Patent ID: 6361495
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A hand-held non-contact tonometer comprising:a measurement axis; a fluid discharge tube having a fluid discharge passage aligned on said measurement axis said fluid discharge passage having an entry end and an exit end; a fluid plenum in flow communication with said entry end of said fluid discharge passage; a piston movable between a loaded position and an unloaded position for increasing pressure within said plenum to discharge a fluid pulse from said exit end of said fluid discharge passage, said piston being movable along said measurement axis between said loaded and unloaded positions; alignment guidance means for presenting a visible alignment image to a patient for guiding said patient in self-alignment of said measurement axis with a corneal pole of an eye to be tested; applanation detection means for monitoring corneal deformation caused by said fluid pulse and generating an applanation signal indicating the occurrence of corneal applanation; a pressure sensor arranged to measure plenum pressure and generate a pressure signal corresponding to said plenum pressure; processing means for evaluating said applanation signal and said pressure signal to determine an intraocular pressure value; and reporting means for communicating a measurement result based on said intraocular pressure value.