Unpowered Wireless Pressure Sensor for Glaucoma Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless pressure sensors for glaucoma diagnosis are powered, nonbiocompatible, and complex to manufacture, lacking an unpowered, microfluidic-based solution that can be integrated with existing wireless infrastructure for point-of-care applications.
Innovation Solution
An unpowered, wireless pressure sensor using microfluidics with PDMS or PDMS-plastic composites, featuring deformable sensing chambers and fluidic impedance transformers, readout through an optical imaging system, fabricated using simple microfabrication processes including oxygen plasma treatment for bonding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless pressure sensors use inductor-capacitor coupling techniques, microfabricated strain gauges, or CMOS based technologies, then pressure sensing capability is achieved, but the sensors require power supply and use nonbiocompatible metals
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is designed to be completely unpowered, using the natural optical properties of the eye and passive optical imaging to detect pressure changes. The system leverages the eye's own optical characteristics rather than requiring external power sources or active electronic components for sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic pressure sensing mechanisms (inductor-capacitor coupling, strain gauges, CMOS sensors) with an optical imaging system that captures pressure-induced deformations of the cornea. This substitution eliminates the need for powered electronic sensors while maintaining pressure detection capability.
2Reliability
If wireless pressure sensors use inductor-capacitor coupling techniques, microfabricated strain gauges, or CMOS based technologies, then pressure sensing capability is achieved, but nonbiocompatible metals and complicated manufacturing processing are employed
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a disposable contact lens structure made from biocompatible materials that can be easily manufactured and discarded after use. This approach prioritizes ease of manufacture and biocompatibility over reusable, complex electronic sensor designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic sensing components with a simple optical imaging system that captures pressure-induced deformations. This substitution dramatically simplifies manufacturing by eliminating the need for精密 electronic components, inductor-capacitor assemblies, or microfabricated strain gauges.
3Ease of manufacture
If an unpowered wireless sensor is designed for point-of-care diagnosis, then low-cost and biocompatible materials are used, but measurement precision must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes optical imaging to detect changes in the corneal surface profile and reflectivity patterns caused by pressure-induced deformations. By analyzing optical characteristics rather than relying on electronic sensors, the system maintains measurement precision while using simple, biocompatible materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic pressure sensing with optical imaging that captures pressure-induced mechanical deformations of the cornea. This approach maintains measurement precision by directly observing the physical effects of pressure on the eye's natural structure, rather than relying on indirect electronic transduction.
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
Enables low-cost, biocompatible, and sensitive pressure detection without power, suitable for point-of-care glaucoma diagnosis, preventing irreversible vision damage through early detection.
Implementation Method 1
a detailed and illustrative schematic of the wireless readout system is disclosed
Implementation Method 2
an method to employ oxygen plasma treatment to create an oligomer bond between PDMS and plastic materials
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed invention describes an unpowered apparatus which can wirelessly sense pressure based on microfluidics for point-of-care glaucoma diagnosis. Moreover, the disclosed invention teaches methods to construct the invention using microfabrication processing. Finally, a detailed and illustrative schematic of the wireless readout system is disclosed.