| 2021-LEE-69240 | |
| Researchers at Purdue University have developed smart soft contact lenses that continuously monitor intraocular pressure (IOP) with improved diagnostic accuracy compared to the commercial standard. Glaucoma, which is caused by an increase in IOP, is the second-leading cause of blindness worldwide; it affects approximately 80 million people and causes a global economic burden of $6 billion annually. The industry standard method for measuring IOP is Goldmann applanation tonometry, which requires clinic visits. The Purdue lenses monitor IOP in real-time and at-home. The lenses consist of a wireless tonometer integrated in commercial soft contact lenses and conform seamlessly to the human eye without restricting comfort level like other soft contact lenses. The tonometer is > 10 times softer and thinner than typical soft contact lenses. Technology Validation: The lenses have sensitivity of over 0.000150 mmHg, which is larger than the sensitivity of other smart lenses. Also, the lenses have been rapidly prototyped; over 10 units are produced per print, potentially allowing high-throughput batch manufacturing. Advantages - home-based - improved diagnostic accuracy - excellent biocompatibility, allowing long-term wearability - chemically stable - unobtrusive Applications - monitoring of intraocular pressure for glaucoma patients and suspects - potentially other applications such as controlled delivery of therapeutic ocular agents, surveillance of ocular injury, detection of eyeball movement, and monitoring of glucose levels |
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Oct 28, 2022
PCT-Patent
WO
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Oct 29, 2021
Provisional-Patent
United States
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Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization The Convergence Center 101 Foundry Drive, Suite 2500 West Lafayette, IN 47906 Phone: (765) 588-3475 Fax: (765) 463-3486 Email: otcip@prf.org |
