Alcon, Inc.

Novartis Ag

Susanne Fechner

Roger Biel

Matthias Schwab

Daniel Kessler

Sarah Unterkofler

Marcus Heift

Nils Schweizer

Thomas Tonn

Michael Stutz

Matthias Braun

Shu Zong

Jens Hof

Nicholas Gollas

Steffen Paulekuhn

Evgeni Schumm

Bernhard Pfaff

Daniel Paulus

A method () for inspecting an ophthalmic lens (), in particular a contact lens such as a soft contact lens (), in an automated lens manufacturing process is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of acquiring () a plurality of images containing the ophthalmic lens () to be inspected as an imaged ophthalmic lens (), wherein each image () of the plurality of images is of a different image type, registering () the plurality of images by applying a registration function to each image () of the plurality of images to obtain registered images, determining (), based on the registered images, whether the ophthalmic lens () complies with predetermined specifications, and updating () the registration function to compensate for possible changes in the acquisition of the plurality of images. Updating () the registration function is performed during the automated lens manufacturing process.

Method and system for inspecting an ophthalmic lens in an automated lens manufacturing process

An automated production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses comprises:

Production line for the production of ophthalmic lenses

A lens inspection module comprises: Cleaning shuttle comprises a driving unit a cleaning head, a suction unit, and a tube connecting cleaning head and suction unit. Cleaning head is spaced apart from suction unit and driving unit in the transportation direction and is pivotally arranged about a pivot axis. Cleaning head may comprise a distance sensor for detecting the distance between cleaning shuttle and transportation shuttle. Driving unit is configured to change the speed of the self-driving cleaning shuttle when the distance between the cleaning shuttle and the transportation shuttle is shorter than a predetermined threshold distance.

Lens inspection module

A method for determining the inversion state of a soft contact lens (), comprising imaging a soft contact lens having a convex surface () and a concave surface (), a lens center and a lens edge () surrounding said soft contact lens (), the method comprising using an optical coherence tomography system to obtain at least one sectional image of at least a part of the contact lens () comprising the lens edge (), determining a cross-sectional edge geometry of the contact lens () extending from the lens edge () towards the lens center of the contact lens in the sectional image, the cross-sectional edge geometry corresponding to the convex and concave surface boundaries of the contact lens () in the sectional image, selecting a parameter defining the cross-sectional edge geometry of the contact lens () imaged and comparing the parameter defining the cross-sectional edge geometry of the contact lens () with a predetermined parameter defining a cross-sectional edge geometry of a non-inverted contact lens to determine whether said contact lens () is inverted.

Contact lens inspection method and system

Method for determining the refractive index (n) of a material of a contact lens, in particular of a soft contact lens, the contact lens () having a first surface and a second surface defining a lens geometry there between, by measuring the wavefront issued by the contact lens () with a wavefront sensor (), obtaining data of the geometry of at least one section of the contact lens () with an optical coherence tomography system () and communicating the geometry of the at least one section of the contact lens () from the optical coherence tomography system () to an analyzer, particularly a computer, and determining the refractive index (n) of the material of the contact lens from the geometry of the at least one section of the contact lens and from the wavefront issued by the contact lens ().

Method and apparatus for the determination of the index of refraction of lens material

Disclosed is an inspection and system method and system for determining the orientation of a contact lens on a lens support, particularly in an automated contact lens manufacturing line.

A cuvette system () for use in the optical inspection of ophthalmic lenses comprises at least one receptacle () for accommodating an ophthalmic lens. The receptacle () has a longitudinal extension and an opening () arranged at one longitudinal end thereof. The receptacle () is adapted for containing a liquid. The cuvette system further comprises at least one inspection window () having an inspection surface (). The inspection window () is arranged stationary and from the receptacle (). The inspection window () is adapted for being joined to the receptacle () at the opening () of the receptacle () such that the inspection surface () of the inspection window () is immersed in the liquid. The inspection window () is further adapted for being removed from the opening () of the receptacle ().

Growing community of inventors

Aschaffenburg, Germany

Susanne Fechner