| 摘要 |
An instrument and method of the present invention facilitates accurate IOP determination, both before and after any laser eye treatment. A tonometer according to the present invention is specially designed to measure IOP by contacting the sclera instead of the cornea. To ensure accurate pressure measurement, the programmable logic of the tonometer assumes and compensates for normal sclera thickness, normal sclera radius of curvature, and normal sclera tissue modulus of elasticity. The tonometer preferably comprises a housing that is contoured such that it is easily grasped, in a manner of a writing pen. The functioning components of the instrument include an activation button, located on the anterior dorsal surface in close approximation to the index fingertip of the user, a liquid crystal display, a reset button, and a removable battery cover. The tip of the instrument is a solid state pressure transducer element that produces a change in voltage with a change in intraocular pressure. The electrical waveform produced by gently bringing the transducer in contact with the sclera is converted to a digital signal and processed by a microprocessor. An average pressure value and the reliability are then read out on a liquid crystal display.
|
