AQUEOUS HUMOR MONITORING DEVICES AND METHODS
A method for monitoring glucose concentration in aqueous humor can include inserting an implantable device into an eye and determining glucose concentration as a function of glucose sensed at the implantable device. The method can optionally include optically detecting glucose concentration as a function of polarimetry and/or fluorescence. A system for monitoring glucose concentration can include devices described herein.
1 . A system for monitoring glucose concentration in aqueous humor, the system comprising:
an implantable device configured to be implanted in an eye and defining a lumen configured to transmit aqueous humor from an interior portion of the eye to an exterior of the eye; and
a contact lens configured to be worn on the exterior of the eye and including a holding area for the aqueous humor transmitted through the lumen to the exterior of the eye, the contact lens including a sensor, the sensor responsive to the glucose concentration of the aqueous humor transmitted through the lumen to the exterior of the eye.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the contact lens further comprises an antenna for wireless transmissions of signals indicative of the glucose concentration.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the antenna comprises an energy transfer antenna.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the contact lens includes a localized ballast region that is comparatively heavier than other portions of the contact lens.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the holding area comprises a well.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an electrochemical enzymatic glucose sensor.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the contact lens defines one or more channels.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the holding area is an area of the contact lens at which the aqueous humor transmitted through the lumen to the exterior of the eye will tend to collect.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the sensor is adjacent to the holding area.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the contact lens includes a controller.
11 . A method for monitoring glucose concentration in aqueous humor, the method comprising:
implanting an implantable device in an eye, the implantable device defining a lumen configured to transmit aqueous humor from an interior portion of the eye to an exterior of the eye; and
providing a contact lens configured to be worn on the exterior of the eye, the contact lens including a holding area for the aqueous humor transmitted through the lumen to the exterior of the eye, the contact lens including a sensor, the sensor responsive to the glucose concentration of the aqueous humor transmitted through the lumen to the exterior of the eye.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the aqueous humor transmitted through the lumen to the exterior of the eye collects at the holding area.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor measures the glucose concentration of the aqueous humor in the holding area.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the contact lens includes a localized ballast region that is comparatively heavier than other portions of the contact lens.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the implantable device is implanted in the eye relative to the contact lens at a location that is opposite of a location of the localized ballast region.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises an electrochemical enzymatic glucose sensor.
17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising delivering energy to the contact lens from an external source using an energy transfer antenna in the contact lens.
18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting, from the contact lens, signals indicative of the glucose concentration measured by the sensor.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving, by a smart phone or other electronic device, the wirelessly transmitted signals indicative of the glucose concentration.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the implantable device is implanted in the eye such that the implantable device is spaced apart from the contact lens that is worn on the exterior of the eye.