Method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens with a passive event-based coloration system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9915829-B2
Application number	US-201313899528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2013
Priority date	May 21, 2013
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

The present invention discloses methods and apparatus for methods and apparatus for manufacturing an Ophthalmic Lens with passive event coloration mechanisms, which may not require a power source. In some embodiments, the passive event coloration mechanisms may be combined with Rigid Inserts or Media Inserts, wherein the inserts may provide additional functionalities.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens with an event coloration mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a front curve mold part and a back curve mold part, each having an optic zone portion and a peripheral edge portion surrounding the optic zone portion;
introducing an event coloration mechanism in proximity to the optic zone portion of one or both of the front curve mold part and the back curve mold part wherein the event coloration mechanism is capable of triggering a visual indication in an optic zone of the ophthalmic lens as to be visible to a wearer, based on an occurrence of a predefined event occurring while the ophthalmic lens is in the eye of the wearer; and wherein the event coloration mechanism comprises:
a first reservoir containing a first substance that is capable of coloration by reacting with a predefined constituent or a predefined condition of a tear fluid of an eye, wherein the predefined constituent or the predefined condition is indicative of the predefined event; and
an encapsulating layer encapsulating the first reservoir;

adding a reactive monomer mixture to one or both of the front curve mold part and the back curve mold part;
placing the back curve mold part proximate to the front curve mold part;
curing the reactive monomer mixture to form the ophthalmic lens;
demolding the front curve mold part and the back curve mold part; and
removing the ophthalmic lens from the demolded front curve mold part and back curve mold part.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of hydrating the ophthalmic lens.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the event coloration mechanism further comprises a rigid insert.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the introduction of the event coloration mechanism occurs prior to curing, and comprises mixing the event coloration mechanism with the reactive monomer mixture.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the predefined event comprises a predefined pH level.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the event coloration mechanism comprises liquid crystal, wherein the liquid crystal is capable of altering color based on a temperature change in the ocular environment.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating occurs after the curing, and the encapsulating further comprises the method steps of: injecting the event mechanism into the lens at a predefined depth.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the introduction of the event coloration mechanism occurs before the curing, and comprises injecting the event coloration mechanism into a location that will be between the front curve mold part and the back curve mold part, wherein the curing of the reactive monomer mixture is capable of securing the event coloration mechanism within the lens.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulating layer is selectively permeable to the predefined constituent.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the introduction of the event coloration mechanism occurs prior to curing, and comprises placing the event coloration mechanism in a location that will be between the front curve mold part and the back curve part.

11. The method of claim 3 , wherein the encapsulating occurs after the curing, and the encapsulating further comprises the method steps of: inserting the event coloration mechanism into the lens.

12. The method of claim 3 , wherein the encapsulating occurs after the curing, and the encapsulating further comprises the method steps of: inserting the event coloration mechanism into the lens.

13. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the method steps of: curing the event coloration mechanism.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the curing is capable of curing the encapsulating layer of the event coloration mechanism.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the curing of the event coloration mechanism comprises a separate curing process than the curing of the Reactive Monomer Mixture.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of the curing of the event coloration mechanism and at least a portion of the curing of the Reactive Monomer Mixture occur simultaneously.

17. A method of manufacturing an ophthalmic lens with an event coloration mechanism, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a front curve mold part and a back curve mold part, each having an optic zone portion and a peripheral edge portion surrounding the optic zone portion;
introducing an event coloration mechanism in proximity to the optic zone portion of one or both of the front curve mold part and the back curve mold part wherein the event coloration mechanism is capable of triggering a visual indication in an optic zone of the ophthalmic lens as to be visible to a wearer, based on an occurrence of a predefined event occurring while the ophthalmic lens is in the eye of the wearer; and wherein the event coloration mechanism comprises a reactive molecule capable of coloration by binding to a predefined constituent of a tear fluid of an eye that is indicative of the predefined event, said reactive molecule comprising:
a binding portion capable of binding with the predefined constituent, wherein the binding is capable of altering a configuration of the reactive molecule, and wherein a change in configuration is capable of providing the visual indication;
an acceptor coloration portion located on a first end of the binding portion; and
a donor coloration portion located on a second end of the binding portion;

adding a reactive monomer mixture to one or both of the front curve mold part and the back curve mold part;
placing the back curve mold part proximate to the front curve mold part;
curing the reactive monomer mixture to form the ophthalmic lens;
demolding the front curve mold part and the back curve mold part; and
removing the ophthalmic lens from the demolded front curve mold part and back curve mold part.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the event coloration mechanism is not visible to the wearer of the ophthalmic lens in an absence of the predefined event occurring.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the event coloration mechanism that is capable of triggering the visual indication is outside of the line of sight of the wearer of the ophthalmic lens in an absence of the predefined event occurring.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the event coloration mechanism is not visible to the wearer of the ophthalmic lens in an absence of the predefined event occurring.

Assignees

• Johnson & Johnson Vision Care

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A61B5/6821

  Eye · CPC title

• A61B3/101 Primary

  for examining the tear film · CPC title

• A61B5/14507

  specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood (devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045) · CPC title

• A61B5/14546

  for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes · 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