• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.805-815
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• 2001

Glaucoma is an eye disease which is caused by abnormal high IOP (Intra Ocular Pressure). High IOP is caused by the aqueous humor which is produced consistently but not drained due to malfunction of the trabecular system which has a role of draining the aqueous humor into the venous system. Currently, there are three methods to treat glaucoma-using medicines, surgical operation, and using implant device. The first and second methods are not long acting, so the use of implants is increasing in these days in order to drain out the aqueous humor compulsory. However, though conventional implants have a capability of pressure regulation, they cannot maintain IOPs desired for different patients, and too much aqueous humor are usually drained, to cause hypotony. To solve these problems, it is needed to develop a new implant which is capable of controling the IOP actively and copes with personal difference of patients. An active glaucoma implant consists of the valve actuator, pressure sensor, controller, and power supply. In this paper, firstly, we make an analysis of the operation of a conventional implant using a bond graph and show defects and limitations of the conventional valve analytically. Secondly, we design and analyze a valve actuator considering actuation principles, resistance elements, control methods, and energy sources focused on power saving problem. Finally, using simulations the possibility of the proposed valve actuator is investigated.