WIRELESS POWERED CONTACT LENS WITH GLUCOSE SENSOR

• US 20120245444A1
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Washington
• Original Assignee: University of Washington
• Inventors: Otis, Brian, Amirparviz, Babak, Liao, Yu-Te, Yao, Huanfen
• Granted Patent: US 8,608,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/345
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1486 using enzyme electrodes, e.g. with immobilised oxidase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/006 for glucose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3272 Test elements therefor, i.e. disposable laminated substrates with electrodes, reagent and channels optical biosensors G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/048 Encapsulation of modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0516 specially adapted for interconnection of back-contact solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0682 back-junction, i.e. rearside emitter, solar cells, e.g. interdigitated base-emitter regions back-junction cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/547 Monocrystalline silicon PV cells

Abstract

A contact lens having an integrated glucose sensor is provided. The contact lens includes an electrochemical sensor configured to measure the level of glucose in the tear fluid of the eye of the user wearing the contact lens. The electrochemical sensor is powered by radiation off-lens, through an RF antenna or a photovoltaic device mounted on the periphery of the contact lens. The power provided to the contact lens also enables transmission of data from the electrochemical sensor, for example by backscatter communications or optically by an LED mounted to the lens.

Claims

1. A powered contact lens formed from a transparent substrate shaped to be worn directly over a user'"'"'s eye, the contact lens comprising:

(a) an annular antenna disposed at a margin of the contact lens, wherein the antenna is configured to both receive a power signal and transmit a data signal;

(b) a biosensor module configured to measure a characteristic of the user'"'"'s eye, the biosensor module comprising and electrochemical sensor comprising;

(i) a working electrode;

(ii) a counter electrode;

(iii) a reference electrode; and

(iv) a biosensor circuit configured to measure the voltage of the working electrode, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode, and to transmit a biosensor signal;

wherein the working electrode, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode are all configured to be in electronic communication when the contact lens is worn on the user'"'"'s eye; and

(c) a communications module configured to;

(i) process the power signal from the antenna to provide operational power to the biosensor module; and

(ii) process the biosensor signal to provide the data signal to the antenna.

2. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the counter electrode is annular in shape.

3. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the working electrode comprises a plurality of concentric rings in electronic communication.

4. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the working electrode comprises a plurality of concentric rings in electronic communication, and wherein the counter electrode is a concentric ring surrounding the working electrode.

5. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein at least one of the working electrode, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode comprises a metal stack of palladium intermediate titanium and platinum, wherein the stack is configured such that platinum is facing the user'"'"'s eye.

6. The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the communication module and the antenna are configured to transmit the data signal using backscatter modulation.

7. A powered contact lens formed from a transparent substrate shaped to be worn directly over a user'"'"'s eye, the contact lens comprising:

(a) an annular antenna disposed at a margin of the contact lens, wherein the antenna is configured to receive a power signal;

(b) a light-emitting diode (LED) configured to transmit a data signal;

(c) a biosensor module configured to measure a characteristic of the user'"'"'s eye, the biosensor module comprising and electrochemical sensor comprising;

(i) a working electrode;

(ii) a counter electrode;

(iii) a reference electrode; and

(iv) a biosensor circuit configured to measure the voltage of the working electrode, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode, and to transmit a biosensor signal;

wherein the working electrode, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode are all configured to be in electronic communication when the contact lens is worn on the user'"'"'s eye; and

(d) a communications module configured to;

(i) process the power signal from the antenna to provide operational power to the biosensor module; and

(ii) process the biosensor signal to provide the data signal to the LED.

8. A powered contact lens formed from a transparent substrate shaped to be worn directly over a user'"'"'s eye, the contact lens comprising:

(a) a photovoltaic device disposed at a margin of the contact lens, wherein the photovoltaic device is configured to provide a power signal to the contact lens when exposed to electromagnetic radiation;

(b) a light-emitting diode (LED) configured to transmit a data signal;

(c) a biosensor module configured to measure a characteristic of the user'"'"'s eye, the biosensor module comprising and electrochemical sensor comprising;

(i) a working electrode;

(ii) a counter electrode;

(iii) a reference electrode; and

(iv) a biosensor circuit configured to measure the voltage of the working electrode, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode, and to transmit a biosensor signal;

wherein the working electrode, the counter electrode, and the reference electrode are all configured to be in electronic communication when the contact lens is worn on the user'"'"'s eye; and

(d) a communications module configured to;

(i) process the power signal from the photovoltaic device to provide operational power to the biosensor module; and

(ii) process the biosensor signal to provide the data signal to the LED.