Novartis Ag

Alcon, Inc.

Stephan Pirl

Axel Heinrich

Gabriela Cocora

Roger Biel

Peter Hagmann

Jan Bernard

Georg Cramm

Günter Lässig

Halina Heidrich

Matthias Braun

Shu Zong

Karsten Straube

Steffen Paulekuhn

Alexander Bayer

Stefan Kastl

A method of removing a lens forming material deposited on a lens forming surface () of a reusable glass mold for forming ophthalmic lenses, in particular contact lenses or intraocular lenses, comprises the steps of providing a plasma (), exposing the lens forming surface () of the reusable glass mold to the plasma () for removing the lens forming material deposited on the lens forming surface (). The plasma () is generated under atmospheric pressure and potential-free, or is generated under reduced pressure.

Method for removing lens forming material deposited on a lens forming surface

A modular production line for the production of contact lenses comprises at least three separate modules: The modular production line further comprises fixedly arranged transfer interfaces between the individual modules (MM, IM, PP) for transferring the lenses from a preceding module to a subsequent module. The manufacturing module (MM) comprises a plurality of manufacturing stations () which are grouped to form a plurality of individual manufacturing units () arranged in a closed loop. Reusable male and female molds () are transported through the manufacturing stations of the manufacturing units, and each manufacturing unit () comprises a plurality of the manufacturing stations (). A plurality of transfer robots () is provided, each transfer robot () of the plurality of transfer robots () being arranged at a location between two manufacturing units () to transfer the reusable molds from one manufacturing unit to the other manufacturing unit.

Modular production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses

The present invention relates to a mold half for making an ophthalmic lens, in particular a contact lens, wherein the mold half comprises a release sheet removably arranged on the mold surface of said mold half to separate a lens forming material from the mold surface, as well as to a method for applying a removable mold release sheet to said mold half. The mold half of the invention comprises a vacuum means to removably attach said release sheet to said mold surface, and preferably the mold half further comprises a pinch-off rim for forming the edge of said ophthalmic lens.

Mold release sheet

There is described a method of removing excess lens forming material from a molded ophthalmic lens (), such as the peripheral region of a contact lens. In order to form a lens () a lens forming material is polymerized and/or cross-linked within a mold cavity of a mold comprising female and male mold halves. The mold is opened by moving the female and male mold halves apart from each other. The formed lens () is supported on a carrier () such, that a front surface () of the lens () is exposed. Residues of non-polymerized and/or non-cross-linked lens forming material are removed mechanically by contacting the exposed surface () of the formed lens () for a period of time of about 0.5 seconds to about 4 seconds, preferably about 0.8 seconds to about 2 seconds, with a cleaner () having a hardness which is smaller than that of the polymerized and/or cross-linked lens forming material. There is also described a device () for carrying out the method.

Method of removing excess lens forming material from a molded ophthalmic lens such as a contact lens

The present invention generally relates to a printing apparatus including one or more print heads for depositing printing fluid onto a substrate, wherein the apparatus comprises a maintenance unit for the one or more print heads. The present invention further relates to a method for cleaning one or more print heads from adhering printing fluid. The present invention also relates to the use of the apparatus in the automated manufacture of a contact lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens.

Maintenance unit for print head

The present invention generally relates to a printing apparatus including one or more print heads for depositing printing fluid onto a substrate, wherein the apparatus comprises a maintenance unit for the one or more print heads. The present invention further relates to a method for cleaning one or more print heads from adhering printing fluid. The present invention also relates to the use of said apparatus in the automated manufacture of a contact lens, in particular a silicone hydrogel contact lens.

Growing community of inventors

Obernburg, Germany

Stephan Pirl