Energizable ophthalmic lens with an event-based coloration system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9804416-B2
Application number	US-201313899510-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2013
Priority date	May 21, 2013
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for an energizable Ophthalmic Lens with an event coloration mechanism. The event coloration mechanism may color or change color based on some predefined event. For example, a predefined constituent or predefined condition of the tear fluid may be indicative of the predefined event, and the event coloration mechanisms may interact with the tear fluid, accordingly. The event coloration mechanism may provide the energizable functionality of the Ophthalmic Lens in some embodiments. In others, the event coloration mechanism may be passive but may interact and interface with the electrical components of the Ophthalmic Lens, such as, for example, those included within the Media Insert. Event coloration mechanisms may be combined with additional functionalities that may be included in an energizable Ophthalmic Lens.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An ophthalmic lens, comprising:
a soft lens portion comprising a polymerized reactive monomer mixture; and
a media insert in contact with the soft lens portion, the media insert comprising an event coloration mechanism configured to provide a visual indication in the ophthalmic lens based on an occurrence of a predefined event, wherein the event coloration mechanism comprises:
a power source;
a coloration portion electrically connected to the power source by a conductive trace; and
a tube portion comprising a body and an encapsulant layer capable of surrounding the body, the tube portion being in circuit with the conductive trace, the coloration portion, and the power source and being capable of limiting an activation of the coloration portion.

2. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the event coloration mechanism is located within the media insert, and wherein the predefined event comprises a condition of a component located within the media insert.

3. The ophthalmic lens of claim 2 , wherein the component comprises the power source and wherein the condition comprises a leeching of a caustic substance from a pre-designated area for the power source.

4. The ophthalmic lens of claim 2 , wherein the predefined event comprises a predefined pH level within the media insert.

5. The ophthalmic lens of claim 2 , wherein the media insert further comprises:
a variable optic element capable of altering an optical power of the ophthalmic lens in electrical communication with a processor and the power source.

6. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the coloration portion comprises:
a liquid crystal, wherein the liquid crystal is capable of a resting orientation and a first energized orientation, and wherein the liquid crystal in the resting orientation comprises a first color and the liquid crystal in the first energized orientation comprises a second color.

7. The ophthalmic lens of claim 6 , wherein the body comprises a reactive material capable of reacting with a specified tear fluid constituent, and wherein the specified tear fluid constituent is capable of permeating the encapsulant layer.

8. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the predefined event comprises a pathogen level in tear fluid.

9. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , wherein the predefined event comprises a biomarker level in tear fluid.

10. The ophthalmic lens of claim 1 , the predefined event comprises an active agent level in tear fluid.

11. An ophthalmic lens, comprising:
a soft lens portion comprising a polymerized reactive monomer mixture; and
a media insert in contact with the soft lens portion, the media insert comprising an event coloration mechanism configured to provide a visual indication in the ophthalmic lens based on an occurrence of a predefined event;
wherein the media insert comprises:
a power source located within the media insert; and
a processor in electrical communication with the power source, and wherein the event coloration mechanism comprises:
an illumination device configured to provide illumination, in electrical communication with the power source and the processor, and
a network of optical fibers configured to be illuminated by the illumination device.

12. The ophthalmic lens of claim 11 , wherein the media insert further comprises a variable optic element capable of altering an optical power of the ophthalmic lens in electrical communication with the processor and the power source.

13. The ophthalmic lens of claim 11 , wherein the event coloration mechanism is located within the media insert, and wherein the predefined event comprises a condition of a component located within the media insert.

14. The ophthalmic lens of claim 13 , wherein the component comprises the power source and wherein the condition comprises a leeching of a caustic substance from a pre-designated area for the power source.

15. The ophthalmic lens of claim 13 , wherein the predefined event comprises a predefined pH level within the media insert.

16. The ophthalmic lens of claim 11 , wherein the predefined event comprises a pathogen level in tear fluid.

17. The ophthalmic lens of claim 11 , wherein the predefined event comprises a biomarker level in tear fluid.

18. The ophthalmic lens of claim 11 , the predefined event comprises an active agent level in tear fluid.

19. The ophthalmic lens of claim 11 , wherein the network of optical fibers are arranged in a sunburst design.

20. The ophthalmic lens of claim 11 , wherein the network of optical fibers comprises a portion within an optic zone, wherein the portion within the optic zone is visible to a wearer.

21. The ophthalmic lens of claim 11 , wherein:
the event coloration mechanism further comprises a first resistance tab in electrical communication with a processor, wherein the first resistance tab is configured to bind a tear fluid constituent that is indicative of the occurrence of the predefined event, wherein the binding is capable of increasing a resistance of the first resistance tab; and
the processor further comprises an executable software capable of controlling the event coloration mechanism based on the resistance.

Assignees

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

• Pugh Randall B
• Putt Karson S
• Higham Camille
• Snook Sharika

Classifications

• G02C7/04 Primary

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

• G02C7/021

  with pattern for identification or with cosmetic or therapeutic effects (methods and processes take preference, e.g. printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; surface treatment of glass C03C15/00 - C03C23/00; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055) · CPC title

• G02C7/083

  Electrooptic lenses · CPC title

• A61B5/6821

  Eye · CPC title

• A61B3/101

  for examining the tear film · CPC title