# US 2017/0280997 A1 · Non-Invasive Intraocular Pressure Monitor

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- Number: US 2017/0280997 A1
- Document ID: US20170280997A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/461,881
- Filed: 2017-03-17
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-18
- Assignees: Queen's University at Kingston; Kingston Health Sciences Centre
- Inventors: Yong Jun Lai; Kong Ying Xie; Robert James Campbell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280997A1

## CPC

- A61B 3/16: for measuring intraocular pressure, e.g. tonometers
- A61B 3/14: Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography
- A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens}
- A61B 5/6821: {Eye}
- A61B 5/6898: {Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers}
- A61B 2090/3937: {Visible markers}
- A61B 2562/028: Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS]
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

The invention provides devices and methods for non-invasive monitoring and measuring of intraocular pressure (IOP) of a subject. Embodiments include a lens that is adapted to fit on the subject's eye, a microstructure disposed in or on the lens, the microstructure having at least one feature that exhibits a change in shape and/or geometry and/or position on the lens in response to a change in curvature of the lens. When the curvature of the lens changes in response to a change in IOP, a corresponding change in shape and/or geometry and/or position of the feature may be used to determine the change in IOP. The change in the feature is detectable in digital images of the lens taken with a mobile electronic device such as a smartphone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for monitoring intraocular pressure (IOP) of a subject, comprising:
a lens that is adapted to fit on the subject's eye;
a microstructure disposed in or on the lens;
at least one feature of the microstructure that exhibits a change in shape and/or geometry and/or position on the lens in response to a change in curvature of the lens;
wherein the lens is adapted to change curvature in response to a change in IOP;
wherein the change in shape and/or geometry and/or position of the feature is detectable in digital images of the lens, or of a part of the lens,

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the microstructure comprises:
a sealed chamber;
a sealed microchannel in communication with the chamber;
an indicator solution disposed in the chamber;
wherein the feature that is detectable is the indicator solution in the microchannel in response to a force applied to the chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The device of claim 2, wherein the force applied to the chamber results from a change in curvature of the lens.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the microstructure comprises:
a motion amplifying mechanism including a free-moving arm;
wherein a position of the arm is related to the curvature of the lens;
wherein the feature that is detectable is a change in the position of a tip of the arm in response to a change in curvature of the lens.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the microstructure comprises:
two or more markers disposed in a spaced relationship on the lens;
wherein a distance between the two or more markers is related to curvature of the lens;
wherein the feature that is detectable is a change in the distance between the two or more markers in response to a change in curvature of the lens.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the markers are holes in the lens.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The device of claim 6, wherein the markers comprise dye or pigment disposed on the lens,

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a reference structure;
wherein the reference structure has a selected size and/or position and/or shape that is substantially constant irrespective of a change in curvature of the lens in response to a change in IOP.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the digital images are captured using a digital camera of a personal computing device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the personal electronic device is a smartphone.

### Claim 11

A method for monitoring intraocular pressure (IOP) of a subject, comprising:
disposing a microstructure in or on a lens that is adapted to fit on the subject's eye, the microstructure having at least one feature that exhibits a change in shape and/or geometry and/or position on the lens in response to a change in curvature of the lens, wherein the curvature of the lens changes in response to a change in IOP;
obtaining two or more digital images of the lens, or a part of the lens, at two or more instants in time;
detecting a change in shape and/or geometry and/or position of the at least one feature in the digital images; and
correlating the change in shape and/or geometry and/or position of the at least one feature with IOP.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the microstructure comprises:
a sealed chamber;
a sealed microchannel in communication with the sealed chamber;
an indicator solution disposed in the sealed chamber;
wherein the feature that is detectable is the indicator solution in the microchannel in response to a force applied to the chamber,

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the force applied to the chamber results from a change in curvature of the lens.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the microstructure comprises:
a motion amplifying mechanism including a free-moving arm;
wherein a position of the arm is related to the curvature of the lens;
wherein the feature that is detectable is a change in the position of a tip of the arm in response to a change in curvature of the lens,

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the microstructure comprises:
two or more markers disposed in a spaced relationship on the lens;
wherein a distance between the two or more markers is related to curvature of the lens;
wherein the feature that is detectable is a change in the distance between the two or more markers in response to a change in curvature of the lens.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the markers are holes in the lens,

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the markers comprise dye or pigment disposed on the lens.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising quantifying a change in shape and/or geometry and/or position of the at least one feature in the digital images using a reference structure;
wherein the reference structure is embedded or integrated in the lens and has a selected size and/or position and/or shape that is substantially constant irrespective of a change in curvature of the lens in response to a change in IOP.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the digital images are captured using a digital camera of a personal computing device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the personal computing device is a smartphone.