# US 11,439,534 B2 · Contact lens manipulator with safety release > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,439,534 B2 - Document ID: US11439534B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/634,181 - Filed: 2018-07-27 - Published: 2021-05-13 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-27 - Assignees: Craig L. Hershoff - Applicants: Craig L. Hershoff - Inventors: Craig L. Hershoff; Andres Bernal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439534B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/0061: {Devices for putting-in contact lenses} - B25J 15/065: {provided with separating means for releasing the gripped object after suction} - G02C 7/049: {Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures} - 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) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - 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) ## Abstract The problem of inserting and removing a rigid gas permeable or hybrid contact lens is solved by the use of a lens manipulator. The lens manipulator includes a handle and an over-sleeve that is optionally attachable to an extraction stem, for creating a suction force to remove a contact lens, and an insertion stem, without suction force for placing a contact lens. Removal of the extraction stem from the over-sleeve eliminates the suction force and acts as a safety release against excessive pull force on an eye when removing a contact lens. A manual-release mechanism can be used to facilitate removal of the extraction stem. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lens manipulator comprising: an over-sleeve with a continuous lumen therethrough that terminates in a pore that opens onto a suction cup at a proximal end and a rod opening at a distal end; an extraction stem removably insertable into the lumen through the rod opening to thereby form a friction fit that closes the lumen and allows the suction cup to create a suction force; an insertion stem removably insertable into the lumen through the rod opening, having a vent along a longitudinal length of the insertion stem that inhibits formation of a suction force under the suction cup; and an ergonomic structure on which the extraction stem and insertion stem are operably affixed, such that when the extraction stem is removably inserted into the lumen of the over-sleeve, the lens manipulator is functional to remove a contact lens and when the insertion stem is removably inserted into the lumen of the over-sleeve, the lens manipulator is functional to insert a contact lens. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lens manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the suction force formed by the suction cup with a contact lens is adjustable from between approximately 100 grams and 150 grams. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lens manipulator according to claim 2, wherein the suction force formed by the suction cup with a contact lens is adjustable from between approximately 110 grams and approximately 140 grams. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lens manipulator according to claim 3, wherein the suction force formed by the suction cup with a contact lens is approximately 130 grams. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lens manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the suction cup is off-set, such that the apex is off-center from a longitude length of at least one of the extraction stem and the insertion stem. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lens manipulator according to claim 1, further comprising a detent on the insertion stem that engages with the lumen to removably secure the over-sleeve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lens manipulator according to claim 1, wherein the over-sleeve is at least partially removable from the extraction stem when a maximum pulling force is exerted against the suction force under the suction cup. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lens manipulator according to claim 7, wherein the maximum pulling force is between approximately 100 grams and approximately 150 grams. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The lens manipulator according to claim 8, further comprising a detent on the extraction stem. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lens manipulator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the extraction stem and the insertion stem is non-collinear with a longitudinal length of the ergonomic structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lens manipulator according to claim 10, wherein the ergonomic structure is a handle for controlling and manipulating the over-sleeve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The lens manipulator according to claim 11, wherein the extraction stem is at one end of the handle and the insertion stem is at another end of the handle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The lens manipulator according to claim 1, further comprising a manual-release mechanism for disengaging the over-sleeve from the extraction stem, so as to release any suction force under the suction cup. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The lens manipulator according to claim 13, wherein the manual-release mechanism comprises a finger-slide, such that, when the finger-slide is advanced towards the over-sleeve, the extraction stem disengages with the lumen, thereby releasing the suction force under the suction cup. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lens manipulator according to claim 14, wherein the suction force is released when the over-sleeve is partially disengaged from the extraction stem. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The lens manipulator according to claim 14, wherein the finger-slide is configured to be manipulated with a finger. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method for utilizing a lens manipulator, according to claim 1, adapted to manipulate a contact lens, comprising: positioning the lens manipulator, with the over-sleeve engaged with the insertion stem, so that the suction cup can receive a contact lens thereon; filling the concavity of the contact lens with a solution; advancing the over-sleeve towards a desired location until the contact lens releases from the suction cup and attaches to the desired location; and moving the lens manipulator with the over-sleeve away from the desired location. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, further comprising: positioning the lens manipulator, with the over-sleeve engaged with the extraction stem, so that the suction cup is in contact with a contact lens at the desired location; pressing the suction cup against the contact lens until a suction force is formed under the suction cup, thereby attaching the contact lens to the suction cup; and moving the lens manipulator away from the desired location to disengage the contact lens from the desired location. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, further comprising a manual-release mechanism on the lens manipulator and the method further comprises advancing the manual-release mechanism towards the over-sleeve to disengage the over-sleeve from the extraction stem, thereby releasing the suction force so that the lens manipulator is moveable from the desired location. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A kit, configured to manipulate a contact lens, comprising: a lens manipulator, according to claim 1; and a solution for use with a contact lens. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The kit according to claim 20, further comprising at least one additional over-sleeve.