Correlation between corneal and contact lens deformation with changes in intraocular pressure for wearable monitoring systems.

Objective: The aim of this work is to evaluate the extent to which the eye's curvature deformation, due to changes in the intraocular pressure (IOP), can be directly tracked by an overlying contact lens.

Method: In this experimental study, using 12 cadaveric eyes, the IOP was increased from 10 to 36 mmHg, while video imaging was used to capture the three experimental variations. The deformation of the bare eye was used as a control, while the deformation of an overlying silicone grided contact lens and an overlying microfluidic IOP-sensing contact lens were examined and compared.

A V-Shaped Microcantilever Sensor Based on a Gap Method for Real-Time Detection of Bacteria.

This paper presents a dynamic-mode microcantilever sensor based on a gap method. The sensor has a V-shaped microcantilever and a fixed structure at a distance of 2 µm from its free end. The microcantilever is excited by applying an ac electric potential (3 V) to its piezoelectric pads and vibrates at its fundamental resonant frequency.

Design, analysis, and experimental investigation of micro-displacement amplification compliant mechanism for micro-transducers.

This paper presents experimental force and buckling analysis of a compliant micro-displacement amplification mechanism fabricated using the commercially available PolyMUMPs process. The proposed mechanism proficiently amplifies displacement, at two output ends, with an optimal amplification factor of 7.2.

Effect of variations of corneal physiology on novel non-invasive intraocular pressure monitoring soft contact lens.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness around the world. With its slow asymptomatic progression, there is an emphasis on early detection and frequent monitoring. A novel microfluidic contact lens has been established as a potential way to track the fluctuations of the intraocular pressure (IOP) which is a key indicator for diagnosing and monitoring glaucoma progression.

Non-invasive Intraocular pressure monitoring with contact lens.

Background: Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world and the first leading cause of irreversible vision loss. Currently, the primary methodology of testing for the intraocular pressure (IOP) is during clinical office hours, which only provide a limited amount of information on the trends and fluctuations of the IOP. Therefore, a continuous monitoring system is required to properly determine the peaks of pressure and to negate any false results obtained by sparse, clinic hour testing.

Assessment of hepatoprotective potential of Radix Fici Hirtae on alcohol-induced liver injury in Kunming mice.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to investigate the hepatoprotective role of Radix Fici Hirtae on acute alcohol-induced liver injury in mice.

Methods: The component of Radix Fici Hirtae was extracted using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol and divided into three dose groups of high, medium and low according to the clinical man's normal dose of the 50 g crude drug/d (0.83 g/kg body weight).

Note: Exciting higher-order flexural modes of freestanding microstructures with square wave driving signals.

We examine using the harmonics of low fundamental frequency (f(1)) square waveforms to electrostatically excite higher-order flexural modes of a micromechanical structure in higher (>f(1)) frequency regimes. Square wave signals swept between a fundamental frequency range of approximately 0-333 kHz demonstrated an effective high magnitude spectral excitation of approximately 0-1 MHz. This enabled optical heterodyne detection of structural resonant frequencies above 333 kHz.

Thermal Actuation Based 3-DoF Non-Resonant Microgyroscope Using MetalMUMPs.

High force, large displacement and low voltage consumption are a primary concern for microgyroscopes. The chevron-shaped thermal actuators are unique in terms of high force generation combined with the large displacements at a low operating voltage in comparison with traditional electrostatic actuators. A Nickel based 3-DoF micromachined gyroscope comprising 2-DoF drive mode and 1-DoF sense mode oscillator utilizing the chevron-shaped thermal actuators is presented here.