Method of making articles of dissimilar polymer compositions
AssigneeBausch & Lomb Incorporated
InventorsWilliam H. Cook, William G. Deichert, Richard J. Wrue, Norman R. Westfall
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Abstract
Hybrid contact lenses and other composite polymeric articles of precise dimensions are made by placing a first monomer composition in a mold and irradiating and polymerizing a central portion only with ultraviolet radiation. Unpolymerized monomer is removed, a second monomer composition is placed in contact with the polymer formed from the first monomer composition and the latter is polymerized by ultraviolet irradiation or by other means to obtain a composite article which is then machined to form a hybrid lens.
Claims18
The method of forming composite polymeric articles having dissimilar polymer segments which comprises:
- (a) placing a quantity of a first polymerizable liquid vinyl monomer composition on the supporting surface of an open container;
- (b) exposing a portion only of the first monomer composition to a predetermined pattern of actinic radiation and polymerizing in an inert atmosphere all of said exposed portion;
- (c) contacting at least the periphery of the polymerized first monomer composition with a second polymerizable liquid monomer composition containing a vinyl monomer that is reactive with a vinyl monomer of the first monomer composition;
- and
- (d) polymerizing said second monomer composition to create a composite article having dissimilar polymer compositions joined together.
Apparatus for manufacturing polymeric articles of precise dimensions from monomers which comprises:
- (a) means for supporting a layer of polymerizable first monomer in a one-piece open container during polymerization;
- (b) a source of actinic radiation for exposing the surface of said first monomer layer;
- (c) means for confining the exposure of the surface of said first monomer layer to a predetermined pattern of actinic radiation;
- (d) means for providing a uniform intensity of said actinic radiation throughout the pattern of exposure;
- (e) first and second means for delivering the desired first and second monomer compositions to said open container;
- and
- (f) means for providing an inert atmosphere adjacent surface of said monomer to be polymerized by actinic radiation;
- and
- (g) means for confining the exposure of said first and second monomer compositions by actinic radiation to a predetermined pattern.
- said means for supporting the layer of polymerizable monomer being substantially non-reflective of the actinic radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.