Contact lens for collecting tears and detecting at least one analyte
Utilization of a contact device placed on the eye in order to detect physical and chemical parameters of the body as well as the non-invasive delivery of compounds according to these physical and chemical parameters, with signals being transmitted continuously as electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared and the like. One of the parameters to be detected includes non-invasive blood analysis utilizing chemical changes and chemical products that are found in the conjunctiva and in the tear film. A transensor mounted in the contact device laying on the cornea or the surface of the eye is capable of evaluating and measuring physical and chemical parameters in the eye including non-invasive blood analysis. The system utilizes eye lid motion and/or closure of the eye lid to activate a microminiature radio frequency sensitive transensor mounted in the contact device. The signal can be communicated by wires or radio telemetered to an externally placed receiver. The signal can then be processed, analyzed and stored. Several parameters can be detected including a complete non-invasive analysis of blood components, measurement of systemic and ocular blood flow, measurement of heart rate and respiratory rate, tracking operations, detection of ovulation, detection of radiation and drug effects, diagnosis of ocular and systemic disorders and the like.
1 . A contact device for detecting at least one analyte in eye fluid, said contact device comprising
a housing for obtaining eye fluid from the eye,
an analyte detecting element of the housing for detecting the at least one analyte in the eye fluid from the eye,
said housing including at least one microfluidic channel,
said housing being less than 5.0 mm in thickness.
2 . The contact device of claim 1 , wherein said analyte detecting element is one of an enzyme, antibody, antigen, chromogen, a fluorescent element and an analyte detecting sensor.
3 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes surface charges.
4 . The contact device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the surface charges include a negatively charged perfluorinated ionomer.
5 . The contact device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the housing includes at least one of a surface charge for repulsing analytes and a surface charge for increasing attraction to analytes of interest.
6 . The contact device as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the surface charges include at least one of a positive surface charge and a negative surface charge.
7 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one coating for preferential selection of said at least one analyte.
8 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a site for said at least one analyte.
9 . The contact device as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said site is coated with antibodies for generating a detectable signal after interaction with said at least one analyte.
10 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said analyte detecting element detects an analyte selected from the group consisting of antibodies, hormone, drugs, enzymes, nucleic acids, glucose, cholesterol, proteins, toxic compounds, amino acids, inflammatory mediators, hemoglobin, cancer markers, genetic markers, heart markers, electrolytes, gases, antigens, alcohol, urea, creatinine and infectious agents.
11 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said housing generates a detectable signal according to one of presence and amount of said at least one analyte in said eye fluid.
12 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing detects at least one hormone in the eye fluid.
13 . The contact device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said housing detects a health status of a mammal.
14 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing detects ovulation.
15 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the analyte detecting element generates a detectable signal.
16 . The contact device as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the detectable signal includes optically detectable signals.
17 . The contact device as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the optically detectable signal includes at least one of fluorescent light, change in color and change of an amount of radiation of said analyte detecting element.
18 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a glucose detecting element.
19 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the analyte detecting element comprises a testing agent for interacting with said at least one analyte to form a detectable signal based on an amount of an analyte present in the eye fluid.
20 . The contact device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the detectable signal is an optically detectable signal.
21 . The contact device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the testing agent is a chromogen which changes color based on one of a presence and an amount of analyte present in the eye fluid.
22 . The contact device as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the analyte is glucose.
23 . The contact device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing detects at least one of diseases of the body, an amount of drugs present in the eye fluid and includes a temperature sensor.