Hyowon (Hugh) Lee, an associate professor at the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, has received a patent on his intellectual property, “Drainage Devices having Self-Clearing and Flow Resistance Control Capabilities and Microactuators for Use Therewith.”

Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness in the world. The eye disorder has no cure and can only be treated via pharmaceutical or surgical intervention with varying degrees of success. Implantable glaucoma drainage devices have grown in popularity over the past years, but the reliability of these implants is poor; only about 50% of the devices are still operational after five years. The lack of reliability is generally due to the accumulation of microorganisms during and after implantation.

Lee has invented a new glaucoma drainage device that combats the problem of biofouling. Using new advancements in technology, the device is "Smart" and can clear itself of harmful bio-buildup. It is also able to functionally manage intraocular pressure (IOP) due to the variable flow resistance of glaucoma drainage device (GDD). These improvements allow for a more reliable, yet safe and comfortable implant for treating glaucoma.

Read the abstract article here. Learn more about Lee’s research priorities at the Laboratory of Implantable Microsystems Research.

Congratulations to all Purdue University researchers across all campuses and academic disciplines, who received one of the 18 patents in March on their intellectual property from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Most of these innovations are available to license and bring to market. Visit the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization’s website to learn more about these and other available innovations.