Glaucoma testing device and a method using the same

1. A glaucoma testing device configured to be inserted under an eyelid of a patient, said glaucoma testing device comprising:

a device body portion having an outer housing and a flexible membrane supported within the outer housing, the flexible membrane at least partially defining a chamber that receives a fluid therein;

a fluid control system operatively coupled to the device body portion, the fluid control system configured to insert an amount of the fluid into the chamber of the device body portion in order to expand the flexible membrane and exert pressure on an eye of the patient, or remove an amount of the fluid from the chamber of the device body portion in order to deflate the membrane and relieve pressure exerted on the eye of the patient;

a laser fiber optic configured to transmit a beam of light into the eye of the patient, the beam of light configured to be absorbed by internal structures within the eye of the patient that produce a detectable ultrasonic wave when stimulated by the beam of light so that an oxygenation level of the eye of the patient is capable of being determined using a photoacoustic system; and

one or more pressure sensors disposed on a surface of the device body portion, the one or more pressure sensors configured to measure an intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient and output one or more signals based on the measured intraocular pressure of the eye, the one or more pressure sensors configured to transmit the one or more signals to a processor located outside of the eye, and the processor configured to generate intraocular pressure data based upon the one or more signals outputted by the one or more pressure sensors.

2. The glaucoma testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the photoacoustic system includes an ultrasonic receiver configured to detect the ultrasonic wave emitted from the internal structures within the eye of the patient, a photoacoustic imaging unit operatively coupled to the ultrasonic receiver, and a photoacoustic processor operatively coupled to the photoacoustic imaging unit, the photoacoustic processor configured to determine the oxygenation level of the eye based upon the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic receiver, wherein the oxygenation level that is determined by the photoacoustic processor of the photoacoustic system is selected from the group consisting of the retinal oxygenation level, the choroidal oxygenation level, and combinations thereof.

3. The glaucoma testing device according to claim 2 , wherein the ultrasonic wave has a frequency between approximately 0.5 MHz and approximately 10.0 MHz, and wherein the amplitude of the ultrasonic wave is proportional to the oxygenation level of the eye.

4. The glaucoma testing device according to claim 2 , wherein the photoacoustic processor of the photoacoustic system is operatively coupled to a gas delivery system for delivering oxygen to a patient, and wherein the amount of oxygen delivered to the patient is controlled based upon the oxygenation level of the eye determined by the photoacoustic system.

5. The glaucoma testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the device body portion comprises a flexible polymeric strip having a width between approximately 1.0 millimeter and approximately 2.0 millimeters, a length between approximately 4.0 millimeters and approximately 40.0 millimeters, and a thickness between approximately 0.1 millimeters and approximately 2.0 millimeters.

6. The glaucoma testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more pressure sensors are configured to wirelessly transmit the one or more signals to the processor, and wherein the processor is located on an eyeglass frame of the patient, the processor configured to continuously generate the intraocular pressure data from the one or more signals transmitted by the one or more pressure sensors during a period of time selected from the group consisting of weeks, months, and years, and the processor further configured to correlate the pressure data with the oxygenation level of the eye.

7. The glaucoma testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the internal structures within the eye of the patient that are illuminated by the beam of light from the laser fiber optic are selected from the group consisting of the retina, the choroid, and combinations thereof.

8. The glaucoma testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the beam of light that is emitted from the laser fiber optic comprises infrared light or near-infrared light.

9. The glaucoma testing device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid control system comprises a micro-pump and a tube fluidly coupling the micro-pump to the chamber of the device body portion.

10. A method of using a glaucoma testing device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a glaucoma testing device that includes:

a device body portion having an outer housing and a flexible membrane supported within the outer housing, the flexible membrane at least partially defining a chamber that receives a fluid therein;

a fluid control system operatively coupled to the device body portion, the fluid control system configured to insert an amount of the fluid into the chamber of the device body portion in order to expand the flexible membrane and exert pressure on an eye of the patient, or remove an amount of the fluid from the chamber of the device body portion in order to deflate the membrane and relieve pressure exerted on the eye of the patient;

a laser fiber optic configured to transmit a beam of light into the eye of the patient, the beam of light configured to be absorbed by internal structures within the eye of the patient that produce a detectable ultrasonic wave when stimulated by the beam of light so that an oxygenation level of the eye of the patient is capable of being determined using a photoacoustic system; and

one or more pressure sensors disposed on a surface of the device body portion, the one or more pressure sensors configured to measure an intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient and output one or more signals based on the measured intraocular pressure of the eye, the one or more pressure sensors configured to transmit the one or more signals to a processor located outside of the eye, and the processor configured to generate intraocular pressure data based upon the one or more signals outputted by the one or more pressure sensors;

inserting the device body portion of the glaucoma testing device underneath an eyelid of the patent in the conjunctival sulcus;

delivering an amount of the fluid into the chamber of the device body portion of the glaucoma testing device in order to expand the flexible membrane and exert pressure on the eye of the patient;

measuring the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient using the one or more pressure sensors;

transmitting a beam of light into the eye of the patient using the laser fiber optic; and

determining, by using the photoacoustic system, the oxygenation level of the eye of the patient from the ultrasonic wave generated from the internal structures within the eye stimulated by the beam of light.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the oxygenation level of the eye of the patient is determined for a time period of greater than 24 hours.

12. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:

selectively increasing and decreasing the pressure exerted on the eye of the patient by inserting the fluid into, and withdrawing the fluid from the chamber of the device body portion of the glaucoma testing device so that the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient varies over a period of time; and

comparing the variations in the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient over the period of time to variations in the intraocular pressure of one or more individuals of a normal population;

wherein the glaucoma testing device selectively increases and decreases the pressure exerted on the eye of the patient without obstructing the sight of the patient.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of determining the oxygenation level of the eye of the patient using the photoacoustic system comprises determining the retinal oxygenation level, the choroidal oxygenation level, and combinations thereof.

14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:

measuring, by using a tonometer, the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient; and

determining a relationship between the amount of the fluid inserted into the chamber of the device body portion and a proportionate rise in the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient as measured by the tonometer.

15. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of determining the oxygenation level of the eye of the patient using the photoacoustic system comprises determining a retinal or choroidal oxygenation level before the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient is increased using the glaucoma testing device, during an increase of the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient using glaucoma testing device, after the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient has been increased using glaucoma testing device, and immediately after the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient returns to a base intraocular pressure.

16. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of delivering an amount of the fluid into the chamber of the device body portion of the glaucoma testing device comprises delivering an amount of fluid into the chamber of the device body portion that is sufficient to raise the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient between approximately 25 mm Hg and approximately 40 mm Hg so that a retinal oxygenation level and choroidal oxygenation level are capable of being separately determined using the photoacoustic system.

17. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the photoacoustic system includes an ultrasonic receiver configured to detect the ultrasonic wave emitted from the internal structures within the eye of the patient, a photoacoustic imaging unit operatively coupled to the ultrasonic receiver, and a photoacoustic processor operatively coupled to the photoacoustic imaging unit, the photoacoustic processor configured to determine the oxygenation level of the eye based upon the ultrasonic wave received by the ultrasonic receiver; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

positioning the ultrasonic receiver of the photoacoustic system above the eyebrow of the eye of the patient on the forehead skin of the patient; and

detecting the ultrasonic wave emitted from the internal structures within the eye stimulated by the beam of light.

18. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of:

measuring, using the photoacoustic system, one or more additional visual parameters of the eye of the patient, the one or more additional visual parameters being measured using one of: frequency doubling, automated perimetry or blue-yellow perimetry (SWAP), optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, blood flow measurement of the choroid and retinal circulation, axonal glow of the retinal nerves, electrophysiological tests, and visual evoked response of the brain.

19. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of:

measuring, using the photoacoustic system, a concentration of other analytes or other blood components of the serum by utilizing different wavelengths of visible or invisible light, the different wavelengths of light having wavelengths up to 1555 nanometers.

20. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more pressure sensors are configured to wirelessly transmit the one or more signals to the processor located outside of the eye; and the method further comprises the step of:

simultaneously measuring retinal or choroidal physiological functions using the photoacoustic system while the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient is measured using the one or more pressure sensors.

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the step of simultaneously measuring retinal or choroidal physiological functions using the photoacoustic system comprises simultaneously measuring retinal or choroidal oxygenation levels of the eye while the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient is measured using the one or more pressure sensors; and the method further comprises the step of:

determining, by using the processor, a relationship between changes in the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient and changes in the retinal or choroidal oxygenation levels of the eye of the patient.

22. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of:

measuring, using the photoacoustic system, at least one of variations in blood flow, retinal or choroidal oxygenation levels, and other retinal and choroidal functions as a result of changes in the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient.

23. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of measuring the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient further comprises measuring the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient through the cornea, sclera, or lid of the eye, and the method further comprises the step of:

determining a relationship between the amount of the fluid inserted into the chamber of the device body portion and a proportionate rise in the intraocular pressure of the eye of the patient as measured through the cornea, sclera, or lid of the eye.

24. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of measuring the oxygenation level of the eye of the patient using the photoacoustic system comprises measuring the oxygenation level of the eye of a newborn infant so as to prevent excessive oxygen levels leading to retinopathy and inadequate oxygen levels leading to hypoxia.

25. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of measuring the oxygenation level of the eye of the patient using the photoacoustic system comprises measuring the oxygenation level of an ophthalmic artery, a branch of the carotid artery supplying blood to the brain, so as to estimate a brain oxygenation level of the patient.