# US 10,768,444 B2 · Contact lens with metered liquid system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,768,444 B2 - Document ID: US10768444B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/017,667 - Filed: 2018-06-25 - Published: 2019-01-24 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-15 - Assignees: California Institute of Technology; University of Southern California - Applicants: California Institute of Technology; University of Southern California - Inventors: Yu-Chong Tai; Nicholas E. Scianmarello; Charles M. T. DeBoer; Mark S. Humayun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10768444B2 ## CPC - G02C 7/049: {Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures} - G02C 7/04: Contact lenses for the eyes (disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00) - G02C 7/041: {bifocal; multifocal} - G02C 7/085: {Fluid-filled lenses, e.g. electro-wetting lenses} - A61K 9/0051: {Ocular inserts or implants} - G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) ## Abstract A contact lens fluid delivery device having a liquid reservoir connected to a channel with a flow regulator is described. Other eye hydration and variable dioptric power contact lenses are described herein. Also described are implantable liquid delivery apparatuses having a liquid storage reservoir connected to a channel with a flow regulator. These devices and apparatuses are useful for specific, targeted delivery of therapeutic liquids within a subject. In some embodiments, the devices incorporate actuation chambers which provide a driving force releasing the fluid into the targeted area e.g., the eye. The actuation chambers described herein can contain phase change materials or osmotic chambers or a combination thereof to drive the release of fluid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ophthalmic liquid delivery contact lens apparatus comprising: a contact lens body having a transparent optical zone and an annular periphery outside of the transparent optical zone; a therapeutic liquid storage reservoir disposed within the annular periphery of the contact lens body; a channel from the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir within the annular periphery to an outlet for dispensing liquid to an eye; a flow regulator connected with the channel; and at least one of: a dissolvable barrier within the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir, the dissolvable barrier separating the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir into predetermined volumes, or a phase change material within an actuation chamber, the phase change material configured to expand from a solid to a liquid, a solid to a gas, or a liquid to a gas, wherein when the phase change material is warmed, the expansion of the phase change material moves a barrier between the actuation chamber and the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a one-way valve connected at an output of the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir; a metering volume connected with the channel, the metering volume having a predetermined capacity for a dose of a therapeutic liquid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow regulator comprises a high-fluidic-resistance channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the flow regulator comprises a pressure regulator comprising two cut out C-shaped halves at a bottom of the pressure regulator and a diaphragm within the flow regulator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir includes a serpentine duct. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the serpentine duct includes duct portions that extend tangentially to the contact lens body, each duct portion at a constant radius. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the expansion of the phase change material moves the barrier toward the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising: a heating element disposed with the actuation chamber to alter a temperature of the phase change material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a semi-permeable membrane dividing the actuation chamber into an osmotic chamber and a fluid chamber; and a fluid in the fluid chamber, wherein the fluid is able to permeate the semi-permeable membrane into the osmotic chamber and increase pressure in the osmotic chamber to deflect a portion of the barrier into the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the actuation chamber surrounds the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a manual press area on an outer surface of the annular periphery and over a portion of the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir, the manual press area configured to bow into the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the dissolvable barrier includes a plurality of dissolvable barriers, each one of plurality of dissolvable barriers having a different dissolve rate. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 the predetermined volumes that are separated by the dissolvable barrier are of an equal capacity to one another. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a fill port connected with the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the fill port comprises an elastomer configured to self-seal after a piercing needle is withdrawn therefrom. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a therapeutic liquid within the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic liquid storage reservoir is disposed in an annulus that surrounds the transparent optical zone. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transparent optical zone is at least 4.0 millimeters in diameter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the channel is in the transparent optical zone and comprises the outlet to dispense the liquid.