US 12,262,950 B2
Closed microfluidic network for strain sensing embedded in a contact lens to monitor intraocular pressure
Ismail Emre Araci, Santa Clara, CA (US); Sevda Agaoglu, Santa Clara, CA (US); Murat Baday, Palo Alto, CA (US); and Priscilla Diep, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Smartlens, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed by Smartlens, Inc., Mountain View, CA (US)
Filed on Aug. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/447,033.
Application 18/447,033 is a continuation of application No. 17/137,067, filed on Dec. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,759,107.
Application 17/137,067 is a continuation of application No. 16/124,630, filed on Sep. 7, 2018, granted, now 10,898,074, issued on Jan. 6, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0380686 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 3/16 (2006.01); G02C 7/04 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 3/16 (2013.01) [G02C 7/04 (2013.01); A61B 2562/0261 (2013.01)] 35 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for monitoring an intraocular pressure change of an eye, the method comprising:
providing a contact lens having integrated therein a first microfluidic strain sensor having a volume sensitive to an applied strain, the first microfluidic strain sensor comprising:
a first fluid reservoir containing a first fluid;
a second fluid reservoir containing a second fluid which volume changes when the strain is applied; and
a sensing channel connecting the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir;
wherein a first fluid—second fluid equilibrium pressure interface and equilibrium are established within the sensing channel, and wherein the first fluid—second fluid equilibrium pressure interface and equilibrium fluidically change as a response to one or more of (i) radius of curvature variations on a cornea or (ii) to mechanical stretching and release of the cornea; and
measuring the intraocular pressure of the eye by observing the first fluid—second fluid equilibrium pressure interface and equilibrium.