Eye tonometry apparatus, systems and methods
First Claim
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1. A system for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye, comprising:
- a plurality of force sensors, said force sensors being adapted to contact a surface of an eye structure;
means for measuring forces exerted on said force sensors when said force sensors are in contact with said eye structure surface;
control means in communication with said force measuring means for controlling said plurality of force sensors, said control means including programming means adapted to control forces transmitted to said eye structure surface by said force sensors when said force sensors are in contact with said eye structure surface, said control means further including sensor orientation means for determining a first measurement condition, said first measurement condition being determined as a function of a first plurality of forces measured by said sensors when said force sensors are in contact with said eye structure surface,said control means being further adapted to acquire a second plurality of forces measured by said sensors when said first measurement condition is determined,said control means additionally including processing means for processing said measured second plurality of forces, said processing means being adapted to receive said second plurality of measured forces and programmed to determine intraocular pressure (IOP) of the eye as a function of said second plurality of measured forces.
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Abstract
A system for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye, comprising a plurality of force sensors that are adapted to contact a surface of an eye, means for measuring the forces exerted on the force sensors when in contact with the eye surface, and processing means that is adapted to receive the measured forces and determine IOP of the eye as a function of the measured forces.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye, comprising:
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a plurality of force sensors, said force sensors being adapted to contact a surface of an eye structure; means for measuring forces exerted on said force sensors when said force sensors are in contact with said eye structure surface; control means in communication with said force measuring means for controlling said plurality of force sensors, said control means including programming means adapted to control forces transmitted to said eye structure surface by said force sensors when said force sensors are in contact with said eye structure surface, said control means further including sensor orientation means for determining a first measurement condition, said first measurement condition being determined as a function of a first plurality of forces measured by said sensors when said force sensors are in contact with said eye structure surface, said control means being further adapted to acquire a second plurality of forces measured by said sensors when said first measurement condition is determined, said control means additionally including processing means for processing said measured second plurality of forces, said processing means being adapted to receive said second plurality of measured forces and programmed to determine intraocular pressure (IOP) of the eye as a function of said second plurality of measured forces.
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2. A system for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye, comprising:
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a plurality of force sensors, said force sensors being adapted to contact a surface of an eye structure; means for measuring the forces exerted on said force sensors when said force sensors are in contact with said eye structure surface; and processing means for processing said measured forces, said processing means being adapted to receive said measured forces and programmed to determine intraocular pressure (IOP) of the eye as a function of said measured forces, wherein said IOP of the eye is determined by linear interpolation between two nearest force calibration curves representing first and second IOP values by the following relationship
p=(pa*a+pb*b)/(a+b)where; pa and ph represent said first and second IOP values, and a and b represent vertical distances to said calibration curves reflecting said pa and pb. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for determining intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye, comprising the steps of:
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providing a palpation system having first and second force sensors, said first force sensor being in a first extended position and said second force sensor being in a first retracted position with respect to said first force sensor, said first and second force sensors being adapted to contact a surface of an eye structure, means for measuring forces exerted on said first and second force sensors when in contact with said eye structure surface, and processing means adapted to process said measured forces; placing said palpation system on said eye structure surface, whereby said extended first force sensor is in contact with said eye structure surface; applying a gradual first force to said eye structure surface with said palpation system and measuring force exerted on said first force sensor until said retracted second force sensor contacts said eye structure surface, whereby said second force sensor measures a first non-zero force; and determining IOP of said eye as a function of said force exerted on said first force sensor when said second force sensor contacts said eye structure surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for determining intraocular pressure (IOP) of an eye, comprising the steps of:
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providing a palpation system having first and second force sensors, means for measuring forces exerted on said first and second force sensors when in contact with an eye structure surface, and processing means adapted to process said measured forces; placing said palpation system on an eye structure surface, whereby at least one of said first and second force sensors is in contact with said eye structure surface; subjecting said first and second force sensors to a first palpation sequence, said first palpation sequence comprising preprogrammed extension and retraction of said first and second force sensors; measuring a first plurality of forces exerted on said first force sensor and a second plurality of forces exerted on said second force sensor over a first period of time and at a plurality of IOP values during said palpation sequence; generating a plurality of calibration curves from said measured first and second plurality of forces; and determining IOP of the eye based on said generated plurality of calibration curves. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for determining fluid displacement out of an eye, comprising the steps of:
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providing a palpation system having first and second force sensors, means for measuring forces exerted on said first and second force sensors when in contact with an eye structure surface, and processing means adapted to process said measured forces; placing said palpation system on an eye structure surface, whereby at least one of said first and second force sensors is in contact with said eye structure surface; subjecting said first and second force sensors to a first palpation sequence, said first palpation sequence comprising preprogrammed extension and retraction of said first and second force sensors; measuring a first plurality of forces exerted on said first force sensor and a second plurality of forces exerted on said second force sensor over a first period of time and at a plurality of IOP values during said palpation sequence; generating a plurality of calibration curves from said measured first and second plurality of forces; determining IOP of the eye based on said generated plurality of calibration curves; and determining fluid displacement out of the eye as a function of the determined IOP. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification