I-Corps: Intraocular Pressure Sensor

本项目的目标是开发一种新型的基于光学的压力传感器，允许频繁或连续监测眼内压（IOP）。眼压升高仍然是青光眼的主要危险因素，因为它与视神经损伤和不可逆失明有关。对于全世界约6000万患有这种疾病的人来说，仔细监测和降低眼压对于减轻视力进一步丧失和视神经恶化至关重要。目前的标准护理，包括在门诊期间的常规IOP测量，只能提供患者IOP曲线的快照。这种不频繁的测量不足以充分代表和表征疾病的模式。为了改善青光眼护理并确定治疗性治疗的有效性，需要连续可靠的IOP数据，以更好地了解眼压升高与视神经损伤之间的关系。总的来说，研究的技术将允许医生为患者优化和个性化治疗计划，并为研究人员提供更好的了解青光眼的自然史。该项目的范围包括设计一种传感器，用于定期或连续直接测量眼内压。正在开发的可植入设备利用光反射率的变化来感知压力。使用相机来捕获传感器对压力变化的响应，然后可以分析所获得的图像，以使用图像处理算法来确定压力分布。传感器的光学外观和施加的压力之间的直接相关性已被观察到在初步的实验结果。从模拟压力环境中的初始实验中获得了低至1 mmHg的压力阅读分辨率。随着传感器组件材料选择的改进，随着设计的优化，传感器的灵敏度可能会继续提高。该项目的具体目标包括：（1）使用MEMS（微机电系统）制造将传感器小型化至亚毫米尺寸，（2）评估离体模型中的传感器性能和（3）开发图像处理算法。这些目标涉及迭代设计方法，以优化传感器设计参数，并通过严格的测试验证可靠性，制造方法和结果。最终，由于能够捕获IOP波动，该项目中开发的技术将有助于青光眼诊断和治疗的进步。

The objective of this project is to develop a novel optical-based pressure sensor that allows for monitoring of intraocular pressure (IOP) on a frequent or continuous basis. Elevated IOP continues to be the primary risk factor for glaucoma due to its association with optic nerve damage and irreversible blindness. For approximately 60 million people worldwide suffering from this disease, careful monitoring and lowering of eye pressure are essential to mitigating further loss of vision and optic nerve deterioration. Current standard care, which involves routine IOP measurements during office visits, can only provide snapshots of the patient's IOP profile. Such infrequent measurements are inadequate to fully represent and characterize the patterns of the disease. In order to improve glaucoma care and determine the effectiveness of therapeutic treatments, there is a need for continuous and reliable IOP data to better understand the relationship between elevated eye pressure and optic nerve damage. Overall, the investigated technology will allow physicians to optimize and personalize treatment plans for patients and provide researchers with improved understanding of the natural history of glaucoma.The scope of the project involves designing a sensor for direct measurement of intraocular pressure on a regular or continuous basis. The implantable device being developed utilizes changes in light reflectance to sense pressure. A camera is used to capture the sensor response to pressure variations and the obtained images can then be analyzed to determine the pressure profile using image-processing algorithms. A direct correlation between the sensor's optical appearance and applied pressure has been observed in preliminary benchtop results. Resolution of the pressure reading as low as 1 mmHg has been obtained from initial experimentation in a simulated pressure environment. With improved material selection for sensor components, it is likely that the sensitivity of the sensor will continue to increase as the design is optimized. The specific goals of the project include: (1) miniaturization of the sensor to sub-millimeter size using MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) fabrication, (2) evaluation of sensor performance in ex-vivo models and (3) development of image-processing algorithms. These goals involve an iterative design approach to optimize the sensor design parameters and validate reliability, fabrication methods and results through rigorous testing. Ultimately, with the ability to capture IOP fluctuations, the technology developed in this project will contribute to advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.