Binder of energized components in an ophthalmic lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9296158-B2
Application number	US-55707009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2009
Priority date	Sep 22, 2008
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

This invention discloses methods and apparatus for providing an ophthalmic lens with an energy source incorporated therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming an energized contact lens, the method comprising:
preparing a binder material having a viscosity of from about 4,000 to about 15,000 centipoise;
applying a binder layer of the binder material to a first mold part;
pre-polymerizing the binder layer to create tackiness;
positioning an energy source onto the binder layer applied to the first mold part thereby holding the energy source in position within the first mold part during formation of the energized contact lens;
depositing a reactive mixture into the first mold part;
placing a second mold part proximate to the first mold part forming a cavity therebetween with the energy source held in place by the binder within the cavity; and
polymerizing the reactive mixture to form an energized contact lens comprising polymerized lens reactive mixture and a binder layer at least partially in contact with the energy source.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the binder layer comprises a polymer capable of forming an interpenetrating polymer network with the polymerized lens reactive mixture.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy source is attached to a flexible substrate and the positioning of the energy source onto the binder layer places the flexible substrate in physical communication with the binder layer at a location that will be outside of an optic zone of the energized contact lens.

4. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the steps of:
defining an area comprising an optic zone and an area outside of the optic zone; and placing the energy source in the area outside the optic zone.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the binder layer comprises one or both of: a homopolymer and a copolymer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the binder material comprises polymers, copolymers or mixtures thereof having functional groups that render the polymers and copolymers capable of interactions with each other.

7. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of: positioning one or more electrical current drawing components onto the binder layer proximate to the energy source, wherein the energy source comprises an attachment area for connecting the energy source to the one or more electrical current drawing components.

8. The method of claim 7 additionally comprising positioning a reenergizing component onto the binder layer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the reenergizing component comprises at least one of: a photoelectric device, a radio frequency absorbing device, an inductive energy coupling device, a capacitive energy coupling device, a thermoelectric device and a piezeoelectric device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the reenergizing component directly provides energy to the energy source.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the reenergizing component provides energy that is modified by an energy characteristic altering device.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the reenergizing component comprises a photoelectric device.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy source is a lithium ion battery.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the lithium ion battery is rechargeable.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the lithium ion battery is a single use battery.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy source comprises at least one of: fuel cells, capacitors, piezoelectrics or photoelectrics.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the lithium ion battery is encapsulated.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the lithium ion battery is shaped into a full annular shape.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the lithium ion battery is shaped into a partial annular shape.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the lithium ion battery is less than 500 microns thick.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy source comprises a semiconductor material.

22. The method of claim 7 wherein each of the one or more electrical current drawing components comprise constituents that have been printed.

23. The method of claim 6 wherein the binder material comprises a mixture of one or more polymers having a positive charge with one or more polymers having a negative charge.

24. The method of claim 6 wherein the binder material comprises a mixture of a methacrylic acid and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate copolymer with a 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate and 3-(N, N-dimethyl) propyl acrylamide copolymer.

25. The method of claim 6 wherein the binder material comprises from about 93 to about 100 percent by weight 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, from about 0 to about 2 percent by weight methacrylic acid, and from about 0 to about 5 percent by weight lauryl methacrylate.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the binder material polymers have a molecular weight of from about 17,000 to about 35,000.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the binder material further comprises isopropyl lactate, 1-ethoxy-2-propanol and a low boiling solvent having a boiling point from about 75° C. to about 120° C.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said low boiling solvent is selected from the group consisting of 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol and combinations thereof.

Assignees

• Pugh Randall B
• Otts Daniel B
• Flitsch Frederick A
• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

• Pugh Randall B
• Otts Daniel B
• Flitsch Frederick A

Classifications

• B29D11/00826

  with energy receptors for wireless energy transmission · CPC title

• B29D11/00038 Primary

  Production of contact lenses · CPC title

• G02C7/04

  Contact lenses for the eyes (disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00) · CPC title

• G02C7/083

  Electrooptic lenses · CPC title

• G02C11/10

  Electronic devices other than hearing aids · CPC title