Wearable device and method for collecting ocular fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374648-A1
Application number	US-201615194549-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wearable device for collecting ocular fluid of a user, comprising a fluid channel for enabling flow of ocular fluid within the fluid channel when the wearable device is worn by the user, the fluid channel extending from an open end in an annular geometry, the open end being configured to receive ocular fluid, wherein the wearable device further comprises one or more modular compartment units detachably connected to the fluid channel and/or include a porous layer comprising a plurality of pores extending through the porous layer in a radial direction, wherein the fluid channel and/or the one or more modular compartment units are configured to contain a hydrophilic material in an inner space of each modular compartment unit, the hydrophilic material being configured to absorb the ocular fluid, wherein the fluid channel and/or the inner space of each modular compartment unit is, when the device is worn by the user, in fluidic connection with the ocular fluid of the user via the open end, the plurality of pores and/or a corresponding fluid inlet of the modular compartment unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wearable device for collecting ocular fluid of a user, comprising:
a fluid channel configured for enabling a flow of ocular fluid within the fluid channel when the wearable device is worn by the user, the fluid channel having an at least partially tubular cross-section and extending along an annular axis from an open end in an annular geometry around a revolution axis perpendicular to the annular axis, the fluid channel comprising an outer edge and an inner edge spaced from the outer edge along a first radial direction perpendicular to the revolution axis, the open end of the fluid channel being configured to receive an ocular fluid; and at least one of:
a porous layer arranged on an external surface of the fluid channel, the porous layer comprising a plurality of pores extending through the porous layer in a second radial direction perpendicular to the annular axis, wherein the fluid channel contains a hydrophilic material in a hollow space within the fluid channel, the hydrophilic material being provided in a volume that is smaller than the volume of the hollow space within the fluid channel, wherein the hollow space is, when the device is worn by the user, configured to be in fluidic connection with the ocular fluid of the user via the open end and the plurality of pores; or
one or more modular compartment units detachably connected to at least one of the outer edge or the inner edge on an external surface of the fluid channel, wherein the one or more modular compartment units contain a hydrophilic material in an inner space of each modular compartment unit, the hydrophilic material being provided in a volume that is smaller than the volume of the inner space of the corresponding modular compartment unit, and wherein the inner space of each modular compartment unit is, when the device is worn by the user, configured to be in fluidic connection with the ocular fluid of the user via the open end and a corresponding fluid inlet of the modular compartment unit;
wherein at least one of the hydrophilic material contained in the hollow space within the fluid channel or the hydrophilic material contained in the inner space of each modular compartment unit is structured and configured to absorb the ocular fluid and increase in volume in proportion to the amount of ocular fluid absorbed.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the device comprises the one or more modular compartment units, the fluid inlet is closable by the hydrophilic material contained in the corresponding inner space having absorbed a predetermined amount of ocular fluid.

3 . The device according to claim 2 , wherein, when the device comprises the one or more modular compartment units, the fluid inlet is formed on a deformable side of the modular compartment unit, the deformable side being inwardly curved before the hydrophilic material contained in the corresponding inner space has absorbed the predetermined amount of ocular fluid.

4 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein, when the device comprises the one or more modular compartment units, the deformable side of the modular compartment unit is at least one of planar or curved outwardly after the hydrophilic material contained in the corresponding inner space has absorbed the predetermined amount of ocular fluid.

5 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the device comprises the one or more modular compartment units, the modular compartment units are serially arranged, so that different modular compartment units are configured to collect ocular fluid during different time intervals.

6 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the device comprises the one or more modular compartment units, the device further comprises one or more additional modular compartment units detachably connected to the fluid channel in a hollow space within the fluid channel.

7 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the fluid channel extends circumferentially around the annular axis over an angle that is smaller than 360°.

8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel contains the hydrophobic material.

9 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid channel extends in the annular geometry between the open end and a closed end.

10 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the device comprises the porous layer arranged on the external surface of the fluid channel, the porous layer is configured to regulate diffusion of the ocular fluid, wherein the fluid diffusion is stopped when an equilibrium is reached between an outer side of the porous layer and an inner side of the porous layer.

11 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the device comprises the porous layer arranged on the external surface of the fluid channel, the porous layer comprises a membrane layer.

12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein, when the device comprises the one or more modular compartment units, the hydrophilic material contained in the inner space of each modular compartment unit comprises a hydrogel.

13 . Device according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic material contained in the hollow space within the fluid channel comprises a hydrogel.

14 . A method for collecting ocular fluid of a user, using the wearable device according to claim 1 , comprising:
using the fluid channel to enable a flow of ocular fluid within the fluid channel when the wearable device is worn by the user, the fluid channel having an at least partially tubular cross-section and extending along an annular axis from an open end in an annular geometry around a revolution axis perpendicular to the annular axis, the fluid channel comprising an outer edge and an inner edge spaced from the outer edge along a first radial direction perpendicular to the revolution axis, the open end of the fluid channel being configured to receive an ocular fluid, wherein the wearable device further includes at least one of:
a porous layer arranged on an external surface of the fluid channel, the porous layer comprising a plurality of pores extending through the porous layer in a second radial direction perpendicular to the annular axis, wherein the fluid channel contains a hydrophilic material in a hollow space within the fluid channel, the hydrophilic material being provided in a volume that is smaller than the volume of the hollow space within the fluid channel, wherein the hollow space is, when the device is worn by the user, configured to be in fluidic connection with the ocular fluid of the user via the open end and the plurality of pores; or
one or more modular compartment units detachably connected to at least one of the outer edge or the inner edge on an external surface of the fluid channel, wherein the one or more modular compartment units contain a hydrophilic material in an inner space of each modular compartment unit, the hydrophilic material being provided in a volume that is smaller than the volume of the inner space of the corresponding modular compartment unit, wherein the inner space of each modular compartment unit is, when the device is worn by the user, configured to be in fluidic connection with the ocular fluid of the user via the open end and a corresponding fluid inlet of the modular compartment unit;
wherein at least one of the hydrophilic material contained in the hollow space within the fluid channel or the hydrophilic material contained in the inner space of each modular compartment unit is structured and configured to absorb the ocular fluid and increase in volume in proportion to the amount of ocular fluid absorbed.

15 .

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Asvadi Sima
• Karakaya Koray
• Van Lieshout Ron Martinus Laurentius
• Kuenen Maarten Petrus Joseph
• Dellimore Kiran Hamilton J

Classifications

• A61B10/0045 Primary

  Devices for taking samples of body liquids · CPC title

• A61B2010/0067

  Tear or lachrymal fluid · CPC title

• G02C7/04

  Contact lenses for the eyes (disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00) · CPC title