Contact Lens Corneal Sensor Electrochemical Polymerization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current contact lens devices for measuring electroretinogram (ERG) signals are uncomfortable, unreliable, and costly, often requiring anesthesia or sedation, and suffer from compromised signal quality due to bulky designs and mechanical instability, limiting their practical application for long-term wear and multiple use.
Innovation Solution
A contact lens with a circular serpentine corneal sensor and a lightweight, stretchable connection wire integrated into a commercially available soft contact lens, using electrochemical polymerization to anchor the sensor and enhance mechanical robustness and chemical stability, allowing for high-fidelity ERG recording without anesthesia or a speculum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a thick, rigid contact lens with non-optimal geometries is used for ERG measurement, then direct contact to the corneal surface is achieved and ERG signal amplitude is improved, but patient comfort deteriorates and anesthesia or sedation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin, flexible contact lens design that conforms to the corneal surface without requiring thick rigid structures. The lens incorporates a recording electrode in direct contact with the cornea through a thin flexible substrate, eliminating the need for bulky geometries that cause discomfort while maintaining effective electrical contact for ERG signal recording.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the contact lens, specifically reducing thickness and changing from rigid to flexible materials. This parameter change allows the lens to adapt to corneal curvature naturally, improving comfort while maintaining the electrical contact necessary for high-amplitude ERG signal recording.
2Ease of operation
If a built-in speculum is integrated into the contact lens device, then safety and ease of use are improved, but device size increases and severe discomfort occurs limiting use to sedated patients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the built-in speculum component from the contact lens device. Instead of integrating a bulky speculum into the lens, the invention uses the contact lens itself as the primary interface, eliminating the need for additional mechanical restraint devices that increase size and cause discomfort.
3Duration of action of moving object
If an IC chip is embedded in the contact lens for wireless data transmission, then continuous monitoring capability is improved, but lens thickness and stiffness increase causing corneal hypoxia and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin, flexible contact lens design that maintains high oxygen permeability to the cornea. The lens avoids embedding stiff IC chips that would compromise oxygen transmission, instead using flexible conductive materials and thin-film technologies that preserve lens flexibility and oxygen flow while enabling continuous monitoring capabilities.
4Adaptability or versatility
If custom-built contact lenses with sensors are fabricated, then sensor integration is achieved, but mechanical reliability and chemical stability deteriorate due to polymer material limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction for the contact lens, combining biocompatible polymers with conductive materials and sensor components in a integrated structure. The composite design ensures mechanical reliability for handling and fitting, chemical stability for storage and disinfection, while maintaining sensor functionality and electrical conductivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a comfortable, reliable, and cost-effective means to continuously monitor ERG signals with improved signal quality and mechanical stability, enabling non-invasive, long-term wearability and multiple disinfection cycles, while maintaining the lens's biocompatibility and oxygen permeability.
Implementation Method 1
performing electrochemical polymerization of a conducting polymer material over the circular trace to anchor the circular trace to the inner surface of the contact lens
Implementation Method 2
a connection wire coupled to the corneal sensor and configured to electrically couple the corneal sensor to an external data acquisition system
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a contact lens, a corneal sensor that includes a circular trace of conduction paths located at or near an outer peripheral edge of the contact lens that surrounds an unobstructed area at a center region of the contact lens, and a connection wire coupled to the corneal sensor and configured to electrically couple to an external data acquisition system. Methods of fabricating the device may include providing a thin device that includes a sensor and a connection wire coupled to the sensor, transferring the sensor to a curvilinear inner surface of a contact lens, feeding the connection wire through the inner surface of the contact lens and out of an outer surface of the contact lens, and performing electrochemical polymerization of a conducting polymer material over the sensor to anchor the sensor to the inner surface of the contact lens.