Ophthalmic lens with micro-acoustic elements

• US 9,185,486 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Pugh, Randall Braxton
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins, Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): ETESAM, AMIR HOSSEIN
• Application Number:
  US14/011,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20150063605A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 381/326
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0067 Tear or lachrymal fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• 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 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/46 Special adaptations for use as contact microphones, e.g. on musical instrument, on stethoscope throat mountings H04R1/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/003 Mems transducers or their use
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/606 acting directly on the eardrum, the ossicles or the skull, e.g. mastoid, tooth, maxillary or mandibular bone, or mechanically stimulating the cochlea, e.g. at the oval window

Abstract

The present invention discloses an ophthalmic device with micro-acoustic electromechanical elements and associated methods. In some embodiments, the micro-acoustic electromechanical elements may be useful for the purpose of providing audible warnings and/or messages to a user. The audible warnings and/or messages can include, for example, messages transmitted wirelessly through a communication element of the ophthalmic device and/or generated within the ophthalmic device. In addition, in some embodiments the ophthalmic device can be an energized contact lens that is used both for optical correction and the transmission of sound through bone resonance to the inner ear of a user.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic lens, comprising:

an energy source;

a microprocessor in communication with and energized by the energy source; and

a micro-electromechanical transducer also energized by the said energy source and in electrical communication with the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to convert electrical signals into mechanical vibrations for the micro-electromechanical transducer to provide an audible signal to a user of the ophthalmic lens.

2. The ophthalmic device of claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic lens is a hydrogel contact lens.

3. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1, additionally comprising:

an antenna configured to provide a wireless communication between the microprocessor of the ophthalmic lens and a wireless device.

4. The ophthalmic lens of claim 3, wherein the antenna is configured to receive an RF signal used to energize the ophthalmic lens.

5. The ophthalmic lens of claim 3, wherein the wireless device in wireless communication with the microprocessor of the ophthalmic lens is one or more of a smart phone, a tablet, a personal computer, a MP3 player, a medicinal pump, and a personal digital assistant.

6. The ophthalmic lens of claim 5, wherein the audible signal is a message received from one or more of the wireless devices in wireless communication with the ophthalmic lens.

7. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1, additionally comprising:

one or more sensor(s) in communication with the microprocessor of the ophthalmic lens.

8. The ophthalmic lens of claim 7, wherein the one or more sensor(s) are configured to monitor a location of the user and the audible signal includes information related to said location of the user.

9. The ophthalmic lens of claim 7, additionally comprising:

micro-fluidic elements configured to provide ocular fluid samples to the one or more sensors.

10. The ophthalmic lens of claim 9, wherein the sensors are configured to monitor concentration levels of biomarkers in an ocular fluid sample and the audible signal is generated according to the concentration levels of biomarkers in said ocular fluid sample.

11. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein the audible signal is generated with a frequency from about 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz).

12. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein the audible signal is a message alert informing the user of an emergency medical condition.

13. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1, wherein the energy source, the micro-electromechanical transducer and the microprocessor are configured as stacked integrated component devices.

14. A method of transmitting an audible signal to a user, comprising:

receiving digital signal data through a wireless communication element of an energized ophthalmic lens; and

converting said signal data transmitted through the wireless communication element into mechanical vibrations producing an audible signal using a processor and a micro-electromechanical transducer that form part of the energized ophthalmic lens.

15. The method of claim 14, additionally comprising:

generating feedback data from the user'"'"'s response to the audible signal to be transmitted to the wireless device.

16. The method of claim 14, additionally comprising:

recording an audible signal'"'"'s output in a database.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the digital data is received from a wireless device configured to form a wireless connection with the ophthalmic lens.

18. A method of transmitting an audible signal to a user, comprising:

generating signal data using one or more sensor(s) that form part of an ophthalmic lens;

transmitting said generated signal data to a processor; and

converting, using the processor and a micro-electromechanical transducer that form part of the ophthalmic lens, said transmitted signal into an audible signal for the user of the ophthalmic lens.

19. The method of claim 18, additionally comprising:

generating feedback data from the user'"'"'s response to the audible signal.

20. The method of claim 18, additionally comprising:

recording an audible signal'"'"'s output in a database.