Wireless Intraocular Pressure Sensor for Continuous Glaucoma Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies lack effective solutions for continuous, real-time monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP) in glaucoma patients, leading to potential misdiagnosis and delayed medical intervention due to infrequent office visits and limitations in traditional tethered measurement procedures.
Innovation Solution
A compact, wireless, and inductively powered intraocular pressure sensor system with a pressure sensor, wireless transceiver, and power supply, designed for implantation in the eye, utilizing a biocompatible package and radio frequency transmission for data and power transfer, enabling continuous monitoring and storage of IOP data for periodic or simultaneous transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional tethered measurement procedures are used, then measurement accuracy can be maintained, but patient mobility is restricted and quality of life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the tethered connection requirement from the measurement system by implementing wireless communication capabilities. The intraocular pressure sensor communicates with external devices through wireless signals, eliminating the need for physical tethers and thereby improving patient mobility while maintaining measurement functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary between the intraocular pressure sensor and external monitoring devices. This intermediary enables data transmission without physical connections, resolving the contradiction between maintaining measurement accuracy and improving patient mobility.
2Productivity
If periodic testing at healthcare facilities is performed, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but continuous monitoring capability is lost and detection delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring capability by enabling the intraocular pressure sensor to continuously measure and transmit pressure data wirelessly. This continuous action eliminates detection delays and provides real-time health status information, improving productivity in terms of monitoring continuity.
3Volume of moving object
If implantable sensor size is reduced, then patient comfort and biocompatibility are improved, but power supply capacity and circuit integration become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the miniaturized sensor package, including pressure sensing, wireless communication, and power management circuits. By combining these functions in a highly integrated manner, the patent achieves small sensor size while managing the complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nested doll principle by placing the pressure sensor, circuits, and power supply in a hierarchical, space-efficient arrangement within the miniaturized package. Components are nested within each other to maximize space utilization while maintaining functionality.
4Ease of operation
If wireless power transmission is implemented, then patient quality of life is improved, but power transmission efficiency through tissue is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic wireless power transmission through inductive coupling, where power is transmitted in periodic pulses through the tissue. This periodic action allows for efficient energy transfer while maintaining wireless operation, balancing the contradiction between ease of operation and energy loss.
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
This system allows for continuous, accurate monitoring of IOP, reducing the risk of misdiagnosis and enabling timely medical intervention by providing real-time data transmission and storage, improving patient care and management of glaucoma.
Implementation Method 1
an inductively powered intraocular pressure sensor
Implementation Method 2
a coil disposed within the sensor package, wherein a current is induced by a second coil disposed externally to the human body
Implementation Method 3
a wireless power supply is a radio frequency receiver, configured to receive radio frequency transmissions from an external base station and convert the radio frequency transmissions into electrical current
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for monitoring intraocular pressure, the system comprising: a sensor package configured to be disposed in the suprachoroidal space of a patient's eye; a pressure sensor; a wireless transceiver disposed within the sensor package and coupled to the pressure sensor; an external transceiver, the external receiver being wirelessly coupled to the wireless transceiver when the transceiver is disposed proximate to the patient's eye.