JP2002000569A - Attachment for measuring aqueous humor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To measure the glucose concentration of aqueous humor with good reproducibility in order to monitor the condition of patient with diabetes by measuring aqueous humor not requiring blood-collecting instead of measuring blood glucose concentration, to provide the reproducibility of light passing position if measurement is carried out by utilizing light, and to easily perform attachment and removal because measurement is carried out several times a day. SOLUTION: In order to determine the light passing position with good reproducibility, good results are given by determining the light passing position based on the cornea instead of placing a reference point at a distant place. Since an eye is an important organ, it is recommended that the attachment and removal of a measurement equipment is performed through a physiological saline solution without direct contact.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Noninvasive glucose measurement using light has not yet reached a practical level, and skin, fingers, ears, eyes, etc. have been proposed for the measurement site. Yes, there is still no advantage.

It has long been proposed to measure the glucose concentration in the aqueous humor by passing light through the cornea as a measurement site of a non-invasive glucose sensor. It has not been fully examined whether a deterministic measurement can be performed.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Although it is an unexplored field and there is no established technique, a method of fixing a device on a face or a head and guiding light to an eyeball with an optical fiber, a mirror or the like and measuring the light is generally performed. .

[0004]

In the method of fixing the device to the face or head, it is highly likely that good reproducibility can be obtained by measurement with the device attached. There is no guarantee that it can be measured. Since the optical path passes through the eyeball obliquely, even if the mounting position, especially the height, is slightly different, the optical path length is greatly affected.

[0005]

Since light passes through the eyeball, it is best to fix the detection part of the measurement to the eyeball.
This idea is based on the contrast between eyeglasses and contact lenses. Fortunately, contact lenses are technically established, and many basic technologies, such as shapes for adhering to the cornea and materials that do not hurt the eyes, can be used.

The difference from the contact lens is that the lens is large in size to secure an optical path length of 10 mm, and that the weight for providing a light entrance and exit is increased. Since glucose concentration measurement is performed several times a day, it is necessary to consider that the frequency of removal is high.

The above problem is solved by providing a suction / discharge pipe. Specifically, a rubber tube is provided at the end of the discharge pipe, and this is slightly crushed. A small amount of saline is put into the corneal contact area, and the saline is pushed downward while contacting the cornea. By loosening the slightly crushed rubber tube, the contact becomes stronger. This ensures reproducibility of the optical path length. After the measurement, the rubber tube can be easily removed from the cornea by crushing the rubber tube.

[0008]

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of an apparatus for transmitting light to the aqueous humor 8 with good reproducibility. An incident light inlet 2, an outgoing light outlet 3, and a suction / discharge tube 4 are attached to a member 1 having a curved surface conforming to the shape of the cornea, and a rubber tube 5 having a closed end is attached to the end thereof.

The member 1 contains a small amount of physiological saline 6 and is applied to the cornea 7 with the rubber tube 5 slightly crushed. FIG. 1 shows a state before it is applied to the cornea.

When the member 1 is brought into contact with the cornea 7, most of the physiological saline 6 is pushed out, but a part of the saline 6 is buried in the cornea. Here, when the crushed rubber tube 5 is loosened, the remaining physiological saline 6 is sucked by the suction / discharge tube 4 and the connection between the member 1 and the cornea 7 is strengthened. In this state, the incident light 11 is projected from the glucose monitor 10 via the optical fiber 13, and the output light 12 containing the information of the aqueous humor 8 is guided to the glucose monitor 10 via the optical fiber 14 for analysis.

Since the measurement is completed in only a few seconds, the member 1 is easily removed by crushing the rubber tube 5 and discharging the physiological saline 6 contained between the member 1 and the cornea 7.

[0012]

As a non-invasive glucose sensor, development of glucose concentration measurement by light has been promoted as an effective method. The eyeball, especially the aqueous humor, is a promising candidate as a part of the human body to be measured by light, because it has few interfering components, but how to transmit light to the aqueous humor with good reproducibility is still technical. Has not been established. The present invention provides a method of transmitting light to the aqueous humor with good reproducibility.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows the configuration and use of the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Member in close contact with cornea 2 Incident light inlet 3 Outgoing light outlet 4 Suction / discharge tube 5 Rubber tube with closed end 6 Physiological saline 7 Cornea 8 Aqueous humor 9 Eye lens 10 Glucose monitor 11 Incident optical fiber 12 Emitting optical fiber

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A molded article having a curved surface corresponding to a cornea of an eyeball, having an entrance light entrance and an exit light exit at both ends, and having a suction / discharge pipe at a central portion thereof, and aqueous humor. Attachment for measuring aqueous humor used by applying to the cornea to measure the optical properties of the eye. 2. An attachment for measuring aqueous humor according to claim 1, wherein an elastic bag or tube is attached to a tip of the suction / discharge pipe.