A magnetically driven PDMS peristaltic micropump.

We present a robust low-cost PDMS peristaltic micropump with magnetic drive. The fabrication process is based on the soft molding and bonding of three PDMS layers. A base layer incorporates the microchannel while a middle layer contains the actuation membrane.

Thin-film coupled fluid-solid analysis of flow through the Ahmed glaucoma drainage device.

The Ahmed glaucoma valve (AGV) is a popular glaucoma drainage device, allowing maintenance of normal intraocular pressure in patients with reduced trabecular outflow facility. The uniquely attractive feature of the AGV, in contrast to other available drainage devices, is its variable resistance in response to changes in flow rate. As a result of this variable resistance, the AGV maintains a pressure drop between 7 and 12 mm Hg for a wide range of aqueous humor flow rates.

Modeling and characterization of a valved glaucoma drainage device with implications for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

We report on modeling and bench test results targeted at better understanding of valved glaucoma drainage devices (GDDs), a common current surgical treatment for glaucoma. A simple equivalent circuit is described to model fluid mechanical behavior of the aqueous humor in an eye with glaucoma, both before and after implantation of a valved GDD. Finite element method simulations (FEM), based on the lubrication-von Kármán model, are then performed to analyze the valve's mechanical and fluidic performance.

Computer simulation of convective and diffusive transport of controlled-release drugs in the vitreous humor.

Purpose: Biodistribution of drugs in the eye is central to the efficacy of pharmaceutical ocular therapies. Of particular interest to us is the effect of intravitreal transport on distribution of controlled-released drugs within the vitreous.

Methods: A computer model was developed to describe the three-dimensional convective-diffusive transport of drug released from an intravitreal controlled release source.