QUANTUM-DOT SPECTROMETERS FOR USE IN BIOMEDICAL DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20170086676A1
• Filed: 09/24/2015
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Flitsch, Frederick A., Gonzalez, Jorge, Pugh, Randall B.
• Application Number:
  US14/863,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20170086676A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0285 Nanoscale sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/00 Apparatus for testing the eyes; Instruments for examining the eyes eye inspection using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/10; devices for treatment of the eyes A61F9/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; optical systems in general G02B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/10 Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7225 Details of analog processing, e.g. isolation amplifier, gain or sensitivity adjustment, filtering, baseline or drift compensation A61B5/30, A61B5/316 take precedence; transformers for specific applications H01F38/00; amplifiers H03F
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

Device and methods for the incorporation of Quantum-Dots for spectroscopic analysis into biomedical devices are described. In some examples, the Quantum-Dots act as light emitters, light filters or analyte specific dyes. In some examples, a field of use for the apparatus and methods may include any biomedical device or product that benefits from spectroscopic analysis.

Claims

1. A biomedical device comprising:

an energization element including a first and second current collector, a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte;

a quantum-dot spectrometer including a quantum-dot light emitter, a photodetector, and a means of communicating information from the quantum-dot spectrometer to a user, wherein the quantum-dot spectrometer is powered by the energization element; and

an insert device, wherein the insert device contains the energization element and the quantum-dot spectrometer, and wherein the insert device isolates the energization element from a biomedical environment in which the biomedical device operates.

2. The biomedical device of claim 1 further comprising a micro-fluidic pump wherein the micro-fluidic pump functions to bring a sample of fluid towards or away from the quantum-dot spectrometer for analysis.

3. The biomedical device of claim 1 wherein the biomedical device is an ophthalmic device.

4. The biomedical device of claim 1 wherein the biomedical device is a contact lens.

5. The biomedical device of claim 1 wherein the biomedical device is an electronic pill.

6. A method of analyzing analytes comprising:

fabricating a quantum-dot light emitter onto a biomedical device;

fabricating a photodetector onto the biomedical device;

connecting the quantum-dot emitter and photodetector to an integrated circuit controller within the biomedical device wherein the integrated circuit controller is capable of directing a functionality of the quantum-dot emitter and photodetector;

emitting a narrow wavelength band from the quantum-dot light emitter;

receiving transmitted photons into the photodetector; and

analyzing an absorbance of an analyte based on an intensity of photons received;

wherein the biomedical device comprises an energization element including a first and second current collector, a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte; and

wherein the quantum-dot emitter is powered by the energization element.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising pumping a sample of analytes into a quantum-dot spectrometer channel before analyzing the analytes.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the biomedical device is a contact lens.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the biomedical device is an electronic pill.

10. A biomedical device comprising:

an energization element;

an external encapsulation boundary, wherein at least a portion of the boundary forms a reentrant cavity, wherein a sidewall of the cavity allows light to pass through in a selected spectral band;

a quantum-dot light emitter installed to emit light through one side of the sidewall of the cavity through an intervening space of the cavity and through a distal side of the sidewall of the cavity;

a photodetector installed on the distal side of the cavity within the external encapsulation boundary;

a radio frequency transceiver; and

an analog-to-digital converter, wherein a signal from the photodetector is converted to a digital data value that is transmitted outside the biomedical device by the radio frequency transceiver.

11. The biomedical device of claim 10 wherein the device is a contact lens.

12. The biomedical device of claim 10 wherein the device is an electronic pill.

13. The biomedical device of claim 12 wherein the electronic pill comprises a release mechanism controllable to release medicament based on the signal received at the photodetector.

14. The biomedical device of claim 13 wherein the signal received at the photodetector is converted to a digital signal and communicated to an external receiver, wherein at the external receiver an algorithm calculates a concentration of an analyte and determines a time value for release of medicament.

15. The biomedical device of claim 12 wherein the electronic pill comprises a release mechanism controllable to release a quantum-dot dye into the cavity, wherein the dye reacts with analyte molecules and allows the quantum light emitter to excite the quantum-dot dye to emit light.

16. A biomedical device comprising:

an energization element;

an external encapsulation boundary, wherein at least a portion of the boundary comprises an electrically controlled pore operative to allow a fluid sample to pass into the biomedical device from an external region;

a microfluidic processing chip operative to mix the fluid sample with a reagent comprising an analyte specific dye;

a quantum-dot light emitter installed to emit light through a portion of the microfluidic processing chip;

a photodetector installed on a distal side of the microfluidic processing chip from the quantum-dot light emitter, wherein light emitted by the quantum-dot light emitter proceeds through a top surface of the microfluidic processing chip, through a sample analysis region of the microfluidic processing chip, through a bottom surface of the microfluidic processing chip and into the photodetector;

a radio frequency transceiver; and

an analog-to-digital converter, wherein a signal from the photodetector is converted to a digital data value that is transmitted outside the biomedical device by the radio frequency transceiver.

17. The biomedical device of claim 16 wherein the device is a contact lens.

18. The biomedical device of claim 16 wherein the device is an electronic pill.

19. The biomedical device of claim 18 wherein the electronic pill comprises a release mechanism controllable to release medicament based on the signal received at the photodetector.

20. The biomedical device of claim 18 wherein the electronic pill comprises a release mechanism controllable to release a quantum-dot dye into the microfluidic processing chip, wherein the dye reacts with analyte molecules and allows the quantum light emitter to excite the quantum-dot dye to emit light whose intensity is correlated to a concentration of the analyte molecules.