# US 10,478,104 B2 · Glucose sensing contact lens > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,478,104 B2 - Document ID: US10478104B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/351,342 - Filed: 2019-03-12 - Published: 2019-09-19 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-13 - Assignees: Menicon Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Menicon Co. Ltd. - Inventors: Mouad Lamrani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10478104B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/1455: using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters - A61B 5/1468: using chemical or electrochemical methods, e.g. by polarographic means - A61B 5/6821: {Eye} - G01N 33/66: involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose - G02C 7/04: Contact lenses for the eyes (disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00) - A61B 5/0075: {by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy (A61B5/0071 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/14507: {specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood (devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045)} - A61B 5/14546: {for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes} - G01N 2800/042: Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, e.g. diabetes, glucose metabolism - G01N 2800/50: Determining the risk of developing a disease - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00) ## Abstract A contact lens includes a glucose sensor which can determine when a detectable concentration of glucose is present in the optical fluids of the user. The glucose sensor can transition between a first state and a second state relative to the concentration of glucose within the optical fluid of the user. The glucose sensor can be bonded or otherwise attached or incorporated into the contact lens. While the contact lens is worn in the user's eye, either the user or another person can view the contact lens to quickly determine if an excessive amount of glucose is present in the user's system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A contact lens, comprising: a body; and a glucose sensor operably coupled to the body, the glucose sensor having a glucose sensing area and an optical sensor, the glucose sensing area being configured to transition between a first state and a second state in response to a variance in glucose concentration; wherein the glucose sensing area prevents the passage of light through the glucose sensing area to the optical sensor in the first state and permits the passage of light through the glucose sensing area to the optical sensor in the second state, the optical sensor being configured to generate an output in response to detecting light. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the glucose sensing area is a first color in the first state and a second color in the second state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the glucose sensing area has a first opacity or turbidity in the first state and a second opacity or turbidity in the second state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The contact lens of claim 3, wherein the second opacity is more transparent than the first opacity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The contact lens of claim 1, further comprising at least one protrusion configured to align the contact lens within a user's eye. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The contact lens of claim 1, wherein the glucose sensor is operably coupled to a forward-facing surface of the body of the contact lens. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The contact lens of claim 1, further comprising a light source disposed adjacent to the glucose sensor to enable a measurement of turbidity. ### Claim 8 A contact lens, comprising: a body having a concave surface and a convex surface; a glucose sensor operably coupled to the body, the glucose sensor comprising: an optical sensor positioned adjacent to the convex surface of the body; and a glucose sensing area configured to transition between a first state and a second state in response to a variance in glucose concentration, the glucose sensing area overlaying the optical sensor; wherein the glucose sensing area prevents the passage of light through the glucose sensing area to the optical sensor in the first state and permits the passage of light through the glucose sensing area to the optical sensor in the second state, the optical sensor being configured to generate an output in response to detecting light. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The contact lens of claim 8, wherein the glucose sensing area has a first opacity in the first state and a second opacity in the second state. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The contact lens of claim 9, wherein the second opacity is more transparent than the first opacity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The contact lens of claim 8, wherein the optical sensor is operably coupled to a transmitter, the transmitter being configured to transmit a signal in response to the output. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The contact lens of claim 8, wherein the glucose sensing area is a first color in the first state and a second color in the second state. ### Claim 13 A contact lens system, comprising: a contact lens, comprising: a body having an eye-contacting surface configured to contact the surface of a user's eye; a glucose sensing area operably encapsulated within the body, the glucose sensing area having a first state and a second state, wherein the glucose sensing area transitions between the first state and the second state as a concentration of glucose varies; an optical sensor disposed between the eye contacting surface and the glucose sensing area; a transmitter communicatively coupled to the optical sensor; and a power supply coupled to the wireless transmitter; and a wireless receiver, comprising: a transceiver module operably coupled to an antenna, the transceiver module being configured to receive the data transmitted by the wireless transmitter; a user interface module configured to receive input from the user; a control module configured to control operational aspects of the contact lens system; a memory module configured to receive and maintain computer-readable information; a processor module configured to execute the computer-readable information stored within the memory module to operate the wireless receiver; and a receiver power supply; wherein the glucose sensing area prevents light from reaching the optical sensor while in the first state and allows light to pass through the glucose sensing area to expose the optical sensor to the light while in the second state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The contact lens system of claim 13, wherein the glucose sensing area has a first opacity in the first state and a second opacity in the second state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The contact lens of claim 14, wherein the second opacity is more transparent than the first opacity. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The contact lens system of claim 13, wherein the optical sensor is coupled to the eye-contacting surface of the body of the contact lens. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The contact lens system of claim 13, further comprising a second contact lens, wherein data collected by the second contact lens is compared to the data collected by the first contact lens. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The contact lens system of claim 17, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to emit an alert if an anomaly is detected by the comparison.