Novartis Ag

Wesley-jessen Corporation

Other

University of California

Michael Hugh Quinn

Barry L Atkins

John Christopher Phelan

Robert Carey Tucker

Gregory Carlson

Gerardo J Ocampo

Joshua Andrew Wallach

Frank Chang

Arturo Norberto Medina

Sandra Corti

Dawn A Smith

Greg A Carlson

L Lawrence Chapoy

Howard S Rosenzweig

Rafael Victor Andino

Michael E Selsted

Joseph Michael Lindacher

Angelika Maria Domschke

Courtney Flem Morgan

Allen Douglas Gilliard

Peter Wachtel

Roland Schmieder

Cornelius Daniel Niculas

Alfred Fischer

Kristien Mortelmans

Marcia Kay Ash

Corneliu Daniel Niculas

Norbert Doerr

Lawrence Chapoy

Paul H Quinn

Tomasz Jankiewicz

Edgar Allan Blair

Larry L Chapoy

Leslie A Hokama

Daniel Tus&eacute;

Gregory Glen Carlson

Gerardo Ocampo

Arturo Noberto Medina

The present invention provides an ink and a method of using the ink for making colored contact lenses. The ink comprises at least one colorant, a silicone-containing binder polymer, a solvent, a vinylic-monomer mixture, and optionally a photoinitiator or thermal initiator. The silicone-containing binder polymer is a copolymerization product of a polymerizable mixture including (i) at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer; (ii) at least one functionalizing vinylic monomer containing at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl group &#x2014;OH, amino group &#x2014;NHR (wherein R is hydrogen or C1 to C8 alkyl), carboxylic group &#x2014;COOH, epoxy group, amide group &#x2014;CONHR, and combinations thereof; (iii) at least one silicone-containing vinylic monomer or macromere.

Colored ink for pad transfer printing of silicone hydrogel lenses

The present invention provides methods for lathing at room temperature a silicone hydrogel material, in particular silicone hydrogel material having a high oxygen permeability and made of a polymerizable composition containing a relative large amount of oxyperm component, into contact lenses.

Method for lathing silicone hydrogel lenses

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing colored contact lenses, and in particular to automated inspection of colored images printed either on molds or on contact lenses.

Automated inspection of colored contact lenses

The present invention provides a method for making colored silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: (a) providing a contact lens constructed of a silicone hydrogel; (b) applying a color coat to at least a portion of a surface of the lens with an ink, wherein the ink comprises at least one colorant, a silicone-containing binder polymer, one or more vinylic monomers, and optionally a diluent, wherein the silicone-containing binder polymer is a copolymerization product of a polymerizable mixture including (i) at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer; (ii) at least one functionalizing vinylic monomer; (iii) at least one silicone-containing vinylic monomer or macromer; (c) curing the ink in the presence of an adhesion promoter, thereby causing the color coat to adhere to the lens.

The invention provides a silicone hydrogel contact lens including a hydrolyzable units. The hydrolyzable units can be converted by hydrolysis into a hydrophilic units which is capable of imparting the silicone hydrogel contact lens a hydrophilic surface without post-curing surface treatment. The invention also provides an actinically crosslinkable prepolymer including hydrolyzable units and use of the prepolymer of the invention. In addition, the invention provides a method for making wettable silicone hydrogel contact lens without posterior surface treatments other than hydrolysis.

Silicone-containing polymeric materials with hydrolyzable groups

The present invention provides a method for making colored silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: (a) applying a color coat to at least a portion of at least one of molding surfaces of a lens mold with an ink, wherein the ink comprises at least one colorant, a binder polymer, an adhesion promoter, and optionally a diluent, wherein the binder polymer is a copolymerization product of a polymerizable mixture including (i) at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer; (ii) at least one functionalizing vinylic monomer containing at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl group &#x2014;OH, amino group &#x2014;NHR (wherein R is hydrogen or Cto Calkyl), carboxylic group &#x2014;COOH, epoxy group, amide group &#x2014;CONHR, and combinations thereof; (iii) at least one silicone-containing vinylic monomer or macromer, and (iv) optionally one or more components selected from the group consisting of a polymerization initiator, a chain transfer agent, and a solvent, wherein the mold has a lens-forming cavity between the molding surfaces, wherein the colored coat contains a first surface exposed to the interior of the lens-forming cavity and a second surface in contact with the molding surface; (b) curing the ink printed on the mold; (c) dispensing a silicone hydrogel lens-forming material into the lens-forming cavity of the mold; (d) curing the lens-forming material within the lens-forming cavity to form the contact lens, whereby the colored coat detaches from the molding surface and becomes integral with the body of the contact lens.

Pad transfer printing of silicone hydrogel lenses using colored ink

The present invention provides a polymerizable material for making a polymeric article, the polymerizable material comprising: a water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol having crosslinkable groups; and a modifier in an amount sufficient to improve one or more physical properties of a polymeric article made from the polymerizable material, wherein the one or more physical properties are selected from the group consisting of stress at break (N/mm), percentage of elongation at break, toughness or energy to break (N&#xb7;mm), and susceptibility to fracture. The modifier is selected from the group consisting of nanoparticles having a hydrophilic surface, a copolymer having hydrophobic groups or units for imparting at least one desired physical property to said ophthalmic device and hydrophilic groups or units in an amount sufficient to render the copolymer miscible with the polyvinyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof. In addition, the present invention provides a polymeric article obtained by polymerization of a polymerizable material of the invention and also a method for modifying one or more physical properties of a hydrogel article obtained from the polymerization of a crosslinkable polymer.

Polymerizable materials

The present invention provides novels inks and methods for making a colored polymeric substrates, preferably a contact lens. In the inventive method at least a portion of a surface of a lens is coated with a color coat comprising at least one colorant, and a binder polymer obtained by copolymerizing a first monomer being ethylenically unsaturated and having a latent crosslinkable pendent group; and a second monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated double bond copolymerizable with the first monomer. The lens is then subjected to conditions that cause the color coat to adhere to the lens.

Colored printing ink for contact lenses

An aqueous ink comprising containing a colorant and a radiation-curable oligomer or polymer containing H-active groups bonded to the oligomer or polymer backbone, some or all of whose hydrogen atoms have been substituted by radicals of a N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide. Methods for printing the inventive inks upon medical devices, such as contact lenses, are also disclosed.

Biocompatible inks, preparation, and uses thereof

The invention is directed to a colored contact lens designed for modifying or enhancing a wearer's eye color while giving the wearer's eyes an improved lively appearance (or more lively or vivacious appearance). In particular, a colored contact lens of the invention may impart to a wearer's eye color both a natural appearance with an emotional dimension such as sophistication, depth, well-being, honesty with intimacy, or combinations thereof. The invention also provides methods and kits for making a colored contact lens of the invention.

Contact lenses imparting a vivacious appearance to the eye

The present invention provides a radiation-curable prepolymer. The radiation-curable prepolymer of the invention is prepared by reacting an isocyanate-capped polyurethane with an ethylenically unsaturated amine or an ethylenically unsaturated monohydroxy compound or a mixture thereof, wherein the isocyanate-capped polyurethane is a copolymerization production of: (a) at least one polyalkylene glycol; (b) at least one branching agent having at least three hydroxy groups; and (c) at least one di- or polyisocyanate. The radiation-curable prepolymer of the invention can find use in economically producing contact lenses which have durable, highly elastic soft contact lenses with desired physical properties. In addition, the present invention provides method for making a radiation-curable prepolymer of the invention and for making a medical device, preferably an ophthalmic device, more preferably a contact lens.

Radiation-curable prepolymers

A method comprises the steps of (a) providing a water based ink in at least one clich&#xe9; with a contact lens pattern; (b) transferring the water based ink from the clich&#xe9; to at least a surface of at least a contact lens forming mold by means of at least a transfer pad; (c) at least partially curing the ink transferred on the mold to form a colored film; (d) dispensing a hydrogel lens-forming material into a lens-forming cavity of the mold; and (e) curing the lens-forming material within the lens-forming cavity to form the contact lens, whereby the colored film detaches from the molding surface and becomes integral with the body of the contact lens; characterized in that the relative air humidity in the immediate vicinities of the transfer pad/s is kept higher than 50% at standard temperature and pressure conditions during ink transfer.

Pad transfer printing method for making colored contact lenses

This invention is directed to ophthalmic materials and ophthalmic lenses that are a co-polymerization product of a (a) hydrophilic monomer with (b) a tris(siloxy)silyl group-containing monomer, (c) a wide variety of hydrophobic monomers (both aliphatic and aromatic) and usually a (d) polyfluorinated monomer, as well as optional monomers or monomer mixtures that can include a cationic monomer, a non-aromatic hydrophobic monomer and a poly(dimethylsiloxy)silyl group-containing monomer. A contact lens prepared from such a co-polymer exhibits enhanced water content, while maintaining exceptional oxygen permeability, thereby providing a lens that can be worn comfortably for prolonged periods of time. A process for the preparation of such lenses is also disclosed.

Contact lens

An ophthalmic lens made from a crosslinkable polymer containing H-active groups bonded to the oligomer or polymer backbone, some or all of whose hydrogen atoms have been substituted by radicals of a N-hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylamide. The lens transmits at least 70% of visible light.

Growing community of inventors

Valparaiso, IN, United States of America

Michael Hugh Quinn