Contact device for placement in direct apposition to the conjunctive of the eye
First Claim
1. A contact device for placement in direct apposition to the conjunctiva of the eye, said contact device comprising:
- a housing for placement adjacent to the conjunctiva of the eye, a sensor contained in the housing for receiving fluid from the conjunctiva for at least one of chemical, physical, cellular and molecular evaluation, and said housing being less than 2.5 mm in thickness.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Utilization of a contact device placed on the front part of the eye in order to detect physical and chemical parameters of the body as well as the non-invasive delivery of compounds according to these physical and chemical parameters, with signals preferably being transmitted continuously as electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared and the like. One of the parameters to be detected includes non-invasive blood analysis utilizing chemical changes and chemical products that are found in the front part of the eye (conjunctiva) and in the tear film. A transensor mounted in the contact device laying on the cornea or the surface of the eye is capable of evaluating and measuring physical and chemical parameters in the eye including non-invasive blood analysis. The system preferably utilizes eye lid motion and/or closure of the eye lid to activate a microminiature radio frequency sensitive transensor mounted in the contact device. The signal can be communicated by cable, but is preferably actively or passively radio telemetered to an externally placed receiver. The signal can then be processed, analyzed and stored. Several parameters can be detected including a complete non-invasive analysis of blood components, measurement of systemic and ocular blood flow, measurement of heart rate and respiratory rate, tracking operations, detection of ovulation, detection of radiation and drug effects, diagnosis of ocular and systemic disorders and the like. Other advantages are somnolence awareness, activation of devices by disabled individuals, a drug delivery system and therapy for ocular and neurologic disorders, and treatment of cancer in the eye or other parts of the body, and an evaluation system for the overall health status of an individual. The device quantifies non-invasively the amount of the different chemical components in the blood using a contact device with suitable electrodes and membranes laying on the surface of the eye and in direct contact with the tear film or surface of the eye (conjunctiva), with the data being preferable transmitted utilizing radio waves, but alternatively sound waves, light wavews, wire, or telephone lines can be used for transmission.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A contact device for placement in direct apposition to the conjunctiva of the eye, said contact device comprising:
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a housing for placement adjacent to the conjunctiva of the eye, a sensor contained in the housing for receiving fluid from the conjunctiva for at least one of chemical, physical, cellular and molecular evaluation, and said housing being less than 2.5 mm in thickness. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A diagnostic system for medically monitoring or evaluating a condition of an individual, said diagnostic system comprising:
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a housing for placement under the eye lid of the individual in contact with the conjunctiva of the eye, and a sensor contained in the housing for receiving fluid from the conjunctiva of the eye, said sensor being capable of measuring bodily functions based upon the fluid received from the conjunctiva of the eye, said housing being less than 2.5 mm in thickness. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of determining a medical condition of an individual, said method comprising:
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moving a fluid capturing device into contact with the conjunctiva of the eye, capturing fluid from the conjunctiva in the fluid capturing device, and analyzing the fluid to determine the medical condition of the individual. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification