Intraocular Implant Optical Pressure Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) are invasive, bulky, and lack accuracy, particularly for continuous monitoring, which is essential for effective glaucoma treatment.
Innovation Solution
An intraocular implant with an integrated IOP sensor that uses a light source and detector to measure pressure autonomously, eliminating the need for external alignment and allowing for continuous, minimally invasive monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tonometer is used outside the eye for IOP measurement, then the measurement can be performed without an implant, but the device is bulky and requires precise external alignment which reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the IOP sensing function from external devices and places it directly inside the eye using a small implantable sensor. This eliminates the need for bulky external tonometers and their associated alignment requirements, allowing continuous monitoring without complex external equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical external alignment systems with an integrated optical interrogation system. Instead of requiring precise mechanical alignment between external reader and sensor, the system uses optical fields to read data wirelessly, eliminating mechanical alignment complexity.
2Measurement precision
If contact tonometry is performed in a clinical setting, then accurate IOP measurement can be obtained, but it requires numbing of the patient's eye which causes inconvenience and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The implant performs IOP measurement autonomously without requiring patient cooperation or clinical intervention. The sensor continuously monitors pressure and communicates data wirelessly, eliminating the need for patient numbing and making the process comfortable and convenient for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical contact tonometry with optical interrogation. Instead of physically contacting the eye with a tonometer, the system uses optical fields to measure pressure, eliminating the need for eye numbing and reducing patient discomfort.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If noncontact tonometry is used, then the patient avoids numbing discomfort, but it requires a bulky power-hungry pump arrangement that is not practical for home use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from external pump-based systems and integrates it into a small implantable device. This eliminates bulky external equipment and enables continuous monitoring without requiring large power-hungry pumps or clinical settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical pump-based noncontact tonometry with optical interrogation. Instead of using air jets and mechanical pumps, the system uses optical fields to measure corneal deflection, eliminating bulky mechanical components and enabling portable, home-use monitoring.
4Ease of operation
If infrequent IOP measurements are performed in a doctor's office, then the procedure is simple, but the measurements become stale and cannot account for IOP variation over time
Solution Approach 1:
The implant provides continuous IOP monitoring rather than periodic measurements. The sensor continuously measures pressure and communicates data wirelessly, ensuring that measurements are always current and relevant, eliminating the staleness problem of infrequent office visits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces periodic mechanical tonometry with continuous optical monitoring. Instead of relying on scheduled doctor visits, the system uses continuous optical interrogation to track IOP variations over time, providing always-up-to-date measurements without requiring patient travel to clinical settings.
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 implant provides accurate, continuous IOP measurements, reducing user compliance requirements and improving the effectiveness of glaucoma treatment by accounting for real-time pressure variations.
Implementation Method 1
a light source and a detector in the hermetic cavity interrogate the pressure sensor
Data Source
AI summary
An intraocular implant comprising: a pressure sensor implantable in an eye, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a substrate having a first side coupled to a membrane to define an optical cavity with a depth that varies based on an intraocular pressure of the eye; and an enclosure coupled to a second side of the substrate to define a hermetic cavity comprising a light source and a detector operable to interrogate the pressure sensor and obtain data corresponding to an intraocular pressure of the eye based on the interrogation.