# US 10,478,064 B2 · Device for determining an intraocular pressure of an eye > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,064 B2 - Document ID: US10478064B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/037,974 - Filed: 2014-11-19 - Published: 2016-10-13 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-19 - Assignees: Ingeneus Pty Ltd - Applicants: Ingeneus Pty Ltd - Inventors: Richard Gordon Walmsley; David James Lockwood; Michael Andrew Coote - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478064B2 ## CPC - A61B 3/16: for measuring intraocular pressure, e.g. tonometers - A61B 2017/00907: {for light} - A61B 2560/0223: of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors - A61B 2560/0418: Pen-shaped housings - A61B 2562/12: Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A device for determining an intraocular pressure of an eye is disclosed. The device comprises; (a) a housing; (b) a plunger axially movable within the housing, a first end of the plunger having a tip for contacting the eye; (c) an indicator arm operatively connected to a second end of the plunger; (d) a measurement gauge for indicating the intraocular pressure of the eye; and (e) a resilient biasing member for biasing the plunger towards an extended position in which the plunger tip protrudes beyond the housing and the indicator arm is biased towards a first position on the measurement gauge. Applying pressure to the eye via the plunger tip causes the intraocular pressure of the eye to exert an opposing force on the plunger tip causing the plunger to retract into the housing to cause a reciprocal movement of the indicator arm towards a second position thereby indicating the intraocular pressure of the eye on the measurement gauge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for determining an intraocular pressure of an eye of a patient comprising: (a) a housing; (b) a plunger axially movable within the housing, a first end of the plunger having a tip for contacting the eye; (c) an indicator arm operatively connected to a second end of the plunger; (d) a measurement gauge for indicating the intraocular pressure of the eye; (e) a resilient biasing member having a first end coupled to the indicator arm for biasing the plunger towards an extended position in which the plunger tip protrudes beyond the housing and the indicator arm is biased towards a first position on the measurement gauge; and (f) a counterbalance for balancing the indicator arm about a pivot such that the device can be used to determine the intraocular pressure of the eye when the plunger is contacting the eye from multiple angles; wherein applying pressure to the eye via the plunger tip causes the intraocular pressure of the eye to exert an opposing force on the plunger tip causing the plunger to retract into the housing to cause a reciprocal movement of the indicator arm towards a second position thereby indicating the intraocular pressure of the eye on the measurement gauge; and wherein the gauge and indicator arm are comprised within the housing; wherein the indicator arm pivots in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of housing when pressure is applied to the eye via the plunger tip and the indicator is moving from the first position towards the second position; and wherein the indicator arm, resilient biasing member, and counterbalance are integrated into a single piece. ### Claim 2 A method for determining an intraocular pressure of an eye of a patient including the step of applying pressure to the eye of the patient using a device, the device including: (a) a housing; (b) a plunger axially movable within the housing, a first end of the plunger having a tip for contacting the eye; (c) an indicator arm operatively connected to a second end of the plunger; (d) a measurement gauge for indicating the intraocular pressure of the eye; (e) a resilient biasing member having a first end coupled to the indicator arm for biasing the plunger towards an extended position in which the plunger tip protrudes beyond the housing and the indicator arm is biased towards a first position on the measurement gauge; and (f) a counterbalance for balancing the indicator arm about a pivot such that the device can be used to determine the intraocular pressure of the eye when the plunger is contacting the eye from multiple at any angles; wherein applying pressure to the eye via the plunger tip causes the intraocular pressure of the eye to exert an opposing force on the plunger tip causing the plunger to retract into the housing to cause a reciprocal movement of the indicator arm towards a second position thereby indicating the intraocular pressure of the eye on the measurement gauge; wherein the gauge and indicator arm are comprised within the housing; wherein the indicator arm pivots in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of housing when pressure is applied to the eye via the plunger tip and the indicator is moving from the first position towards the second position; and wherein the indicator arm, resilient biasing member, and counterbalance are integrated into a single piece. ### Claim 3 A method for manufacturing a device for determining an intraocular pressure of an eye comprising: assembling within a housing an axially moveable plunger, a first end of the plunger comprising a tip for contacting the eye, an indicator arm operatively connected to a second end of the plunger, a measurement gauge for indicating the intraocular pressure of the eye, and a resilient biasing member having a first end coupled to the indicator arm for biasing the plunger towards an extended position in which the plunger tip protrudes beyond the housing and the indicator arm is biased towards a first position on the measurement gauge, and a counterbalance for balancing the indicator arm about a pivot such that the device can be used to determine the intraocular pressure of the eye when the plunger is contacting the eye from multiple angles; wherein the gauge and indicator arm are comprised within the housing; wherein the indicator arm pivots in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of housing when pressure is applied to the eye via the plunger tip and the indicator is moving from the first position towards the second position; and wherein the indicator arm, resilient biasing member, and counterbalance are integrated into a single piece. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the measurement gauge is adjusted within the housing during assembly for pressure reading calibration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a transparent window to allow viewing of the measurement gauge. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the measurement gauge is adjusted within the housing during assembly for pressure reading calibration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a transparent window to allow viewing of the measurement gauge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the measurement gauge may be adjusted within the housing during assembly for pressure reading calibration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a tube-like portion at one end through which the plunger tip protrudes in the extended position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the tube-like portion comprises a footplate having an aperture through which the plunger tip protrudes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the footplate comprises a concave surface that runs substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube-like portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the footplate is transparent to allow an operator to easily identify when the footplate makes contact with a cornea of the eye. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the housing includes a tube-like portion at one end through which the plunger tip protrudes in the extended position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the tube-like portion comprises a footplate having an aperture through which the plunger tip protrudes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the footplate comprises a concave surface that runs substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube-like portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the footplate is transparent to allow an operator to easily identify when the footplate makes contact with a cornea of the eye. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the housing includes a tube-like portion at one end through which the plunger tip protrudes in the extended position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the tube-like portion comprises a footplate having an aperture through which the plunger tip protrudes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the footplate comprises a concave surface that runs substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube-like portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the footplate is transparent to allow an operator to easily identify when the footplate makes contact with a cornea of the eye.