Intraocular pressure sensor
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of Michigan State University
InventorsWen LI, Arthur J. WEBER, Mohammad Hossein Mazaheri KOUHANI
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Abstract
A pressure sensor system is provided. In another aspect, a wireless intraocular pressure sensor includes a deformable or stretchable inductor. A further aspect of an intraocular pressure sensing system includes a deformable inductor sized to contact an eye. Another aspect provides an organ pressure sending system including a passive inductor with a wavy, serpentine or undulating shape.
Claims23
An organ pressure sensing system comprising a sensor comprising a passive inductor having a stretchable undulating shape which is elongated to create at least a majority of a circle, and a polymeric protective layer encapsulating the inductor.
An organ pressure sensing system comprising:
- (a) an intraocular sensor including a passive metallic inductor within a polymeric carrier, the inductor having an elongated wavy shape with alternating curved peaks and valleys, and the wavy shape of the inductor surrounding an eye pupil centerpoint;
- (b) a reader including a conductive coil, a microprocessor and a power supply;
- and
- (c) the reader being spaced away from the sensor and the organ.
An intraocular pressure sensing system comprising a removable intraocular pressure sensor comprising:
- (a) a deformable inductor having a substantially looped shape, the inductor being sized to contact an eye sclera surrounding outside a periphery of an eye cornea;
- (b) a deformable outer ring spaced away from and surrounding the inductor, the outer ring being adapted to contact the eye sclera;
- and
- (c) elongated connectors spaced apart from each other and spanning between the inductor and the outer ring.
A method of making a human organ pressure sensor, the method comprising:
- (a) applying a coating of a first metal onto a substrate in a vapor deposition process;
- (b) applying a coating of a second and different metal onto the first coating in a vapor deposition process;
- (c) creating an undulating shape to the metal coatings with a mask using photolithography;
- (d) wet-etching the metal coatings after step (c), to create a variable inductor;
- (e) electrically connecting an electrical component, but not a microprocessor or battery, to at least one of the metal coatings;
- (f) encapsulating the metal coatings inside a polymeric carrier;
- and
- (g) the encapsulated inductor being capable of attachment to the organ and sensing pressure changes of the organ.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.