Intraocular Pressure Sensor

• US 20100286498A1
• Filed: 05/07/2009
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Rickard, Matthew J. A., Dacquay, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 8,123,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/398
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/16 for measuring intraocular pressure, e.g. tonometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

An implantable intraocular pressure sensor system has a sealed geometric shape with an internal pressure at a first value. The sealed geometric shape has a first light permitting surface and a second flexible surface. A pair of photocells is located in the sealed geometric shape. A light shield is coupled to the second flexible surface. When the second flexible surface is deflected, a light measurement by the pair of photocells indicates an intraocular pressure condition.

Claims

1. An implantable intraocular pressure sensor system comprising:

a sealed geometric shape with an internal pressure at a first value, the sealed geometric shape having a first light permitting surface and a second flexible surface;

a pair of photocells located in the sealed geometric shape; and

a light shield coupled to the second flexible surface;

wherein when the second flexible surface is deflected, a light measurement by the pair of photocells indicates an intraocular pressure condition.

2. The pressure sensor system of claim 1 further comprising:

a light source located such that light hits the first, light permitting surface.

3. The pressure sensor system of claim 1 further comprising:

a processor;

a power source coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to read the measured resistance.

4. The pressure sensor system of claim 3 wherein the processor writes values corresponding to an intraocular pressure condition to the memory.

5. The pressure sensor system of claim 3 further comprising:

a data transmission module coupled to the processor.

6. The pressure sensor system of claim 5 wherein the data transmission module further comprises a radio.

7. The pressure sensor system of claim 5 wherein the data transmission module further comprises an RFID tag.

8. The pressure sensor system of claim 7 wherein data is transferred from the memory over an RFID link.

9. The pressure sensor system of claim 5 wherein the data transmission module transfers data from the memory to an external device.

10. The pressure sensor system of claim 3 further comprising:

a speaker coupled to the processor;

wherein the speaker sounds a warning when intraocular pressure is outside a safe range.

11. The pressure sensor system of claim 1 wherein the sealed geometric shape is generally cubic.

12. An implantable intraocular pressure sensor system comprising:

an IOP sensor comprising;

a sealed geometric shape with an internal pressure at a first value, the sealed geometric shape having a first light permitting surface and a second flexible surface;

a pair of photocells located in the sealed geometric shape; and

a light shield coupled to the second flexible surface;

wherein when the second flexible surface is deflected, a light measurement by the pair of photocells indicates an intraocular pressure condition;

a processor;

a power source coupled to the processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to read the measured resistance and write values corresponding to intraocular pressure to the memory.

13. The pressure sensor system of claim 12 further comprising:

a data transmission module coupled to the processor.

14. The pressure sensor system of claim 13 wherein the data transmission module further comprises a radio.

15. The pressure sensor system of claim 13 wherein the data transmission module further comprises an RFID tag.

16. The pressure sensor system of claim 15 wherein data is transferred from the memory over an RFID link.

17. The pressure sensor system of claim 13 wherein the data transmission module transfers data from the memory to an external device.

18. The pressure sensor system of claim 12 further comprising:

a speaker coupled to the processor;

wherein the speaker sounds a warning when intraocular pressure is outside a safe range.

19. The pressure sensor system of claim 12 wherein the sealed geometric shape is generally cubic.