US 10,095,051 B2Granted

Oxygen permeable contact lens structures with thick payloads

AssigneeSpy Eye, LLC

InventorsBrian Elliot Lemoff, Michael West Wiemer

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Abstract

A contact lens structure provides adequate corneal oxygenation while accommodating a relatively thick core with electronic devices. In one approach, an oxygen collection stratum, such as a gas-permeable outer layer coupled with an underlying air gap, collects oxygen from the ambient air. On the cornea-side, an oxygen distribution stratum, such as a gas-permeable inner layer coupled with an overlying air gap, provides distribution of oxygen to the cornea. The two strata are connected via a network of oxygen pathways, such as air shafts through the relatively impermeable core. Thus, the oxygen collection stratum collects oxygen over a portion of the outer surface of the contact lens, which is transmitted through most of the thickness of the contact lens via the oxygen pathways to the oxygen distribution stratum, where the oxygen is distributed to the cornea of the wearer.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A contact lens structure to be disposed on an eye, comprising:

an electronics core containing electronic devices, the electronics core laterally overlapping a cornea of the eye, where oxygen flow through the electronics core is not sufficient to oxygenate the cornea;
an oxygen collection strata comprising (a) a gas-permeable outer layer and (b) a collection underlayer, the gas-permeable outer layer exposed to ambient oxygen;
an oxygen distribution stratum disposed between the electronics core and the cornea, the oxygen distribution stratum comprising (x) a gas-permeable inner layer disposed over the cornea and (y) a distribution overlayer;
and
a network of oxygen channels from the collection underlayer of the oxygen collection stratum to the distribution overlayer of the oxygen distribution stratum, the collection underlayer transporting oxygen from the gas-permeable outer layer to the network of oxygen channels and the distribution overlayer transporting oxygen from the network of oxygen channels to the gas-permeable inner layer, where at least some of the oxygen channels traverse through the electronics core.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/885,079Filed 31 Jan 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 3 Feb 2017
Published: US 2018/0224671 A19 Aug 2018
Granted: 9 Oct 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G02C 7/049
Contact lenses for the eyes: contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures
G02C 7/047
Contact lenses for the eyes: contact lens fitting; Contact lenses for orthokeratology; Contact lenses for specially shaped corneae
B29D 11/00076
Production of contact lenses: enabling passage of fluids, e.g. oxygen, tears, between the area under the lens and the lens exterior
B29D 11/00817
Producing lenses combined with electronics, e.g. chips: producing electro-active lenses or lenses with energy receptors, e.g. batteries or antennas