Alcon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Bernard Feurer

Philippe Baronet

Gilles Pigot

The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a contact lens, through molding within water-tight molds. The polymerization of lenses is insured by arranging a number of molds within one or several sealed metallic chambers (9) constituting a resonant cavity of a unique mode for an ultra high frequency wave; these molds are positioned in an area of the cavity where the electromagnetic field approximately of ultra high frequency waves is homogeneous, and are distributed so that the amounts of basic composition to be polymerized act as a load fitted to the inside of said cavity.

Apparatus for the manufacture of contact lenses using microwave energy

The invention concerns a method for manufacturing a contact lens, through molding within water-tight molds. The polymerization of lenses is insured by arranging a number of molds within one or several sealed metallic chambers (9) constituting a resonant cavity of a unique mode for an ultra high frequency wave; these molds are positioned in an area of the cavity where the electromagnetic field approximately of ultra high frequency waves is homogeneous, and are distributed so that the amounts of basic composition to be polymerized act as a load fitted to the inside of said cavity.

Method for the manufacture of contact lenses using microwave energy

A process for rendering contact lenses made of a polymer or mixture of polymers hydrophilic or increasing their hydrophilic nature comprising generating a beam of positive ions which are essentially of equal kinetic energy, bombarding in an essentially uniform manner the surface of each lens by means of this beam and thereafter hydrating each contact lens; the positive ion beam is obtained by subjecting a gas from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen or compounds of these to an electric field produced between a cathode and an anode and in causing part of the accelerated positive ions to pass through the cathode.

Treatment process for rendering corneal contact lenses hydrophilic

The invention relates to a fabrication method for molding a contact lens with the required optical qualities. This method consists in designing a mold (1, 2) of high thermal inertia, which is transparent to, or little absorbing the electromagnetic microwave frequencies between 10.sup.6 Hz and 10.sup.11 Hz, in developing a base composition from polymerizing double-bond monomers which are absorbing with respect to the above microwaves, and in ensuring the polymerization of the composition within the closed mold by irradiation with the above cited electromagnetic waves at a power density suited to keep the temperature at the mold level approximately below 40.degree. C.

Method for molding contact lenses using microwave energy

The invention relates to a fabrication process for molding a contact lens evincing the required optical properties. This method consists in designing a mold (1,2) with a high thermal inertia, transparent to, or little absorbing electromagnetic waves with wavelengths between 1 micron and 10.sup.-6 microns, in developing a base composition from polymerizing double-bond monomers which are absorbing with respect to these waves and in securing the polymerization of the composition inside the closed mold by irradiating with the above-cited electromagnetic waves at a power density such as to keep the temperature approximately less than 40.degree. C. at the mold level.

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Montgiscard, France

Bernard Feurer