Electromagnetic actuation System for Samarium Cobalt Eyelid Implants

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Facial Nerve Paralysis (FNP) will result in partial or complete dysfunctional eyelid blinking, which accounts for 50% of all cases in Bell's Palsy with incidence rate of 13 to 40 cases per 100,000 people annually. The most physically detrimental consequence of FNP is the inability to blink, a condition known as lagophthalmos. OptoEngineering Inc. is a Montreal based startup company that has developed a novel technology capable of detecting blinking in the non-paralyzed eyelid and producing a synchronous, natural and complete blink in the non-functioning paralyzed eyelid for patients suffering with FNP. The system consists of three components, 1) a non-contact blink detection system based on optical detection and integrated software that can detect about 93% of the blink of the functioning eyelid, 2) a blink stimulation system implanted in the eyelid that uses a thin disk of rare earth magnets that is made of 100% samarium cobalt and coated with a layer of parylene-C to ensure particle adhesion and biocompatibility, and 3) an inductive coupled actuator system to control the SmCo magnet to blink non-functioning paralyzed eyelid. The company has successfully completed the design and prototype of the first two components. The company is now interested in developing the third component of the inductive coupled actuator system to control the SmCo magnet as part of the proposed project. The benefits to the Canadian economy are quantifiable within 4 years until the full experimentation and clinical trials have been completed as OptoEngineering ultimate objective is to commercialize this new medical device for use in lagophthalmos. The proposed system offers ease of use and assistance and support to the patients with FNP.