Mold and method for casting ophthalmic lenses
AssigneeNovartis AG
InventorsRafael Victor Andin, Tracy Weldon, Richard Charles Turek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention relates generally to opthalmic molds and methods useful for casting opthalmic moldings. In one aspect, the invention relates to a mold for casting an opthalmic molding formed from a first mold half detachably affixed to a second mold half, whereby the mold has a top and a bottom; and a cavity formed by the first and second mold halves, wherein the cavity receives a lens forming material through an opening at the bottom of the mold and vents gas and excess lens forming material from an opening at the top of the mold. In another aspect, this invention relates to methods for casting opthalmic moldings, particularly intraocular lenses.
Claims36
A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:
- a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of a lens forming cavity, wherein said lens forming cavity has a circumferential edge lying in a plane that is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal, wherein said first and second mold sections each comprise an inlet hole and a vent hole, and wherein said first mold section interengages said second mold section and is movable relative to said second mold section between a fill position wherein said inlet holes and vent holes of said first and second mold sections are aligned and a sealed position wherein said inlet holes and vent holes of said first and second mold sections are not aligned.
A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:
- a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections define a lens-forming cavity, wherein said first and second mold sections each comprise an inlet hole and a vent hole, and wherein said first mold section interengages said second mold section and is movable relative to said second mold section between a fill position wherein said inlet holes and vent holes of said first and second mold sections are aligned, and a sealed position wherein said inlet holes and vent holes of said first and second mold sections are not aligned.
A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:
- a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections define a lens-forming cavity, wherein said first and second mold sections each comprise an inlet hole, and wherein said first mold section interengages said second mold section and is movable relative to said second mold section between a fill position wherein said inlet holes of said first and second mold sections are aligned, and a sealed position wherein said inlet boles of said first and second mold sections are not aligned.
A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:
- a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections define a lens-forming cavity, wherein said first and second mold sections each comprise a vent hole, and wherein said first mold section interengages said second mold section and is movable relative to said second mold section between a fill position wherein said vent holes of said first and second mold sections are aligned, and a sealed position wherein said vent holes of said first and second mold sections are not aligned.
A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:
- a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of a lens forming cavity, wherein said lens forming cavity has a circumferential edge lying in a plane that is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal;
- a vent opening in communication with said lens-forming cavity;
- and
- a slug or mandrel disposed within said vent opening during filling to form a hole for receiving a haptic.
A mold for casting an ophthalmic lens, comprising:
- a first mold section and a second mold section, wherein confronting faces of said first and second mold sections each define a concave recess that forms a portion of a lens forming cavity, wherein said lens forming cavity has a circumferential edge lying in a plane that is inclined at an angle relative to horizontal;
- and
- a combined fill and vent conduit defined by said first and second mold sections and in communication with said lens-forming cavity, wherein said fill and vent conduit is open to passage of a lens-forming material when said mold sections are in an open, slightly separated position, and is closed to passage of said lens-forming material when said mold sections are fully engaged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.