may be partially exposed on the side of the body (110) that contacts the eyelid. Of course, this may be one embodiment of the present invention and may be changed through some design changes.

[0042] Meanwhile, one end and the other end of the heating wire (130) and the antenna (120) may be connected to the electric part (140). Through this connection form, a closed curve shape such as a circle may be formed together with the electric part (140). In addition, a section in which the heating wire (130) extends may be provided in the inner space of the closed curve formed by the antenna (120). That is, the closed curve formed by the heating wire (130) may be arranged in the inner area of ​​the closed curve formed by the antenna (120).

[0043] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing various embodiments according to the arrangement and shape of the heating wire (130) of the present invention. As described above, the heating wire (130) may have a shape that is embedded in the body (110), but as another embodiment, it may be formed so that at least a portion of the area is exposed from the body (110), as shown in FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(c).

[0044] Referring to FIG. 4, embodiments in which the heating wire (130) has a square shape (FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c)) and embodiments in which the heating wire (130) has a circular shape (FIGS. 4(d) to 4(f)) are illustrated, and embodiments in which the heating wire (130) is at least partially exposed to the outside (FIGS. 4(a), 4(c), 4(d), and 4(f)) and embodiments in which the heating wire (130) is embedded in the body (110) (FIGS. 4(b) and 4(e)) are illustrated. When the heating wire (130) is positioned in a form embedded in the body (110), heat can be uniformly transferred to a wider area through the area of ​​the body (110), and in a form in which the heating wire (130) is at least partially exposed, a more active heat transfer effect can be expected for the exposed area. Here, the heating wire (130) may have a coil shape with a square or circular cross-section, and may be configured as a thin film having the shape of a printed circuit (which may include a printing form such as aerosol jet printing, screen printing, and screen printing).

[0045] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing various examples of an extended path of a heating line (130) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Referring to Fig. 5, the extension path of the heating wire (130) can be configured in various ways. Broadly speaking, it can be configured in a form extending along the circular antenna (120) or passing through the central portion. In particular, when passing through the central portion, the heating wire (130) can be constructed of a material that allows light to pass through, or can be arranged or designed in a structure that does not obstruct the user (1) from recognizing the object.

[0047] In the case of Fig. 5(a), the heating wire (130) is in a form that is bent and extended, in the case of Fig. 5(b), the heating wire (130) is in a form that is extended through the central portion of the body (110), and in the case of Fig. 5(c), one or more ends of the heating wire (130) may be connected to the electric part (140). In addition, in the case of Fig. 5(d), a section that extends along the antenna (120) and is bent and extended in a zigzag shape may be formed. In this way, various forms such as a bent form, a form including one or more heating wires (130), a curved form, and a form that is extended through the central portion may be applied, and these may be selectively applied according to the needs of the user (1), etc.

[0048] FIG. 6 is a drawing showing a smart contact lens (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention receiving a signal from an external power supply unit by a wireless power transmission and reception method, and FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a schematic diagram of a smart contact lens (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the smart contact lens (100) of the present invention can receive a signal (e.g., an electrical signal, a magnetic signal, an electromagnetic signal) that can be converted into electric energy by a wireless power transmission / reception method from an external power supply unit (150) through an antenna (120). The wireless power transmission / reception method is not particularly limited as long as it is a wireless communication method such as an RF communication method, an NFC communication method, an RFID communication method, or a WIFI communication method.

[0050] In particular, the RF communication method may be one of a magnetic induction method, a magnetic resonance method, and an electromagnetic wave method, or may be a method combining two or more methods.

[0051] As described above, the electric unit (140) can generate electric energy based on a signal supplied from the outside and supply power as a power source to the heating wire (130). The electric unit (140) can further include a conversion unit (141), and the conversion unit (141) can convert the generated electric energy into power that can be supplied to the heating wire (130).

[0052] The electric part (140) may further include a battery (142), in which case the electric energy generated by the electric part may be stored in the battery (142) and supplied as power as needed to heat the heating wire (130). That is, the battery (142) illustrated in FIG. 7 may be an embodiment that can be applied selectively.

[0053] The above battery (142) may be a rechargeable secondary battery or a supercapacitor. The types of secondary batteries and supercapacitors are not particularly limited. Examples of secondary batteries that can be used include lead-acid batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries (Ni-Cd), nickel-metal hydride batteries (Ni-MH), lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion), and lithium-ion polymer batteries (Li-ion polymer).

[0054] Furthermore, the present invention may further include a temperature control module (not shown). The temperature control module applies a desired voltage to the heating wire (130) to maintain a constant temperature on the surface of the heating wire (130), and may include a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heating wire (130), a microcontroller system programmed with a preset algorithm for calculating a desired voltage requirement, and a power output controller for delivering the voltage required for the microheater.

[0055] While representative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications to the above-described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined not only by the claims set forth below but also by equivalents thereof.

[0056]

[0057]

Claims

1. A body that is placed on the eyeball; and A heating module disposed on the above body; The above heating module, A smart contact lens comprising a heating wire and an electric part that receives a signal from the outside by a wireless power transmission / reception method, generates electric energy, and supplies power to the heating wire.

2. In paragraph 1, A smart contact lens, wherein the wireless power transmission and reception method is one of RF communication method, NFC communication method, RFID communication method, and WIFI communication method.

3. In paragraph 2, A smart contact lens, wherein the RF communication method is any one of a magnetic induction method, a magnetic resonance method, and an electromagnetic wave transmission method.

4. In paragraph 1, A smart contact lens, wherein the above-mentioned part comprises an antenna that receives signals from the outside.

5. In paragraph 1, A smart contact lens, wherein the above-mentioned electric part further includes a conversion part that generates electric energy to be supplied to the heating wire based on a signal received from the outside, or converts electric energy generated by the above-mentioned electric part into electric power that can be supplied to the heating wire.

6. In paragraph 1, A smart contact lens having the above antenna having a coil structure.

7. In paragraph 1, A smart contact lens, wherein the above-mentioned electric part further includes a battery that stores power in the form of electrical energy.

8. In paragraph 1, A smart contact lens, wherein the above heating module is placed on a surface of the body that comes into contact with the eyeball or a surface of the body that comes into contact with the eyelid.

9. In paragraph 1, A smart contact lens, wherein at least a portion of the above heating module is embedded in the body.

10. In paragraph 1, One end and the other end of the above antenna are connected to the above-mentioned electric part, and one end and the other end of the above-mentioned heating wire are connected to the above-mentioned electric part. A smart contact lens, wherein the heating wire is arranged in an internal area formed by the antenna and the electric part.

11. In Article 10, A smart contact lens, wherein the extension section of the above heating line is a path that curves along the extension direction of the antenna.

12. In paragraph 10, The above heating line is a smart contact lens that transmits light.

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