Implantable Devices and Methods for Measuring Intraocular, Subconjunctival or Subdermal Pressure and/or Analyte Concentration
First Claim
1. A method of determining intraocular pressure in a human or veterinary patient, said method comprising the steps of:
- (A) implanting within the eye an optical pressure sensor that has an optical reflecting element that moves relative to changes in the intraocular pressure of the eye;
(B) using a light source to cast light into the eye such that the light strikes and is reflected by the optical reflecting element; and
,(C) using a receiver/processor to receive light which has reflected from the optical reflecting element and to process such reflected light so as to obtain an indication of intraocular pressure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus and systems for measuring pressure and/or for quantitative or qualitative measurement of analytes within the eye or elsewhere in the body. Optical pressure sensors and/or optical analyte sensors are implanted in the body and light is cast from an extracorporeal light source, though the cornea, conjunctiva or dermis, and onto a reflective element located within each pressure sensor or analyte sensor. The position or configuration of each sensor'"'"'s reflective element varies with pressure or analyte concentration. Thus, the reflectance spectra of light reflected by the sensors'"'"' reflective elements will vary with changes in pressure or changes in analyte concentration. A spectrometer or other suitable instrument is used to process and analyze the reflectance spectra of the reflected light, thereby obtaining an indication of pressure or analyte concentration adjacent to the sensor(s). The wavelength of the interrogating beam of light may vary to control out potential interference or inaccuracies in the system.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method of determining intraocular pressure in a human or veterinary patient, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(A) implanting within the eye an optical pressure sensor that has an optical reflecting element that moves relative to changes in the intraocular pressure of the eye; (B) using a light source to cast light into the eye such that the light strikes and is reflected by the optical reflecting element; and
,(C) using a receiver/processor to receive light which has reflected from the optical reflecting element and to process such reflected light so as to obtain an indication of intraocular pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21-44. -44. (canceled)
Specification