Chamber for hydrating contact lenses
AssigneeVistakon, Inc.
InventorTure Kindt-Larsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Male and female members for contact lenses where either member is able to hold the contact lens as it moves from station to station during the hydration process. The female member fits together with the male member forming a chamber. Each of the members contains a line centrally located so that both surfaces of the contact lens are flushed during the hydration process, and drainage takes place radially on the outside of the mated male and female chamber members. These members may be produced on a frame with a plurality of members, usually eight to a frame, to allow ease of processing. Full automation is possible, and complete and positive lens control during any step of the process through the packaging step is achieved.
Claims19
An apparatus for flushing a contact lens comprising:
- a chamber defined by a pair of mating members, said mating members forming a cavity when mated for receiving said lens, said cavity inhibiting inversion of said lens when emplaced therein;
- conduit means located on each of said mating members for introducing fluid into said chamber completely about said lens, said conduit means being centrally formed on each said mating member;
- means for introducing a flow of said fluid between said members through said conduit means;
- and
- exit means for evacuating a fluid from said chamber located radially around said chamber, such that said lens is flushed radially on each side from its center when fluid is entered into said conduit means and evacuated from said exit means.
An apparatus for flushing a contact lens having a convex side and a concave side and a circumferential edge comprising:
- mating members for receiving said lens, each of said mating members having a face generally conforming to one of said lens sides and a wall surrounding said edge, such that said faces and said walls define a cavity when mated, said cavity holding said lens to inhibit inversion of said lens emplaced therein;
- each said mating member containing conduit means for introducing fluid through a said face;
- means for introducing a flow of said fluid between said members through said conduit means;
- and
- exit means being located on one of said walls in at least one of said members to evacuate fluid from said cavity.
A chamber for flushing a contact lens defined by a pair of mating holding means, one of said means having a concave side and the other means a convex side, comprising:
- male holding means including a convex projection, a wall enclosing said convex projection and centrally located conduit means for transporting fluid through said male holding means to said concave side of said lens;
- female holding means including a concave recess, a wall enclosing said concave recess and centrally located conduit means for transporting fluid through said female holding means to said convex side of said lens, one of said holding means engageable with the other to form a cavity by said walls and said convex projection and concave recess for confining a lens;
- means for introducing a flow of said fluid between said members through said conduit means;
- and
- exit means located on at least one of said walls such that fluid is evacuated through said chamber at said exit means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.