# US 10,869,753 B1 · Electrowetting lens comprising phase change fluids > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,869,753 B1 - Document ID: US10869753B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/945,904 - Filed: 2018-04-05 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-05 - Assignees: Verily Life Sciences LLC - Applicants: Verily Life Sciences LLC - Inventors: Daniel Otts; Stein Kuiper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869753B1 ## CPC - A61F 2/1627: {for changing index of refraction, e.g. by external means or by tilting} - A61F 2/1635: {for changing shape} - A61L 27/16: obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds - A61L 27/18: obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds - A61L 27/26: Mixtures of macromolecular compounds - A61L 27/50: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials} - A61F 2/482: {Electrical means} - A61F 2250/0003: having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas - A61F 2250/0043: differing in electric properties, e.g. in electrical conductivity, in galvanic properties - A61F 2250/0056: differing in wettability, e.g. in hydrophilic or hydrophobic behaviours - A61L 2430/16: for reconstruction of eye parts, e.g. intraocular lens, cornea - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract An eye-implantable device including an electrowetting lens is provided that can be operated to control an overall optical power of an eye in which the device is implanted. A lens chamber of the electrowetting lens contains first and second fluids that are immiscible with each other and that differ with respect to refractive index. By applying a voltage to electrodes of the lens, the optical power of the lens can be controlled by affecting the geometry of the interface between the fluids. One or both of the fluids can have a melting point slightly below body temperature. Freezing such an oil or other fluid of the lens can prevent fouling of internal surfaces of the lens due to folding or other manipulation of the lens during implantation. Once implanted, the fluids are melted by body heat such that the optical power of the lens may be controlled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An eye-implantable device comprising: an electrowetting lens, wherein the electrowetting lens comprises: a lens chamber; a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material at least partially encloses the lens chamber; a first substance disposed in the lens chamber, wherein the first substance has a first melting point that is less than 37 degrees Celsius; a second substance disposed in the lens chamber, wherein the second substance has a second melting point that is between 0 degrees Celsius and 37 degrees Celsius, wherein the second substance is immiscible with the first substance when the first substance and the second substance are both fluid, and wherein a refractive index of the second substance differs from a refractive index of the first substance when the first substance and the second substance are both fluid; a first electrode, wherein the first electrode is disposed on an internal surface of the polymeric material in contact with the first substance; and a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is disposed on an internal surface of the polymeric material in contact with at least one of the first substance or the second substance, wherein the second electrode comprises a dielectric coating. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The eye-implantable device of claim 1, wherein the second melting point is greater than 15 degrees Celsius. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The eye-implantable device of claim 2, wherein second melting point is greater than 30 degrees Celsius. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The eye-implantable device of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material is flexible such that the electrowetting lens can be folded. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The eye-implantable device of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material comprises 2-phenylethyl acrylate units and 2-phenylethyl methacrylate units. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The eye-implantable device of claim 1, wherein the second substance comprises a silicone oil. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The eye-implantable device of claim 6, wherein the silicone oil comprises polydimethylsiloxane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The eye-implantable device of claim 1, wherein the second substance comprises a first linear alkane and a second linear alkane and wherein the second melting point is related to a ratio between an amount of the first linear alkane in the second substance and an amount of the second linear alkane in the second substance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The eye-implantable device of claim 8, wherein the first linear alkane comprises hexadecane and wherein the second linear alkane comprises nonadecane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The eye-implantable device of claim 1, wherein the lens chamber is permeable to water in an aqueous humor of a human eye and wherein the first substance comprises a conductive fluid having osmolality between 298 milliosmoles per kilogram and 310 milliosmoles per kilogram. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The eye-implantable device of claim 1, wherein the first substance comprises a conductive fluid that comprises butanediol. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The eye-implantable device of claim 1, wherein the refractive index of the second substance differs from the refractive index of the first substance by more than 0.1 when the first substance and the second substance are both fluid.