Microfluidic contact lenses for unpowered, continuous and non-invasive intraocular pressure monitoring

• Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a crucial physiological indicator of the visual system and play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. However, the current handheld single measurement tools for IOP sensing cannot meet the future demands for glaucoma management. Thus, here we present the microfluidic contact lens sensors that could provide unpowered, continuous and non-invasive IOP monitoring. The microfluidic contact lens is comprised of a sensing layer of the micropatterned soft-elastomer and a hard plastic reference layer. The devices use the annular sensing chamber filled with the dyed liquid and a sensing microchannel as the IOP transducer. Resulting from the volume variance of the sensing chamber and caused by the deformation of the sensing layer under pressure, the IOP signal is detected as the displacement change of the dyed liquid's interface in the sensing channel, and in which, the displacement change can be optically observed by using the smart-phone camera. Based on the silicone rubber model eyeball, the sensing mechanism of the devices with different design parameters (the position of the sensing chambers and the dimension of the sensing channels) are explored by using the theoretical analyses and experimental investigations. The characteristics of these microfluidic contact lens sensors are tested, in which, the maximum sensitivity of the device (with the sensing chamber of 8.5 mm in diameter and the sensing channel of 100 x 40 um in size) can be achieved to 0.708 mm/mmHg in a working range of 0 (4) over tilde0 mmHg. Also, cyclical tests were conducted and indicated that the devices had a good reversibility and Long-term stability. Furthermore, the device (with the sensing chamber of 5.0 mm in diameter and the sensing channel of 150 x 40 urn in size) was test on the porcine eyes ex vivo, showing a sensitivity of 0.2832 mm/mmHg in a range of 8 (3) over tilde2 mmHg and, the device had a good reproducibility to its IOP change. This work provides a promising approach for unpowered, continuous and non-invasive monitoring of IOP.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oftalmologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Ophthalmology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Intraocular pressure

Microfluidic contact lenses

Non-invasive

Unpowered

Sensing mechanism

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