An Intra-Ocular Pressure Monitor (IOPM) device that is less than 1.5 mm has been designed for implanting in the eye of a glaucoma patient. Developed by researchers at the University of Michigan, the design uses a capacitive pressure sensor developed at the university, an integrated 0.07mm2 solar cell, a Cymbet EnerChip solid-state battery and other circuitry assembled in a biocompatible glass housing. After conversion by a microcontroller, a radio link transmits the sensor’s information on a periodic basis to a receiver held in front of the patient’s eye. Recharged by the solar cell, the 1μAh thin-film Li battery extends the device’s lifetime to years instead of 28 days without the solar energy harvesting.
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