KR20190111515A - Tear collecting lens - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lens of collecting tears, and more specifically, to a lens of collecting tears stably collecting and diagnosing tears for an abnormal state of a human eye such as xerophthalmia to be checked without stimulating the eye. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the lens of collecting tears allowing tears to be collected after worn and taken out comprises: a first layer part corresponding to a cornea of an eye; a lens part smaller than the first layer part and attached to an upper side of a central portion of the first layer part; and a second layer part formed in a size corresponding to the first layer part, spaced from the first layer part by a predetermined height, including a plurality of inflow holes, and attached to an upper side of the lens part. The second layer part includes the plurality of inflow holes in an area except for a portion overlapping the lens part, and a gap having a predetermined thickness formed between the first layer part and the second layer part is maintained on an edge the second layer part for tears to be introduced and circulated in a space portion formed between the first layer part and the second layer part. Accordingly, it is possible to collect tears in the space portion existing between the first layer part and the second layer part by taking out the lens of collecting tears from the eye.

Description

Tear collecting lens

The present invention relates to a tear collection lens, and more particularly, a tear collection lens for stably collecting and diagnosing tears so as to check an abnormal state of an eye such as dry eye without irritating a human eye. It is about.

Our eyes are largely divided into eyeballs and eye appendages. The eye includes the outer membrane, the media, the inner membrane and the contents, and the eye appendages include the orbit, the conjunctiva and the like. Of these, the outer membrane and conjunctiva form the boundary between the eye and the outer world.

The cornea is a transparent membrane that occupies the surface of the eye.

The conjunctiva is a mucosa that combines the eye and the eyelids, and is distinguished from the conjunctiva palpebrarum and the bulbar conjunctiva.

In addition, the transition portion of the cornea and the eye conjunctiva is called corneal margin, and the transition portion of the eye conjunctiva and the eyelid conjunctiva is called open conjunctiva.

On the other hand, in the meibomian gland in the eyelid conjunctiva, the fat that forms the fat layer, the outermost layer of tears, is secreted.

At this time, when the temperature of the mybom gland is lower than normal, the gland of the mybom gland is closed so that the fat is not secreted smoothly. This causes dry eye syndrome in which the aqueous layer of tears evaporates faster than normal as the amount of fat in the outermost layer of tears decreases. Such dry eye syndrome, also called dry eye syndrome or dry eye syndrome, is a multifactorial disease that can be caused by changes in the tear film or corneal surface.

A typical method of diagnosing dry eye syndrome is a tear break-up time (TBUT) test.

The TBUT test involves placing a dye, such as a fluorescence solution, on the surface of the cornea, and microscopically checking whether the entire cornea is normally wet or how quickly the surface of the cornea dries when the tear is secreted. It is a method of determining whether or not dry eye syndrome based on the time.

However, in the case of the TBUT test method, the test time is short within 15 seconds, but there is a problem that an error may occur due to the subject's involvement in the judgment process and the diagnosis result may vary depending on the test condition.

In addition, the fluresin solution used in the TBUT test can cause eye infection, which is problematic in terms of safety.

Another method of diagnosing dry eye syndrome is Schirmer's test.

The Shimmer test is a method of measuring the amount of tears by inserting a paper strip into the lower conjunctival sac.

However, the shimmer test may result in excessive tears depending on the nerve and sensitivity of the patient's conjunctiva, resulting in poor objectivity.

The conventional dry eye diagnosis method has a problem of causing rejection to the patient by invasive methods such as adding a solution or paper into the eye of the patient, and the diagnosis result is not objective.

Accordingly, there is a need for a lens capable of self-diagnosis by collecting tears during use and removal after use as a general contact lens.

Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0210348, titled "Soft Contact Lens" (registration date 1999.04.26.)

The present invention was created to solve the above problems and necessities, and used as a contact lens when worn so as to check the abnormal condition of the eyes such as dry eye without irritating the human eye and tear when separating from the eye The purpose of the present invention is to provide a tear collection lens that can collect and self-diagnose.

In order to achieve the above object, the tear collection lens according to an embodiment of the present invention is that the tear is collected when worn out after use, the first layer (corresponding to the cornea of the eye) and the first layer A second layer smaller than a portion and attached to an upper side of the central portion of the first layer portion, and spaced a predetermined height by a size corresponding to the first layer portion, and having a plurality of inflow holes formed thereon and attached to the upper portion of the lens portion And a plurality of inflow holes are formed in a region excluding the portion overlapping with the lens portion, and a gap having a predetermined thickness and a gap of the first layer portion are maintained outside. Tear is introduced into the space part formed between the first layer part and circulated, and when the tear collecting lens is taken out of the eye, the first layer part and the second layer part It is characterized in that the group space portion tears collected.

According to the present invention, while having a function as a general vision lens, there is an advantage that can naturally collect tears.

In addition, there is an advantage that can prevent the error caused by inflammation or subjectivity of the inspector may be caused by the injection of the test solution in the conventional eye.

In addition, there is an advantage that can solve the problem of invasive methods that cause rejection to the patient or user and the diagnostic result is not objective.

In addition, it is easy to collect tears, as well as the examination of the dry eye, there is an advantage that can easily self-diagnose various diseases.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a tear collection lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a human eye.
3 is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating a tear collection lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a perspective view showing a tear collection lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view showing a tear collection lens according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural forms as well, unless the phrases clearly indicate the opposite. As used herein, the term "comprising" embodies a particular characteristic, region, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component, and other specific characteristics, region, integer, step, operation, element, component, and / or group. It does not exclude the presence or addition of.

Although not defined otherwise, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Commonly defined terms used are additionally interpreted to have a meaning consistent with the related technical literature and the presently disclosed contents, and are not interpreted in an ideal or very formal sense unless defined.

The embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the drawings specifically illustrate an ideal embodiment of the present invention. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Thus, embodiments are not limited to the specific forms of the illustrated areas. Areas shown or described as flat may have characteristics that are generally rough and / or non-linear.

Also, portions shown to have sharp angles may be rounded. Accordingly, the regions shown in the figures are only approximate in nature, and their forms are not intended to depict the exact form of the regions, nor are they intended to narrow the scope of the invention.

It is noted that the figures are schematic and not drawn to scale. The relative dimensions and ratios of the parts in the figures have been exaggerated or reduced in size for clarity and convenience in the figures and any dimensions are merely exemplary and not limiting. And the same structure, element, or part that appears in more than one figure is the same reference numeral used in different embodiments to indicate corresponding or similar features.

The present invention is for the purpose of self-diagnosing the state of the eye, such as dry eye, through tears collected using the lens, when tearing out of the eye after wearing the lens, the tear is naturally collected in the lens to self-diagnose the state of the eye through the reagent Safety problems that can cause eye infection with fluresin solution during conventional BUT-break-up time of tear film testing, or adding a solution or paper into the patient's eye during the Schirmer's test. Invasive methods can cause problems such as rejection of patients and non-objective diagnosis.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a tear collection lens according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a view showing an eye of a person (exemplary), Figure 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating a tear collection lens, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a tear collection lens according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a tear collection lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. .

Referring to the drawings, the tear collection lens 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is that the tear is collected when worn out after use, the first layer portion 110 of a predetermined thickness corresponding to the cornea of the eye ), A lens portion 120 smaller than the first layer portion 110 and attached to an upper portion of the central portion 111 of the first layer portion 110, and a size corresponding to the first layer portion 110. A plurality of inflow holes 130h are formed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined height, and include a second layer part 130 having a predetermined thickness attached to an upper side of the lens part 120, and the second layer part 130. In the region excluding the portion overlapping with the lens unit 120, the plurality of inflow holes 130h are formed, and a gap 130t having a predetermined thickness and the first layer unit 110 are maintained outside. The tears flow into the space part 130v formed between the first layer part 110 and are circulated. When the tear collection lens 100 is taken out, tears of the space part 130v enclosed between the first layer part 110 and the second layer part 130 are collected.

In addition, the gap 130t has the first layer portion 110 and the second layer portion 130 without tears from the space portion 130v falling outside when the tear collection lens 100 is separated from the eye. It is characterized in that the distance between the tear to stay in the surface tension.

Then, the configuration and state of the tear collection lens according to an embodiment of the present invention in detail.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tear collection lens 100 proposed in the present invention includes a first layer unit 110, a lens unit 120, and a second layer unit 130. ).

In addition, the first layer unit 110, the lens unit 120, and the second layer unit 130 may be made of a transparent material.

Here, expressing a part of the human eye can be divided into the cornea with the pupil and the iris and the sclera of the white as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the first layer unit 110 is a thin layer or a thin film having a very thin thickness corresponding to the cornea 11 of the eye. It is formed in a three-dimensional curved surface so as to surround the surface of the cornea 11 and a part of the sclera 13. (The thickness of the first layer portion 110 is preferably maintained to 50㎛ or less.)

In addition, the first layer part 110 has a curved surface corresponding to the shape of the cornea 11 and some of the sclera 13, and extends from the central part 111 and the central part 111 covering the pupil. It may be divided into an outer portion 113.

For example, the outer diameter of the first layer portion 110 may be about 10 to 12 mm, and the outer diameter of the central portion 111 may be about 6 to 8 mm.

In addition, the central portion 111 refers to the central portion of the first layer layer 110, but there is no boundary for dividing, but as shown in FIG.

Here, if the area of the central portion 111 is clearly described, it may be regarded as the same or similar to the area of the lens 120.

In addition, the central portion 111 is a portion in contact with the cornea 11 formed in the pupil and the iris, and has an outer diameter larger than that of the pupil.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, the central portion 111 is the same as or similar to the radius of curvature of the cornea, and the outer portion 113 is the remaining portion excluding the central portion 111, except for the central portion 111. It is formed the same as or similar to the radius of curvature of the 11 and the sclera 13.

In addition, the first layer unit 110 is composed of PHEMA (Poly Hydroxt Ethyl Methacrylate), PVP (Poly Vinyl Pyrrolidone), etc. as a material is hydrophilic, the material itself has a soft property, the water content is 30 to 80% Soft enough to permeate oxygen.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, the lens unit 120 is attached to an upper side of the first layer unit 110 and has a small dish shape to function as a lens.

In addition, the lens unit 120 is smaller than the first layer unit 110 and attached to the upper side of the central portion 111 of the first layer unit 110.

In addition, the lens unit 120 functions to correct vision when there is myopia, astigmatism or hyperopia.

In addition, the lens unit 120 may be made of a plastic resin, an acrylic resin, silicon, rubber, or the like, and a hard material.

For example, the lens unit 120 may be made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or supplemented rigid gas permeable (RPG).

RGP lens, an English abbreviation for oxygen permeable hard lens, is made of CAB (Cellulose Acetate Butglate) and silicon-based materials, and has high oxygen permeability (DK of 50-158DK) and good elasticity.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the second layer unit 130 has a very thin thickness that is attached to the upper side of the lens unit 120 in a size corresponding to that of the first layer unit 110. The branch is a thin layer or a thin film, and is formed in a three-dimensional curved surface to surround the surface of the lens unit 120 while being spaced apart from the first layer unit 110 by a predetermined height.

In addition, a plurality of inflow holes 130h may be formed in the second layer part 130 spaced apart from the center by a predetermined height corresponding to the first layer part 110. (The size of the inlet hole 130h does not exceed 1 mm.)

That is, the second layer unit 130 has a curved surface that is attached to the upper side of the lens unit 120 but is parallel to the first layer unit 110 while being spaced a predetermined distance apart.

In addition, the second layer unit 130 is made of a material such as PHEMA (Poly Hydroxt Ethyl Methacrylate) or PVP (Poly Vinyl Pyrrolidone) as a hydrophilic material, the material itself has a soft property, the water content is 30 to 80% Soft enough to permeate oxygen.

In addition, the thickness of the second layer portion 130 may be maintained at 50 μm or less.)

In particular, the second layer 130 has a plurality of inflow holes 130h formed in a region excluding the overlapping portion of the lens 120 and a gap having a predetermined thickness with the first layer 110 outside ( 130t) is maintained.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, a gap 130t between the first layer part 110 and the second layer part 130 may cause tears of the space part 130v when the lens 100 is separated from the eye. The distance between the first layer part 110 and the second layer part 130 may be maintained by the surface tension without falling to the outside.

In addition, the space portion 130v is a space space in which a predetermined gap 130t is maintained when the lens 100 is worn on the eye. The space portion 130v is opened in a plurality of inflow holes 130h and in all directions to tear tears due to the effect of osmotic pressure. This is a circulating passage.

As such, a problem occurs in that air required by the conventional cornea is not directly supplied to the cornea due to the space portion 130v between the first layer portion 110 and the second layer portion 130, thereby causing tears or artificial tears. When this is produced or injected, the problem of remaining in the cornea or leaving the cornea intact can be solved.

In addition, although not shown, a supporting member (not shown) may be formed so that a predetermined gap 130t is maintained between the first layer part 110 and the second layer part 130. And between the peripheral area of the second layer unit 130.

Therefore, the tear collection lens 100 proposed in the present invention is formed between the first layer part 110 and the second layer part 130 due to the inlet hole 130h and a gap 130t having a predetermined thickness. Tears flow into the space part 130v and are circulated, and when the lens 100 is taken out of the eye, the tears of the space part 130v enclosed between the first layer part 110 and the second layer part 130 can be collected. Will be.

The collected tears can be used to diagnose eye conditions such as dry eye syndrome and further analyze the tear components to analyze and diagnose other diseases such as diabetes.

That is, when the user wears and uses the tear collection lens 100 proposed by the present invention as shown in FIG. 4 to take out of the eye, tears are contained in the lens 100, and the tears in the lens 100 depend on the purpose. Reagents and the like can be used to analyze and diagnose the state of the eye or the state of the body.

In addition, hard lenses generally have the advantage of correcting vision, but they cannot contain moisture well, whereas soft lenses can contain moisture to provide comfort to the eye.

Therefore, the tear collection lens 100 proposed in the present invention is composed of three layers, so that the hard lens unit 120 is stacked on the soft first layer unit 110 at the bottom, thereby providing advantages of a hard lens and a soft lens. It can be maximized.

As such, the tear collection lens 100 proposed in the present invention can expect the following effects.

It functions as a general vision lens, and at the same time has the advantage of collecting tears naturally.

In addition, there is an advantage that can prevent the error caused by inflammation or subjectivity of the inspector may be caused by the injection of the test solution in the conventional eye.

In addition, there is an advantage that can solve the problem of invasive methods that cause rejection to the patient or user and the diagnostic result is not objective.

In addition, it is easy to collect tears, as well as the examination of the dry eye, there is an advantage that can easily self-diagnose various diseases.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains various modifications, changes, and substitutions without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. will be.

Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention and the accompanying drawings are not intended to limit the technical spirit of the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. .

The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

100: tear collection lens proposed by the present invention
110: first layer portion
120 lens portion
130: second layer portion

Claims (2)

In tear collection lens where tears are collected when worn after use,
A first layer portion corresponding to the cornea of the eye,
A lens portion smaller than the first layer portion and attached to an upper side of the central portion of the first layer portion, and
It is made to include a second layer (layer) that is spaced apart a predetermined height to a size corresponding to the first layer portion is formed with a plurality of inlet holes attached to the upper side of the lens,
The plurality of inflow holes are formed in an area excluding the portion overlapping the lens part, and the second layer part is formed between the first layer part by maintaining a gap having a predetermined thickness with the first layer part. Tears flow into the space and circulate,
And when the tear collection lens is taken out of the eye, tears of the space portion between the first layer portion and the second layer portion are collected. The method of claim 1,
The gap is a distance that allows the tears to remain at the surface tension between the first layer portion and the second layer portion without separating the tear collection lens from the eye without falling to the outside. Tear collecting lens.

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