Menu
MapConnectionsTopicsBulgariaThe Night (K-TRIO)Marie Skłodowska-CurieFor studentsFor teachersMethodologySurprise me
H2020Individual fellowship2021–2024

GRAVITEYE · Implantable flexible electro-active sensing platform for smart intraocular applications

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2021-10-01 → 2024-03-30
EU contribution
€178,320
Participants
1
Scheme
MSCA-IF

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

Implantable flexible electro-active sensing platform for smart intraocular applications

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, affecting more than 6% of people over 70. The disease occurs when the intraocular fluid (aqueous humour) is altered, causing intraocular pressure (IOP) to rise to levels that damages the optic nerve. GRAVITEYE has designed an innovative strategy for fabricating a miniaturized pressure sensor able of monitoring intraocular pressure in real-time. This technology aims to improve the early diagnosis of glaucoma, a chronic ocular disease that can significantly impact independence and productivity. The GRAVITEYE platform seeks to transform current intraocular lenses, which are passive in nature, into an advanced electro-active smart optical system. This will be achieved by integrating a miniaturized pressure sensor, thin-film stretchable electrical interconnections, and a RF antenna in a hybrid manner. The flexible smart optical platform complies with current industry standards for foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) and the narrow insertion methods used in minimally invasive cataract surgery. Furthermore, the project aims to advance knowledge through technological progress and the development of models of adhesion/cohesion at the hard/soft composite interface to optimize the pressure sensor design and the smart intraocular platform. The development of a highly integrated and foldable optical system will unlock numerous research opportunities in biocompatible materials, stretchable micromechanics, and smart optical systems. The following project objectives have been addressed: Development of a generalized simulation model to predict the impact of the pressure sensor [WP1]. Fabrication of a miniaturized capacitive-based pressure sensor [WP2]. Development of an automated IOP-control system was developed to mimic the dynamics of intraocular pressure [WP3]. Development of custom-made experimental setup for characterizing the full-field vibrational modes with high spatial resolution [WP3].

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

The equilibrium state of the eye is achieved through a delicate balance of fluid flow, with a continuous cycle of production and drainage. The intraocular dynamics maintains the intraocular pressure (IOP) at a constant level but any condition that adversely affects its stability results in the onset of glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness. The underlying mechanisms are by no means fully understood but several glaucoma theories rely on the fluid flow-related phenomena. High IOP is the major risk factor and most treatments include IOP-lowering actions. However, gold-standard IOP measurement is just a snapshot with low sensitivity. Thus, many questions remain open that are critical to understand the dynamic factors that control the IOP. The GRAVITEYE project will develop a smart intraocular implant based on novel biomedical sensing technologies to monitor the IOP dynamics, track the pulsatile fluctuations and decipher the intraocular fluid motion. The integrated platform will be encapsulated in a commercial intraocular lens and include (i) bio-fitted flexible sensors, (ii) ultrathin-film stretchable interconnections and (iii) a Radio-Frequency antenna for wireless powering and communication. The completion of the smart platform and its further validation will unveil novel scientific avenues in glaucoma and open up new possibilities to explore potential biomarkers for the microgravity-induced ocular changes in astronauts, one of the highest-priority physiological area in space medicine. GRAVITEYE, is built on the complementary expertise of the host in stretchable electronics and ultrathin chip integration for biomedical applications and of the fellow in Visual Optics, Photonics and Optical Engineering, and will provide a comprehensive training plan, to boost Dr. Pérez-Merino career. The outcome of this project will in addition enhance the EU leading position in flexible electro-optic components for smart medical implantable devices and vision care.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM · LeuvenCoordinatorBelgium

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union