Abstract: An applanation tonometer with a replaceable prism for contacting a cornea has emitter and detector ports arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis, with the ports aimed at about 45° to the longitudinal axis. Light from an emitter then passes through the emitter port and crosses the prism axis to be incident and reflected from an emitter-reflecting surface of the prism and become incident on the applanation surface. Light reflected from the applanation surface is incident on and reflected from a detector-reflecting surface opposite and parallel with the emitter-reflecting surface to proceed across the prism axis to the detector port. Such an arrangement produces reliable applanation signals and varies the spacial intensity of light reflected from the applanation surface so that the tonometer can automatically distinguish between concentric and eccentric contact of the applanation surface with a cornea.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for improved treatment of elevated intraocular pressure due to glaucoma. A trabecular shunting device is adapted for implantation within the trabecular meshwork of an eye such that aqueous humor flows controllably from the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm's canal, bypassing the trabecular meshwork. The trabecular shunting device may utilize a quantity of pharmaceuticals effective in treating glaucoma, which are controllably released from the device into cells of the trabecular meshwork and/or Schlemm's canal. Depending upon the specific treatment contemplated, pharmaceuticals may be utilized in conjunction with the trabecular shunting device such that aqueous flow either increases or decreases as desired. Placement of the trabecular shunting device within the eye, and release of a glaucoma medication therefrom, can arrest or slow the progression of glaucoma.

Abstract: A device for measuring intraocular pressure includes a remote measuring device that can be implanted in the eye and that contains a pressure sensor, a device that can convert the sensor signals into information that can be transmitted without wires, and a transmitter. The device also includes a receiving device located outside the eye which receives the information transmitted by the transmitter and which is connected to an evaluation device in which the received information is converted into data on the intraocular pressure for recording.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring intra-ocular pressure of an eye includes a housing and a processor. The housing has a protuberance with a flat surface and the processor includes a distance-measuring unit and a force-measuring unit. Intra-ocular pressure is calculated based on force/distance relationships, where the distance includes a measurement to an internal element of the eye. The processor calculates intra-ocular pressure by determining a zero displacement pressure.

Abstract: A method of measuring intraocular pressure through an eyelid includes the step of subjecting the gristle region of an opened eyelid to two spaced contacts providing static support loading that deforms the eyelid. Simultaneously, the gristle region of the eyelid is subjected to the dynamic deformation of a body falling freely relative to the support contacts, such dynamic deformation being transferred to an eyeball area below the eyelid. The spaced contacts are located at equal distances from an axis of displacement of the freely falling body, thereby providing a decrease of eyeball shock absorption under the support. The amount of resilient deformation of a surface of the eyeball is then determined.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of monitoring/measuring intraocular pressure in an eye includes a miniature pressure sensor having an attachment for connecting the miniature pressure sensor to the iris of the eye or an intraocular lens. The miniature pressure sensor is preferably a Polysilicon Resonant Transducer (PRT).

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring intra-ocular pressure of an eye includes a housing and a processor. The housing has a protuberance with a flat surface and the processor includes a distance-measuring unit and a force-measuring unit. Intra-ocular pressure is calculated based on force/distance relationships, where the distance includes a measurement to an internal element of the eye. The processor calculates intra-ocular pressure by determining a zero displacement pressure.

Abstract: An applanation tonometer with a replaceable prism for contacting a cornea has emitter and detector ports arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis, with the ports aimed at about 45° to the longitudinal axis. Light from an emitter confronting one of the ports is incident on the applanation surface at about 45° so that light reflecting internally of the prism from the applanation surface is directed toward the opposite port for detection. The portion of the light internally reflected from the applanation surface provides a signal indicating the size of the applanated area, from which intraocular pressure is determined.

Abstract: Disclosed are a remote pressure-monitoring device and a preparing method thereof. The device comprises a metal electrode on a glass substrate, a capacitive sensor made of a silicon diaphragm, and an electroplated inductor electrically connected, in parallel, with the sensor. The glass substrate and the silicon are electrically bonded to form an LC resonator. For the fabrication of the device, first, a metal electrode which plays a role as a lower electrode for a capacitive pressure sensor is deposited on the glass substrate with the same coefficient of thermal expansion as that of silicon. An inductor is formed at a thickness by copper electroplating, surrounding the metal electrode at a predetermined distance. A silicon substrate is anisotropically etched to form a space for enveloping the metal electrode at a central area and to form a groove around the space.

Abstract: A tonometer, for determining intraocular pressure, has a body, which can be a transparent, substantially tubular body. A plunger is located within the body and a coil spring acts between the body and the plunger. A marker member is frictionally retained within the body and is displaced relative to an external scale on the body. In use, the tonometer is brought up against the eyelid of a closed eye and the body displaced relative to the head of the plunger, until the pressure is sufficient to create a pressure phosphene. The device is then removed and the displacement of the marker member, indicative of the applied pressure is read. This reading corresponds to the intraocular pressure.

Abstract: An applanation tonometer with a replaceable prism for contacting a cornea has emitter and detector ports arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis, with the ports aimed at about 45° to the longitudinal axis. Light from an emitter then passes through the emitter port and crosses the prism axis to be incident and reflected from an emitter-reflecting surface of the prism and become incident on the applanation surface. Light reflected from the applanation surface is incident on and reflected from a detector-reflecting surface opposite and parallel with the emitter-reflecting surface to proceed across the prism axis to the detector port. Such an arrangement produces reliable applanation signals and varies the spacial intensity of light reflected from the applanation surface so that the tonometer can automatically distinguish between concentric and eccentric contact of the applanation surface with a cornea.

Abstract: Disclosed are a remote pressure-monitoring device and a preparing method thereof. The device comprises a metal electrode on a glass substrate, a capacitive sensor made of a silicon diaphragm, and an electroplated inductor electrically connected, in parallel, with the sensor. The glass substrate and the silicon are electrically bonded to form an LC resonator. For the fabrication of the device, first, a metal electrode which plays a role as a lower electrode for a capacitive pressure sensor is deposited on the glass substrate with the same coefficient of thermal expansion as that of silicon. An inductor is formed at a thickness by copper electroplating, surrounding the metal electrode at a predetermined distance. A silicon substrate is anisotropically etched to form a space for enveloping the metal electrode at a central area and to form a groove around the space.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of monitoring/measuring intraocular pressure in an eye includes a miniature pressure sensor having an attachment for connecting the miniature pressure sensor to the iris of the eye or an intraocular lens. The miniature pressure sensor is preferably a Polysilicon Resonant Transducer (PRT).

Abstract: An applanation tonometer with a replaceable prism for contacting a cornea has emitter and detector ports arranged opposite each other on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis, with the ports aimed at about 45 ° to the longitudinal axis. Light from an emitter then passes through the emitter port and crosses the prism axis to be incident and reflected from an emitter-reflecting surface of the prism and become incident on the applanation surface. Light reflected from the applanation surface is incident on and reflected from a detector-reflecting surface opposite and parallel with the emitter-reflecting surface to proceed across the prism axis to the detector port. Such an arrangement produces reliable applanation signals and varies the spacial intensity of light reflected from the applanation surface so that the tonometer can automatically distinguish between concentric and eccentric contact of the applanation surface with a cornea.

Abstract: An electronic instrument with a housing defining a module chamber. An electronic module is removably retained within the chamber and includes indicia such as text or a distinctive color on a selected surface of the module. The housing has a window aperture into the chamber, so that the module indicia are visible through the window to permit identification of the presence and identity of the module, even when the instrument is powered off. The module contains electronic circuitry that connects to electronic contacts of the instrument in the chamber.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for determining intraocular pressure, automatically corrected for variations in corneal thickness. The apparatus includes an ophthalmic pachymeter having a pachymetric probe, an applanation tonometer having an applanation probe and a microprocessor. As the applanation probe touches the cornea, the ophthalmic pachymeter generates a pachymetric signal indicative of central corneal thickness. This signal is sent to and recorded by the microprocessor. When applanation occurs, the applanation tonometer generates an applanation signal indicative of intraocular pressure. This signal is sent, as well, to the microprocessor. The microprocessor, which has been programmed with an algorithm to correct the applanation signal based on the pachymetric signal, indicates the corrected value for intraocular pressure.

Abstract: The present invention describes apparatus and methods for long-term, repeatable measurement of pressure in vessels by measuring distortion signatures of the external surfaces of a vessel through calibration against a known and verifiable reference standard. It is particularly useful for measuring intraocular pressure, pressure in blood vessels and other physiological pressures. It is also adaptable for measuring pressure changes in virtually any vessel whose external surface is deformable such that pressure changes are transduced to the external surface of the confining vessel, as exemplified by process piping.

Abstract: An applanation tonometer including a light-conducting pressure applicator assembly having an end to be placed in contact with the cornea of a subject's eye and an opposite end, a displacer locating said pressure applicator assembly with said end against the subject's cornea thereby flattening a portion thereof, an illuminator for illuminating the subject's cornea, an imaging transducer at the opposite end of the pressure applicator assembly for receiving therethrough an optical image of at least said portion of the subject's cornea and converting said optical image of at least said portion of the subject's cornea into electrical signals representative of the optical image of at least said portion of the subject's cornea and a data processor for receiving the electrical signals representative of the optical image of at least said portion of the subject's cornea, as outputted by said imaging transducer, and utilizing this optical image as well as information indicating an amount of force applied to at least sai

Abstract: A method for predicting peripheral nerve damage comprising the steps of placing a pressure transducer on the skin of a patient proximate to a peripheral nerve; measuring the pressure with the pressure transducer over time; and estimating a damage to the nerve based on the pressure and duration of application and a nerve damage model.

Abstract: Fluid pressure in the eye is monitored by detecting vacuum-induced deflections of a diaphragm on a reservoir that forms an integral part of the tube set through which fluid is supplied to and withdrawn from the eye. The rate at which fluid is withdrawn (i.e., aspirated) from the eye is controlled based on the detected deflections of the diaphragm. As a result, the detection component (e.g., a pressure sensor) is isolated from the fluids in the tube set by the diaphragm. This minimizes both the risk of contaminating the sensor with fluid aspirated from the patient, and the danger of so-called "cross-contamination" in which subsequent patients are exposed to the aspirated fluid of a prior patient.

Abstract: A pneumatic pressure probe for use in measuring pulsatile ocular blood flow comprises a housing consisting of an air tight bearing defining a pressure chamber, a piston having an axial bore communicating with the pressure chamber, the proximal end of the piston carrying a counter balancing weight and being received in the pressure chamber and the distal end of the piston extending outwardly of the housing and carrying a disposable sensing head. A transparent membrane is integrally attached to the sensing head and is substantially perpendicular to the piston axial bore and an interior channel through which light is emitted to the membrane from an LED mounted in the housing. The probe allows the patients visual axis to be aligned with the axial bore of the piston by focusing on the light source during measurement enabling the applanated comae and sensing membrane to be maintained substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular with the axial bore of the piston.

Abstract: A tonometer, for determining intraocular pressure, has a body, which can be a transparent, substantially tubular body. A plunger is located within the body and a coil spring acts between the body and the plunger. A marker member is frictionally retained within the body and is displaced relative to an external scale on the body. In use, the tonometer is brought up against the eyelid of a closed eye and the body displaced relative to the head of the plunger, until the pressure is sufficient to create a pressure phosphene. The device is then removed and the displacement of the marker member, indicative of the applied pressure is read. This reading corresponds to the intraocular pressure. The device may include a return member for returning the marker member to a zero or rest position.

Abstract: Medical studies have shown that when the pressure within the eye rises above normal the flow of blood is suppressed to the veins and the optic nerve fibers causing a reduction of temperature at those locations. If such conditions are allowed to exist over a period of time the subject is in danger of experiencing loss of peripheral vision, called glaucoma.This invention presents an improved way to determine indirectly intra-ocular pressure of the human eye through the use of a noncontacting, nonirrating, infrared temperature sensing device. This is accomplished by accurately measuring the temperature at the macula and fovea sites located at the back of the eye and the core body temperature as the individual's base temperature using the same tympanic temperature measuring device. The difference in these temperatures, calibrated in terms of intra-ocular pressure, reveals the potential danger of impending glaucoma.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for the quick and accurate determination of surface profile and depth reading within little or no mechanical motion is presented comprising a polychromatic light source; a means for focusing the light onto a point of sample target, said means having a known amount of longitudinal chromatic aberration; and a means for detecting the wavelengths of light reflected from the sample target. The light projected onto the sample target is focused according to wavelength due to the longitudinal chromatic aberration. While light from across the spectrum will be reflected, the light returning from the sample target will be most strongly reflected in a wavelength that is focused on a reflective point in the sample. The means for detecting the light in the present invention passes through a substantially pinhole aperture before the light is detected according to wavelength. The purpose of the pinhole aperture is resolution.

Abstract: An air pulse generator for a non-contact tonometer comprises a bi-directional linear motor drivably connected to a compression mechanism and responsive to an applanation signal for reducing unnecessary air pulse energy delivered to an eye. Upon receiving the applanation signal from an applanation detector, a motor controller reverses current flow in the coil of the motor to create a reverse electromagnetic force to stop generation of the air pulse. In a first embodiment, the linear motor includes a moving permanent magnet armature for reversibly driving the compression mechanism, while in a second embodiment, the linear motor includes a moving coil for reversibly driving the compression mechanism.