Back to results
US 2004/0000732 A1Published application
Methods for the production of tinted contact lenses
AssigneeJohnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
InventorsTerry L. Spaulding, Keith B. Herrin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention provides a method for producing tinted contact lenses in which diffusion of monomer into the colorant is aided by heating of the molds. The invention provides a method, and lenses produced by that method, that reduces the residual, unbound polymer on the lens surface and lens surface roughness.
Claims25
A method for manufacturing a contact lens, comprising the steps of:
- a.) applying to at least a portion of a molding surface of a mold a tinting-effective amount of a colorant;
- b.) dispensing a lens-forming amount of a lens material into the mold;
- c.) heating rapidly the mold to at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant;
- d.) diffusing the lens material into the colorant while maintaining the temperature while maintaining the mold temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant;
- and e.) curing subsequently the lens material in the mold under conditions suitable to form the tinted contact lens.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing a contact lens, comprising the steps of:
- a.) applying to at least a portion of a molding surface of a mold a tinting-effective amount of a colorant;
- b.) dispensing a lens-forming amount of a lens material into the mold;
- c.) heating the mold using a plurality of infra-red lamps to at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant in about 10 seconds;
- d.) diffusing the lens material into the colorant while maintaining the temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant and for a time sufficient to swell the colorant to about 1 to about 4 times a thickness of the colorant when it is dry;
- and e.) curing subsequently the lens material in the mold under conditions suitable to form the tinted contact lens.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing a contact lens, comprising the steps of:
- a.) applying to at least a portion of a molding surface of a mold a tinting-effective amount of a colorant;
- b.) dispensing a lens-forming amount of a lens material into the mold;
- c.) heating the mold using hot air to a temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant in about 10 seconds;
- d.) diffusing the lens material into the colorant while maintaining the temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant and for a time sufficient to swell the colorant to about 1 to about 4 times a thickness of the colorant when it is dry;
- and e.) curing subsequently the lens material in the mold under conditions suitable to form the tinted contact lens.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing a contact lens, comprising the steps of:
- a.) applying to at least a portion of a molding surface of a mold a tinting-effective amount of a colorant, the colorant comprising one or more pigments, one or more solvents and a binding polymer;
- b.) dispensing a lens-forming amount of a lens material into the mold;
- c.) heating rapidly the mold to at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant;
- d.) diffusing the lens material into the colorant while maintaining the temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant;
- and e.) curing subsequently the lens material in the mold under conditions suitable to form the tinted contact lens, wherein the binding polymer and the lens material form an interpenetrating polymer network.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing a contact lens, comprising the steps of:
- a.) applying to at least a portion of a molding surface of a mold a tinting-effective amount of a colorant, the colorant comprising one or more pigments, one or more solvents and a binding polymer;
- b.) dispensing a lens-forming amount of a lens material into the mold;
- c.) heating the mold using a plurality of infra-red lamps to at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant in about 10 seconds;
- d.) diffusing the lens material into the colorant while maintaining the temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant and for a time sufficient to swell the colorant to about 1 to about 4 times a thickness of the colorant when it is dry;
- and e.) curing subsequently the lens material in the mold under conditions suitable to form the contact lens, wherein the binding polymer and the lens material form an interpenetrating polymer network.
2 more elements
A method for manufacturing a contact lens, comprising the steps of:
- a.) applying to at least a portion of a molding surface of a mold a tinting-effective amount of a colorant, the colorant comprising one or more pigments, one or more solvents and a binding polymer;
- b.) dispensing a lens-forming amount of a lens material into the mold;
- c.) heating the mold using hot air to at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant in about 10 seconds;
- d.) diffusing the lens material into the colorant while maintaining the temperature at or above a glass transition temperature of the colorant and for a time sufficient to swell the colorant to about 1 to about 4 times a thickness of the colorant when it is dry.;
- and e.) curing subsequently the lens material in the mold under conditions suitable to form the contact lens, wherein the binding polymer and the lens material form an interpenetrating polymer network.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.