Systems, methods, and apparatus for pressure-wave ocular therapy
Apparatus, systems, and methods for treating an eye utilizing ab externo pressure wave generation. The shockwave generator comprises a housing comprising a fluid-filled chamber and an eye-contacting surface or chamber configured to contact a surface of the eye. First and second coaxially-aligned electrodes disposed within the housing are configured to generate an electric arc across a gap between the electrode tips when energized and thus produce a shockwave in a fluid of the fluid-filled chamber. The shockwave generator is coupled to the surface of the eye before focusing a shockwave to a pre-determined location on or below the surface of the eye. A plurality of shockwave generators may be disposed within a fluid-filled chamber of a contact lens, which may comprise a contact balloon.
1 . An apparatus for treating an eye, the apparatus comprising:
a housing comprising a fluid-filled chamber and an eye-contacting surface configured to contact a surface of an eye;
a first electrode disposed within the housing; and
a second electrode disposed within the housing and coaxially aligned with the first electrode, wherein a distal tip of the first electrode and a distal tip of the second electrode are separated by a gap,
wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to generate an electric arc across the gap when energized and produce a shockwave in a fluid of the fluid-filled chamber,
further comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid-filled chamber, wherein the apparatus further comprises a conductivity sensor at least partially disposed within the fluid-filled chamber and configured to measure a conductivity periodically or continuously of the fluid within the fluid-filled chamber wherein the conductivity sensor is configured to monitor changes in conductivity caused by release of metallic ions from the first and second electrodes during erosion of the electrodes.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the housing is configured to focus the shockwave to a predetermined location on or below the surface of the eye.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a reflector disposed within the housing and configured to focus the shockwave to a predetermined location on or below the surface of the eye.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more wires coupled to the first electrode or the second electrode and configured to provide energy thereto.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode comprise a first tip of a first wire and a second tip of a second wire.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises saline or water.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrodes are coated with graphene to reduce erosion during shockwave production.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing is ellipsoidal.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a fluid-filled wave guide disposed between the fluid-filled chamber and the eye-contacting surface and configured to fluidly couple the fluid-filled chamber and the eye-contacting surface.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an acoustic lens disposed within the housing and configured to focus the shockwave to one or more predetermined locations on or below the surface of the eye.
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conductivity sensor comprises a pair of platinum electrodes.
12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a light source at least partially disposed within the fluid-filled chamber and configured to emit light towards the surface of the eye.
13 . A system for treating an eye, the system comprising:
the apparatus of claim 1 ; and
an energy source operably coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode by one or more wires.