Apparatus for vapor phase processing ophthalmic devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9346226-B2
Application number	US-201314087587-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2013
Priority date	Mar 12, 2010
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

This invention discloses apparatus for processing one or more of a Lens Precursor, a Lens Precursor Form and an ophthalmic Lens. The apparatus provides for vapor phase processing of the subject Lens Precursor, a Lens Precursor Form and an ophthalmic Lens.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for forming a lens comprising:
preparing a first portion of the lens by polymerizing a polymeric reactive mixture using actinic radiation, the first portion having a first, concave optical quality surface and an opposing second surface of non-optical quality;
providing a fluent Lens Reactive Media adjacent at least a portion of the first portion;
placing the combination first portion and fluent Lens Reactive Media in a chamber enclosing a vapor phase environment wherein the fluent Lens Reactive Media is exposed to vapor in the chamber;
introducing a dye into the vapor phase environment;
allowing the dye in the vapor phase environment to interact with the Lens Reactive Media to thereby change the color of at least a portion of the Lens Reactive Media;
after said color of at least a portion of the Lens Reactive Media has changed, polymerizing the Lens Reactive Media to form a second, concave optical quality surface.

2. A method for forming a lens comprising:
preparing a first portion of the lens by polymerizing a polymeric reactive mixture using actinic radiation, the first portion having a first, concave optical quality surface and an opposing second surface of non-optical quality;
providing a fluent Lens Reactive Media adjacent at least a portion of the first portion;
placing the combination first portion and fluent Lens Reactive Media in a chamber enclosing a vapor phase environment wherein the fluent Lens Reactive Media is exposed to vapor in the chamber;
introducing a gas into the vapor phase environment;
allowing the gas in the vapor phase environment to interact with the Lens Reactive Media to thereby change the properties of at least a portion of the Lens Reactive Media; and
after said properties have changed, polymerizing the Lens Reactive Media to form a second, concave optical quality surface,

wherein the gas includes a catalyst for reacting with the Lens Reactive Media.

Assignees

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

• Enns John B
• Widman I Michael F
• Wood Joe M
• Powell P Mark
• Kindt-Larsen Ture

Classifications

• B29D11/00009 Primary

  Production of simple or compound lenses · CPC title

• B29D11/00951

  Measuring, controlling or regulating · CPC title

• B29D11/00865 Primary

  Applying coatings; tinting; colouring (printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055) · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B05D3/04

  by exposure to gases · CPC title