California Institute of Technology

University of Southern California

Doheny Eye Institute

Nicholas E Scianmarello

Yu-Chong Tai

Mark Salman Humayun

Karthik Murali

Ramiro Magalhaes Ribeiro

Charles M T DeBoer

Colin A Cook

Aubrey M Shapero

Dongyang Kang

Mark S Humayun

Jungwook Park

Amir H Kashani

Hossein Nazari Khanamiri

A lacrimal tear flow measurement device, and methods of manufacture and use, are described that includes a polymer microcapillary tube or similar structure having at least one end coated on the outside with soft silicone rubber and one end treated on the inside to be hydrophobic. The hydrophobic end keeps liquid from escaping or entering that end while allowing air to pass. The rest of the tube's insides may be hydrophilic or a neutral hydrophobe. As a Schirmer's test strip replacement, the entrance end of the device can be touched to the lacrimal lake of a patient's eye to collect suck up, or merely collect, tear fluid within the collection tube for weighing, volume measurement, or other analysis. Long-term collection devices for wear between doctors' visits can have a bypass channel allowing liquid to flow back onto the eye.

Method of manufacturing a tear flow measurement device

A contact lens fluid delivery device having a liquid reservoir connected to a channel with a flow regulator is described. Other eye hydration and variable dioptric power contact lenses are described herein. Also described are implantable liquid delivery apparatuses having a liquid storage reservoir connected to a channel with a flow regulator. These devices and apparatuses are useful for specific, targeted delivery of therapeutic liquids within a subject. In some embodiments, the devices incorporate actuation chambers which provide a driving force releasing the fluid into the targeted area e.g., the eye. The actuation chambers described herein can contain phase change materials or osmotic chambers or a combination thereof to drive the release of fluid.

Contact lens with metered liquid system

A microfluidic flow restrictor that uses micron-sized beads to impede flow is described. The flow rate can be adjusted by adding or removing the beads using injection needles through self-sealing ports, one injection needle injecting or aspirating beads and another injection needle pushing or pulling fluid from outside of a bead trap within the flow restrictor. In alternative embodiments, the beads or other filler material can be trapped in a manifold bead trap such that they block a subset of fluid channels of the flow restrictor, allowing fluid to flow freely through the rest of the fluid channels. The flow restrictor can be integrated with a contact lens or implantable medical device for use in dispensing liquid therapeutic agents at flow rates of microliters per minute or moving body fluids at a controlled rate from one part of the body to another.

Miniature fixed and adjustable flow restrictor for the body

Tear flow measurement device

An eye treatment apparatus is described. The apparatus includes an annular body that has a hollow optical zone in its center. An inner perimeter of the annular body surrounds the optical zone. The inner perimeter has a diameter that corresponds to a diameter of the eye's cornea. An outer perimeter of the annular body has a diameter such that the annular body can extend to underneath the eye lid in an open eye position when the eye treatment apparatus is in operation. In this way, the apparatus can be worn on the eye, where the hollow optical zone substantially corresponds to the cornea and does not interfere with the field of vision. The annular body also includes a storage chamber that stores therapeutic liquid for an eye. An outlet is coupled with the storage chamber such that, in operation, the therapeutic liquid can be dispensed to the eye.

Eye treatment device having a ring like shape

An implantable medical device is described. The implantable medical device includes an anti-condensation filler that is highly permeable to a predetermined class of small molecules, such as oxygen. The implantable medical device includes a small molecule discharge bag that is permeable to the small molecule, and a cannula that connects an interior of the small discharge bag to the anti-condensation filler. In operation, small molecules are collected and transported through the anti-condensation filler to the cannula for diffusion through the small molecule discharge bag. Even when this device is implanted in a high humidity and temperature gradient environment, the anti-condensation filler prevents condensation, such as water condensation.

Small molecule transport device with anti-condensation filler for drug delivery or waste removal

An implantable medical device is described. The implantable medical device includes a small molecule generator, a small molecule diffusor, and a cannula that connects the two. The small molecule generator includes an electrolyte reservoir and a set of electrodes. A first portion of the electrolyte reservoir is impermeable to a predetermined class of small molecules. A second portion of the electrolyte reservoir is permeable to the small molecules. The set of electrodes is disposed inside the electrolyte reservoir and is configured to facilitate electrolysis of the small molecules based on an electric power application to the set of electrodes and on presence of electrolyte inside the electrolyte reservoir. At least a portion of the small molecule diffusor is permeable to the small molecules.

Implantable oxygen generator and transporter

An implantable oxygenator may have a configuration that is suitable for implantation within a human body be implanted within a human body, such as within a human eye. The implantable oxygenator may include an electrolyte reservoir having a configuration suitable for storing electrolyte and an electrolysis system having a configuration that performs electrolysis on a portion of the electrolyte, thereby producing oxygen in the region of the electrolysis system.

Implantable oxygenator with self-contained electrolyte

A medical device having a permeable bag connected by a non-permeable cannula to a discharge sac is described along with a manufacturing process and surgical implantation method. The permeable portions of the device have pores that are sized to be permeable to a predetermined class of small molecules, such as oxygen, nitrous oxide, or other therapeutic agents. Once absorbed inside the device, the small molecules are then passively transported, by a concentration gradient of the small molecules, to the discharge sac to be disbursed. A metal tube or other strip can be included in the cannula to assist a surgeon in orienting the device within the body.

Growing community of inventors

Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Nicholas E Scianmarello