US 12,440,103 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 Nov. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/500,766.
Application 18/500,766 is a continuation of application No. 18/447,033, filed on Aug. 9, 2023, granted, now 12,262,950.
Application 18/447,033 is a continuation of application No. 17/137,067, filed on Dec. 29, 2020, granted, now 11,759,107, issued on Sep. 19, 2023.
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. 26, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/556,366, filed on Sep. 9, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2024/0268667 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
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)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A microfluidic strain sensing device for monitoring an intraocular pressure change of an eye, the microfluidic strain sensing device comprising:
(a) a contact lens; and
(b) a microfluidic network embedded with the contact lens,
wherein the microfluidic network has a volume sensitive to an applied strain and wherein the microfluidic network further comprises:
(i) a first fluid reservoir containing a first fluid,
(ii) a second fluid reservoir containing a second fluid that changes volume when the strain is applied, and
(iii) a sensing channel able to hold the second fluid within the sensing channel,
wherein the sensing channel connects to the first fluid reservoir on one end and connects to the second fluid reservoir on another end,
wherein the sensing channel establishes a first fluid-second fluid equilibrium pressure interface and equilibrium within the sensing channel, which fluidically change as a response to radius of curvature variations on a cornea, or as a response to mechanical stretching and release of the cornea, and
wherein the first fluid-second fluid equilibrium pressure interface and equilibrium are used for measuring the intraocular pressure.