Electrochemical system for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017173206-A1
Application number	US-201515300301-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 23, 2015
Priority date	Apr 3, 2014
Publication date	Jun 22, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention is generally related to a lens care system and method for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses. A lens care system or method of the invention is based on electrolysis of an aqueous chloride solution for generating germicide species (e.g., chlorine, hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite, or combinations thereof) and subsequent in-situ electrolysis of hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite in the aqueous solution for neutralizing the generated germicide species.

First claim

1 . A lens care apparatus for disinfecting contact lenses, comprising:
(1) a container for holding an aqueous lens care solution having a pH of from about 6 to about 8 and comprising from about 0.30% to about 1.4% by weight of one or more halide salts selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, sodium iodide potassium iodide, and mixtures thereof and a tonicity of from about 150 to about 400 mOsm/kg at 25° C., wherein the container comprises a container cup defining an interior chamber accessible through an opening bounded by a rim and for receiving the aqueous lens care solution, a cap for removable attachment onto the container cup to cover the opening, and a lens holder for retaining the contact lenses immersed in the aqueous lens care solution in the container cup; (2) a set of electrodes which are located in the interior chamber and immersed in the aqueous lens care solution when in use, wherein the set of electrodes comprises a first anode free of any negatively-charged membrane thereon, a second anode having a negatively charged membrane thereon for preventing a negatively charged ion from accessing the second anode, a first cathode, and optionally a second cathode; and (3) and a control unit operatively connected to the set of electrodes and to a power source, wherein the control unit automatically applies a first potential between the first anode and the first cathode and drives an electrical current through the first anode and the first cathode for a first period of time to electrochemically generate germicide species including halogen, hypohalous acid, hypohalorite, or combinations thereof for disinfecting the contact lenses, and after the first period of time and optionally a disinfecting period of time for disinfecting contact lenses with the electrochemically generated germicide species, automatically applies a second potential between the second anode and the first or second cathode and drives an electrical current through the second anode and the first or second cathode for a second period of time to electrochemically neutralizing germicide species which are generated electrochemically but left-over from disinfecting of the contact lenses.

2 . The lens care apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the set of electrodes comprises a second cathode.

3 . The lens care apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the second anode and the second cathode are separated merely by a negatively-charged membrane.

4 . The lens care apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second anode and the first cathode are separated merely by a negatively-charged membrane.

5 . The lens care apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first anode and the first cathode, is made of mesh of an electrically conductive material to increase its surface area for electrolysis.

6 . The lens care apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first anode and the first cathode, is made of mesh of an electrically conductive material to increase its surface area for electrolysis and are applied onto inside walls of the interior chamber of the cup of the container at or near the bottom.

7 . The lens care apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lens holder comprises one or more closable baskets, which open to receive the contact lenses to be disinfected and cleaned and close to retain the lenses during treatment.

8 . The lens care apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises means for operatively connecting the electrodes with the power source and microprocessors/embedded systems for automatically controlling the polarity and potential of the electrodes, and the timing and duration of processes for electrochemically generating germicide species, for disinfecting contact lenses with the electrochemically generated germicide species, and for electrochemically neutralizing germicide species.

9 . The lens care apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a power pack, an automatic switching mechanism, indicator means, or combinations thereof.

10 . A method for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses which are suitable for direct insertion into the eye upon completion of disinfection, comprising the steps of:
(1) immersing a contact lens in an aqueous lens care solution including which comprises from about 0.30% to about 1.4% by weight of one or more halide salts, preferably chloride salts and has a pH of from about 6 to about 8 and a tonicity of from about 150 to about 400 mOsm/kg at 25° C.; (2) electrochemically generating germicide species in the aqueous lens care solution by using a first anode and a first cathode for a first period of time for disinfecting the contact lenses; (3) after the first period of time and optionally a disinfecting period of time, electrochemically neutralizing the germicide species which are generated electrochemically in step (2) and left-over from disinfecting of the contact lenses in the aqueous lens care solution, wherein the step of electrochemically neutralizing the germicide species is carried out by using a second anode and the first cathode or a second cathode, wherein the second anode has a negatively-charged membrane thereon for preventing a negatively charged ion from accessing the second anode.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the aqueous lens care solution has a volume in the range of from about 5 ml to about 15 ml.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the aqueous lens care solution comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a polyoxypropylene-polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer, a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymer, a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) di-block copolymer, a poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene) tri-block copolymer, a poly(oxybutylene)-poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) tri-block copolymer, a homopolymer of vinylpyrrolidone, a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and at least one amino-containing vinylic monomer having 8-15 carbon atoms.

Assignees

• Novartis Ag

Inventors

• Tucker Robert Carey

Classifications

• A61L12/08

  using chemical substances · CPC title

• A61L12/14

  Organic compounds not covered by groups A61L12/10 or A61L12/12 · CPC title

• C02F1/4674

  with halogen or compound of halogens, e.g. chlorine, bromine · CPC title

• A61L12/086

  Container, accessories or devices therefor · CPC title

• C11D3/0078

  Compositions for cleaning contact lenses, spectacles or lenses · CPC title