Control device responsive to lid fissure width

• US 10,444,543 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Onefocus Vision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Onefocus Vision, Inc.
• Inventors: Thompson, Vance
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Jordan M
• Application Number:
  US15/413,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20170131570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00028 Bifocal lenses; Multifocal lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00048 composed of parts with dissimilar composition B29D11/00057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00134 Curing of the contact lens material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2825/06 PS, i.e. polystyrene
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/14 of variable focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/18 Cellular lens surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/048 Means for stabilising the orientation of lenses in the eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/049 Contact lenses having special fitting or structural features achieved by special materials or material structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/083 Electrooptic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/085 Fluid-filled lenses, e.g. electro-wetting lenses

Abstract

An accommodating contact lens comprises a control device, which comprises one or more eyelid engagement structures. The eyelid engagement structures are configured to move with the eyelid relative to the contact lens. The eyelid engagement structure is coupled to the eyelid and to the accommodating contact lens, which may comprise a fluidic module having inner and outer fluid reservoirs. The eyelid engagement structure is configured to respond to the narrowing or widening of the eyelid fissure, moving a fluid in or out of the inner reservoir to accommodate near or far vision.

Claims

1. A contact lens, comprising:

one or more eyelid engagement structures configured to move with an eyelid relative to at least one other portion of the contact lens; and

a fluidic module, wherein the fluidic module comprises a coupling structure to couple the eyelid engagement structure with the fluidic module, wherein the coupling structure extends from a support structure of the fluidic module to the eyelid engagement structure and wherein the fluidic module comprises an optically transmissive material comprising a plurality of anchor structures embedded in a soft contact lens material and wherein the fluidic module comprises an outer reservoir and an inner optical reservoir and wherein the fluidic module comprises a self-supporting module comprising the reservoirs and the coupling structure prior to placement in the soft contact lens material.

2. The contact lens as in claim 1, further comprising a control device, wherein the control device is coupled to the one or more eyelid engagement structures in order to control an amount of accommodation of the accommodating contact lens in response to opening and closing of a palpebral fissure of an eye.

3. The contact lens as in claim 1, wherein the one or more eyelid engagement structures is coupled to the outer reservoir of the contact lens with an extension comprising one or more of an arm, a lever, or a wing.

4. The contact lens as in claim 3, wherein the extension is sized to provide leverage to the eyelid engagement structure and decrease resistance to movement of the eyelid engagement structure when eyelids close.

5. The contact lens as in claim 3, wherein the eyelid engagement structure comprises a surface shaped to receive a portion of the eyelid and wherein the extension extends between the outer reservoir and the eyelid engagement structure in order to provide leverage of forces of the eyelid to the reservoir.

6. The contact lens as in claim 3, the extension is coupled to the outer reservoir in order to resiliently deform the reservoir.

7. The contact lens as in claim 1, wherein the eyelid engagement structure comprises a plurality of structures to engage opposing eyelids at a plurality of locations.

8. The contact lens as in claim 1, wherein the eyelid engagement structure is configured to engage one or more puncta of the eye.

9. The contact lens as in claim 1, wherein the eyelid engagement structure comprises a plurality of opposing structures to engage a plurality of eyelids at opposing locations in order to inhibit movement of the lens.

10. The contact lens as in claim 1, wherein the outer reservoir is coupled to the eyelid engagement structure to move a fluid to the inner optical reservoir in response to movement of the eyelid engagement structure with the eyelid.

11. The contact lens as in claim 1, wherein the eyelid engagement structure is coupled to the eyelid with one or more of a ball structure, involute structure, u-shaped structure, or concave structure in order to allow movement of the eyelid engagement structure when the eyelid moves over the contact lens body.