Intraocular pressure sensor with external pressure compensation

• US 9,615,970 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2014
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Sanchez, Jr., Robert, Rickard, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Deak, Leslie
• Application Number:
  US14/267,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20140243731A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/16 for measuring intraocular pressure, e.g. tonometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202

Abstract

An intraocular pressure sensor system has a first pressure sensor located in an anterior chamber of an eye and a remote pressure sensor located remotely from the first pressure sensor. The remote pressure sensor measures or approximates atmospheric pressure. A difference between readings from the first pressure sensor and the remote pressure sensor approximates intraocular pressure.

Claims

1. A glaucoma treatment device comprising:

an end cap with proximal and distal ends;

an anterior chamber pressure sensor integrated with and located at the proximal end of the end cap and in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of an eye;

a remote pressure sensor, the remote pressure sensor measures or approximates atmospheric pressure, the remote pressure sensor integrated with and located at the distal end of the end cap and under a conjunctiva of the eye; and

a tube with proximal and distal ends, the tube fluidly coupling the anterior chamber to a location outside the anterior chamber wherein the end cap is located in and seals the distal end of the tube;

wherein the end cap is configured to be located in the eye.

2. The glaucoma treatment device of claim 1 wherein the remote pressure sensor is located in a subconjunctival space of the eye.

3. The glaucoma treatment device of claim 1 further comprising:

a membrane separating the anterior chamber pressure sensor from the remote pressure sensor.

4. The glaucoma treatment device of claim 1 wherein the remote pressure sensor approximates atmospheric pressure based on a correlation between a measured pressure and atmospheric pressure.

5. The glaucoma treatment device of claim 1 wherein the end cap is located in a subconjunctival space of the eye.

6. A glaucoma treatment device comprising:

an end cap with proximal and distal ends, the end cap of a suitable size and shape to be located under a conjunctiva of an eye;

an anterior chamber pressure sensor integrated with and located at the proximal end of the end cap and in fluid communication with an anterior chamber of an eye;

a remote pressure sensor, the remote pressure sensor measures or approximates atmospheric pressure, the remote pressure sensor integrated with and located at the distal end of the end cap and under the conjunctiva of the eye; and

a tube with proximal and distal ends, the tube of suitable size to be implanted in the eye, the tube fluidly coupling the anterior chamber to a location under the conjunctiva of the eye, wherein the end cap is located in and seals the distal end of the tube such that the proximal end of the end cap is located in the tube and the distal end of the end cap is located outside the tube.

7. The glaucoma treatment device of claim 6 further comprising:

a membrane separating the anterior chamber pressure sensor and the remote pressure sensor.

8. The glaucoma treatment device of claim 6 wherein the remote pressure sensor approximates atmospheric pressure based on a correlation between a measured pressure and atmospheric pressure.