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Selectively bonded polymeric glaucoma drainage device for reliable regulation of intraocular pressure

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Abstract

A novel glaucoma drainage device (GDD) using a polymeric micro check valve with no reverse flow is presented for the effective regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP). A significant functional improvement was achieved by reducing the possible incidence of hypotony, as the proposed GDD only drains aqueous humor at a certain cracking pressure or higher. The device consists of three biocompatible polymer layers: a top layer (cover), an intermediate layer (membrane), and a bottom layer (base plate with a cannula). All three layers, made of soft polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), were bonded together to realize the thin GDDs. The bottom layer was selectively coated with chromium (Cr)/gold (Au) to prevent stiction between the valve seat and the valve orifice so that the device could show enhanced reliability in operation and high yield in production. Two types of polymeric devices were fabricated; one was a glaucoma drainage device for humans (GDDH) and the other was a glaucoma drainage device for animals (GDDA). From subsequent in vitro tests, the cracking pressures were 18.33 ± 0.66 mmHg (mean ± standard deviation) for GDDH and 12.42 mmHg for GDDA, both of which were very close to the corresponding normal IOPs. From in vivo tests of GDDA, the IOP of all implanted devices was properly regulated within the target pressure (10–15 mmHg). The experimental results showed that the proposed polymeric GDD has high potential for use in the treatment of glaucoma disease in terms of its repeatability of the cracking pressure and patients’ relief from post-operative discomfort.

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Abbreviations

GDD:

Glaucoma drainage device

IOP:

Intraocular pressure

PDMS:

Polydimethylsiloxane

Cr:

Chromium

Au:

Gold

GDDH:

Glaucoma drainage device for humans

GDDA:

Glaucoma drainage device for animals

WHO:

World Health Organization

MEMS:

Microelectromechanical Systems

UV:

Ultraviolet

PEB:

Post-exposure bake

CH4 :

Methane

He:

Helium

Si:

Silicon

sccm:

standard cubic centimeter per minute

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Acknowledgements

The research was supported by a grant from the institute of Medical System Engineering (iMSE) in the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Republic of Korea. The authors would also like to thank Mr. Byungphil Mun, Mr. Jongchan Choi, and Prof. Sung Yang for their contribution to this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechatronics, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

    Seunghwan Moon, Seongmin Im, Jaeyong An, Hyoung Ihl Kim & Jong-Hyun Lee

  2. Graduate Program of Medical System Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

    Chang Ju Park, Hyoung Ihl Kim & Jong-Hyun Lee

  3. Department of Nanobio Materials and Electronics, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

    Jong-Hyun Lee

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

    Hwang Gyun Kim & Sang Woo Park

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  1. Seunghwan Moon
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  2. Seongmin Im
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  4. Chang Ju Park
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Correspondence to Jong-Hyun Lee.

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Moon, S., Im, S., An, J. et al. Selectively bonded polymeric glaucoma drainage device for reliable regulation of intraocular pressure. Biomed Microdevices 14, 325–335 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-011-9609-4

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