US 2026/0305985 A1 · MONITORING A CHEMICAL ANALYTE IN A PATIENT'S BLOOD USING AN UNDERLID DETECTOR

Abstract

A chemical analyte can be monitored in the blood of a patient's palpebral conjunctiva. A device, including a mounting substrate configured to hold a microcircuit and to mount optoelectronic components, like one or more micro light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a micro photodiode detector adjacent to the one or more LEDs, can be inserted beneath a lower eyelid of the patient and above an eye. The mounting substrate and the optoelectronic components can be covered and protected by a casing including an infrared transparent encapsulation material, with a surface of the infrared transparent encapsulation material having hydrophobic surface properties in a region above the micro LEDs and the photodiode detector. The micro LEDs can emit short wave infrared light with wavelengths from 1300 nm to 1700 nm toward the palpebral conjunctiva. The photodetector can detect light reflected from the palpebral conjunctiva to monitor the chemical analyte.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A device configured to monitor a chemical analyte in a patient's blood, the device comprising:

a mounting substrate configured to hold at least one microcircuit with wireless communication and a wireless power source and optoelectronic components, wherein the optoelectronic components comprise:
one or more light sources configured to emit short wave infrared light with wavelengths from 900 nm to 1700 nm toward a palpebral conjunctiva of the patient;
and
one or more light sensors configured to detect light from the palpebral conjunctiva of the patient;
and
a flexible casing configured to fit between the lower eyelid and an eyeball of the patient, wherein the casing encapsulates the mounting substrate and the optoelectronic components, and wherein the casing comprises an infrared-transparent material,
wherein a portion of the infrared-transparent material above at least the one or more light sources and one or more light sensors comprises hydrophobic surface properties,
wherein the device is configured to be inserted between a lower eyelid and eye of the patient.

5 more elements

A method for monitoring a chemical analyte in blood of a patient's palpebral conjunctiva, the method comprising:

inserting a device beneath a lower eyelid of the patient and above an eye,
wherein the device comprises:
a mounting substrate configured to hold a microcircuit and to mount optoelectronic components, wherein the optoelectronic components comprise:
one or more micro light emitting diodes (LEDs);
and
a micro photodiode detector, adjacent to the one or more LEDs,
wherein the mounting substrate and the optoelectronic components are covered and protected by an infrared transparent encapsulation material,
wherein a surface of the infrared transparent encapsulation material has hydrophobic surface properties in a region above the one or more micro LEDs and the photodiode detector;
emitting, by the one or more micro LEDs, short wave infrared light with wavelengths from 900 nm to 1700 nm toward the palpebral conjunctiva;
and
detecting, by the photodetector, light reflected off the palpebral conjunctiva after receiving the short wave infrared light emitted by the one or more micro LEDs,
wherein the chemical analyte in the blood is monitored based on the detecting.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Monitoring a chemical analyte in a patient's blood using an underlid detector

Life of this patent

Monitoring a chemical analyte in a patient's blood using an underlid detector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16