Aqueous fluorophotometer
First Claim
1. A device suitable for detecting the fluorescence of the aqueous humor in the anterior chamber of an eye comprising:
- a flexible water impermeable contact lens membrane for placement against the cornea of the eye;
a fluid enclosed in a fluid chamber by the contact lens membrane;
means for changing the pressure of the fluid in the chamber to change the curvature of the flexible contact lens membrane;
a light source;
a mirror mounted to one side of the contact lens membrane for reflecting light from the light source through the contact lens membrane across the anterior chamber of the eye; and
means for detecting light which passes outwardly from the anterior chamber through the contact lens membrane and the fluid chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Fluorescence of the anterior chamber of an eye is determined by projecting a ribbon of light from the side of the eye through the anterior chamber in a direction generally perpendicular to the optic axis of the eye. The ribbon of light is obtained by imaging the face (20) of a fiber optic bundle (18) and directing that image into the anterior chamber by a mirror (30) mounted adjacent to a contact lens (40). The contact lens (40) includes a flexible membrane (14) backed by a fluid. The pressure of the fluid can be varied by a syringe (44) to vary the curvature of the contact lens membrane (14). The fluorescence can be detected either directly by a photodiode (68) or through a fiber optic bundle (34) by a photomultiplier (76).
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A device suitable for detecting the fluorescence of the aqueous humor in the anterior chamber of an eye comprising:
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a flexible water impermeable contact lens membrane for placement against the cornea of the eye; a fluid enclosed in a fluid chamber by the contact lens membrane; means for changing the pressure of the fluid in the chamber to change the curvature of the flexible contact lens membrane; a light source; a mirror mounted to one side of the contact lens membrane for reflecting light from the light source through the contact lens membrane across the anterior chamber of the eye; and means for detecting light which passes outwardly from the anterior chamber through the contact lens membrane and the fluid chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A contact lens to be positioned against eyes having a range of curvatures comprising:
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a flexible contact lens membrane for placement against the cornea of the eye; a fluid enclosed in a fluid chamber by the contact lens membrane; and means for changing the pressure of the fluid in the chamber to change the curvature of the flexible contact lens membrane. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method of detecting fluorescence of the anterior chamber of the eye comprising:
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providing fluorescent material in the anterior chamber of the eye; by means of a mirror mounted to a contact lens, projcting a beam of light from the side of the eye across the anterior chamber in a direction about perpendicular to the optic axis of the eye such that the light does not illuminate the lens of the eye; and detecting, from the front of the eye, fluorescent light from the anterior chamber. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of detecting fluorescence of the anterior chamber of the eye comprising:
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providing fluorescent material in the anterior chamber of the eye; positioning a contact lens against the cornea of the eye; projecting a beam of light from the side of the eye through the contact lens across the anterior chamber in a direction generally perpendicular to the optic axis of the eye such that the light does not illuminate the lens of the eye; and detecting fluorescent light from the anterior chamber. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification