Methods and apparatus to enhance oxygen concentrations for advanced ophthalmic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018203254-A1
Application number	US-201815920701-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2018
Priority date	Apr 14, 2016
Publication date	Jul 19, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to enhance levels of oxygen in tear fluid under a worn advanced contact lens are described. The advanced contact lens may include an insert which is impermeable to fluid flow across its body. The method of enhancement may include creating pores through the insert, creating channels in portions of the contact lens body, including layers of absorptive material, including devices to generate or release oxygen or means of moving tear fluid under the contact lens.

First claim

1 . A contact lens comprising:
a hydrogel skirt, wherein the hydrogel skirt is molded into a shape of the contact lens, with an arcuate back surface placed proximate to a user's cornea during a use of the contact lens; an insert including one or more components mounted thereon, wherein the insert is gas impermeable and impermeable to fluid flow through its body, the insert comprising a dual chamber structure with one chamber positioned above the other chamber, wherein the insert and the one or more components is encapsulated within the hydrogel skirt; a first region of the hydrogel skirt, wherein the first region of the hydrogel skirt is that portion of the hydrogel skirt that is between a surface of the insert and a cornea of a user during the use of the contact lens; and a layer of absorptive material, wherein the absorptive material absorbs oxygen gas.

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8 . The contact lens according to claim 1 , wherein the absorptive material comprises hemoglobin.

9 . The contact lens according to claim 1 , wherein the absorptive material comprises hemocyanin.

10 . The contact lens according to claim 1 , wherein the absorptive material comprises a porphyrin based material.

11 . The contact lens according to claim 1 , wherein the absorptive material comprises a metal organic framework molecular species.

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26 . A method of enhancing oxygen levels at a user's cornea when the user wears a contact lens, the method comprising:
forming a layer of oxygen absorptive material within a body of the contact lens; placing the contact lens in an ambient with high partial pressure of oxygen; and providing the contact lens, wherein during a use of the contact lens, oxygen diffuses from the absorptive material to a region of tear fluid underneath the contact lens.

27 . (canceled)

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Assignees

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

• Pugh Randall B
• Toner Adam
• Flitsch Frederick A

Classifications

• G02C11/10

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title

• G02C7/081

  Ophthalmic lenses with variable focal length · CPC title

• G02C7/047

  Contact lens fitting; Contact lenses for orthokeratology; Contact lenses for specially shaped corneae · CPC title

• A61F9/0017 Primary

  implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts · CPC title

• G02C7/049 Primary

  Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures · CPC title