A Human-Relevant Platform for Studying Aqueous Outflow, Evaluating Therapeutic Interventions, and Advancing Ophthalmic Drug Development
Advancing Glaucoma Research Through Organ-on-a-Chip Technology
Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss and is frequently associated with elevated intraocular pressure resulting from impaired aqueous-humor drainage. Understanding how the eye’s drainage tissues respond to disease, pharmacologic treatments, and changes in physiologic conditions is important for developing more effective therapies.
U.S. Patent No. 12,681,004 B1 describes a human ocular microphysiological system (MPS), commonly referred to as an organ-on-a-chip, designed to model aqueous-humor outflow through the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal.
The technology integrates controlled fluid flow, multimodal measurements, and artificial intelligence to support the investigation of ocular physiology, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic responses in a controlled experimental environment.
The patented approach offers potential applications in glaucoma research, ophthalmic drug discovery, and the evaluation of treatments affecting the conventional aqueous-outflow pathway.
An Integrated Approach to Measuring Aqueous Outflow
The patented system models key elements of the conventional aqueous-outflow pathway under controlled pressure and flow conditions, incorporating trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal components.
Representative embodiments integrate several complementary measurement technologies:
- Pressure and flow measurements to assess aqueous-outflow resistance and facility.
- Electrical resistance measurements to evaluate cellular barrier integrity.
- Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and related imaging to assess tissue structure and changes in the experimental model.
- Raman spectroscopy to investigate biochemical characteristics and responses.
- AI-assisted analysis to integrate measurements, estimate physiologic parameters, and forecast experimental responses.
By combining these measurements, the system is designed to provide a more comprehensive assessment of aqueous-outflow physiology than individual measurements considered in isolation.
Potential Applications in Glaucoma Drug Development
The technology may support several areas of ophthalmic research and therapeutic development, including:
Drug Candidate Evaluation
Investigating the effects of candidate therapies on aqueous-outflow resistance, cellular barrier integrity, and related physiologic parameters.
Therapeutic Mechanisms and Disease Modeling
Studying changes in trabecular meshwork and Schlemm’s canal function associated with glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and steroid-induced outflow abnormalities.
Dose-Response and Combination Therapy
Evaluating how different drug concentrations or combinations influence ocular tissue behavior and aqueous-outflow physiology under controlled experimental conditions.
Biological Monitoring and Therapeutic Response
Integrating structural, biochemical, and functional measurements to investigate treatment-related changes and identify potential indicators of therapeutic response.
Preclinical Research and Development
Providing a human-relevant experimental approach that may complement existing laboratory and preclinical models and support the selection and further investigation of therapeutic candidates.
AI-Assisted Experimental Monitoring and Control
An important feature of the patented technology is the integration of multimodal measurements with AI-assisted analysis and experimental control.
Rather than relying exclusively on measurements collected at isolated experimental time points, the system is designed to evaluate changes in biological conditions over time, estimate relevant physiologic parameters, and generate forecasts of aqueous-outflow performance.
Representative embodiments incorporate uncertainty assessment, calibration verification, and predefined safety criteria before authorizing changes to experimental conditions.
This approach is intended to support more reliable interpretation of experimental measurements and more informed decisions regarding subsequent experimental procedures.
Explore the Issued U.S. Patent
Methods and Systems for Multimodal Measurement, Forecasting, and Modulation of Aqueous Outflow
Inventor: Michael Reynard, M.D.
The complete issued patent provides a detailed description of the technology, including representative system architectures, experimental methods, multimodal sensing, computational modeling, drawings, and the issued patent claims.
View the Complete Issued Patent — U.S. Patent No. 12,681,004 B1
The link provides access to the publicly available patent document through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Licensing and Intellectual Property Opportunities
U.S. Patent No. 12,681,004 B1 is available for consideration in connection with potential licensing, acquisition, or collaborative development opportunities.
In addition to the issued patent, several related microphysiological system patent applications are pending. These applications address complementary technologies involving biological modeling, multimodal monitoring, therapeutic evaluation, and AI-assisted experimental control.
The issued patent and related pending applications may offer opportunities for pharmaceutical companies, ophthalmic technology developers, research organizations, and other commercial partners interested in evaluating individual technologies or a broader MPS intellectual-property portfolio.
Additional information concerning the pending applications may be made available to qualified prospective partners following an expression of interest and execution of an appropriate confidentiality agreement.
Contact
For inquiries regarding the patented technology, potential licensing, acquisition, or collaborative development opportunities, please contact:
Michael Reynard, M.D.
Email: reynardmd@gmail.com
Telephone: 310-210-0833
Website: OcularExpert.com
The potential applications described above relate to the disclosed technology and intended research uses. They do not constitute representations of completed clinical validation, regulatory approval, or demonstrated superiority over existing research methods.