Device for measuring the intra-ocular pressure

• US 6,443,893 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Acri Tec GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Acrotec GmbH, Mesotec Gesellschaft Fur Medizinische Sensortechnik MbH
• Inventors: Richter, Horst, Kreiner, Christine, Mokwa, Wilfried, Schnakenberg, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARMOR II, CHARLES ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/462,182
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 600/398, 600/399, 600/552, 600/561, 128/903, 623/4.1, 623/6.11
• US Class Current: 600/398
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/16 for measuring intraocular pressure, e.g. tonometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids

Abstract

A device for measuring intraocular pressure includes a remote measuring device that can be implanted in the eye and that contains a pressure sensor, a device that can convert the sensor signals into information that can be transmitted without wires, and a transmitter. The device also includes a receiving device located outside the eye which receives the information transmitted by the transmitter and which is connected to an evaluation device in which the received information is converted into data on the intraocular pressure for recording.

Claims

1. A device for measuring intraocular pressure comprising:

a remote measuring device adapted to be implanted in an eye, said remote measuring device having a pressure sensor, a converter for converting sensor signals into information for wireless transmission, and a transmitter;

a receiver adapted to be located outside the eye for receiving information transmitted by the transmitter; and

an evaluation device for converting information received into data expressing the intraocular pressure and for recording the data,

wherein the remote measuring device further includes a data logger in which measurement data continuously supplied by said pressure sensor is stored and from which the measurement data is called up at certain times in operation of the converter.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the remote measuring device is located in or on an implant.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the implant is an intraocular lens.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the remote measuring device is located outside an optical lens part of the lens.

5. The device according to claim 2 wherein the implant is made of a polydiorganosiloxane.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said polydiorganosiloxane is polymethylsiloxane.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor is designed using surface micromechanics.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein a polydiorganosiloxane is used for encapsulation of microcomponents forming said remote measuring device.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said polydiorganosiloxane is polymethylsiloxane.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the pressure sensor, the data logger, and associated signal processing and telemetry components are fully monolithically integrated.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said telemetry components include a coil and capacitors.