SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRIMING AN INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE SENSOR CHAMBER
An intraocular pressure monitoring and sensing device for implantation in an eye of a patient may include a substrate having a pressure sensor disposed on a top surface thereof and a pressure sensor cap disposed on the substrate over the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor cap may include a wall structure extending from the top surface of the substrate, the wall structure laterally surrounding the pressure sensor. The pressure sensor cap may further include a cap top situated above the pressure sensor, the cap top and wall structure together forming an interior chamber, and a chamber inlet providing fluid access to the interior chamber. At least one of the cap top and the wall structure includes a semi-permeable surface to aid in priming.
1 . An intraocular pressure (IOP) sensing device comprising:
a substrate comprising a substrate chamber, an inlet, and an outlet;
a differential pressure sensor formed from a flexible member located above the substrate, one side of the flexible member located adjacent the substrate chamber; and
a pressure sensor cap disposed on the substrate over the differential pressure sensor, the pressure sensor cap enclosing an interior chamber, the pressure sensor cap comprising a semi-permeable material.
2 . The IOP sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor cap is rectangular.
3 . The IOP sensing device of claim 1 , wherein pressure sensor cap is cylindrical, semispherical, elliptical, or ovoid.
4 . The IOP sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor cap is sealed to the substrate.
5 . The IOP sensing device of claim 1 , further comprising a tube coupled to the inlet.
6 . The IOP sensing device of claim 5 , wherein one end of the tube is configured to be placed in an anterior chamber of an eye
7 . The IOP sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the semi-permeable material is polytetrafluoroethylene.
8 . The IOP sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the interior chamber is pressurized thus exerting a force on the flexible member.
9 . The IOP sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the flexible member is displaced when a pressure in an anterior chamber of an eye is greater than a pressure in the interior chamber of the pressure cap.
10 . The IOP sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the flexible member is sealed against the substrate when a pressure in an anterior chamber of an eye is less than a pressure in the interior chamber of the pressure cap.
11 . The IOP sensing device of claim 1 wherein the substrate chamber is fluidly coupled to the inlet.
12 . The IOP sensing device of claim 1 further comprising:
a pressure sensor cap inlet located in the pressure sensor cap.
13 . The IOP sensing device of claim 12 further comprising:
an attachment member surrounding a lumen, the lumen coextensive with the pressure sensor cap inlet.
14 . The IOP sensing device of claim 13 further comprising:
a tube with proximal and distal ends, the proximal end coupled to the attachment member.
15 . The IOP sensing device of claim 14 wherein the distal end of the tube is located outside of an anterior chamber of an eye.