Micro-channel Embedded Soft Contact Lens for Tear Biomolecule Sampling

Abstract

Tear is a promising biological fluid for non-invasive health monitoring. It has been studied in the past to be a possible candidate for the diagnosis of certain systemic diseases, such as breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, prostate cancer, and diabetes. However, currently existing methods for collecting and extracting tear from the human eye causes inconsistencies in the biomolecule concentrations of the tear sample due to the irritating nature of the process. In response, we designed and fabricated a microfluidic system embedded soft contact-lens for the purpose of tear sampling. The lens was then tested with artificial tear for its tear sampling capability, and found to be able to find concentration equilibrium within 50 minutes. Additionally, simulation was carried out to further optimize the design so that tear sampling rate matched the natural tear turn-over rate of 1 microliter per minute.