HYDRODYNAMICALLY OPERATED MULTIFOCAL CONTACT LENS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A soft contact lens comprising:
- a disc-shaped body having a central portion selectively providing visual correction when worn by a person;
a fluid reservoir having an opening and holding a fluid, said fluid reservoir being collapsible and being formed in said body away from said central portion and positioned to be selectively pressurized and depressurized by the person'"'"'s eye lid as the person gazes downward and forward, causing said fluid reservoir to collapse when pressurized causing the fluid to exit through said opening, said fluid returning to said fluid reservoir when said fluid reservoir is depressurized; and
a chamber with a micro-channel disposed in said central region and being in communication with said fluid reservoir through said opening, said chamber being selectively filled with said fluid as said fluid reservoir collapses, said micro-channel being arranged and constructed to change the optical characteristics of the lens by changing the curvature of said central region in response to changes in the pressure of said reservoir.
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Abstract
This invention pertains to a soft contact lens that has a body with a central zone aligned with the optical axis of the eye when a wearer wears the lens. A micro-channel filled with fluid, is positioned at or near the optic zone and is arranged so that when the fluid is pressurized, the micro-channel expands and changes the optical characteristics of the central zone. The pressure in the microchannel is controlled through changes to a reservoir disposed in the lens below the optic zone.
32 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A soft contact lens comprising:
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a disc-shaped body having a central portion selectively providing visual correction when worn by a person; a fluid reservoir having an opening and holding a fluid, said fluid reservoir being collapsible and being formed in said body away from said central portion and positioned to be selectively pressurized and depressurized by the person'"'"'s eye lid as the person gazes downward and forward, causing said fluid reservoir to collapse when pressurized causing the fluid to exit through said opening, said fluid returning to said fluid reservoir when said fluid reservoir is depressurized; and a chamber with a micro-channel disposed in said central region and being in communication with said fluid reservoir through said opening, said chamber being selectively filled with said fluid as said fluid reservoir collapses, said micro-channel being arranged and constructed to change the optical characteristics of the lens by changing the curvature of said central region in response to changes in the pressure of said reservoir. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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3. (canceled)
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8. A soft contact lens comprising:
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a round lens body having a central zone defining a visual axis through which a wearer is gazing when the lens body is disposed in an eye, and a lower portion; a reservoir formed within the lower portion to hold a fluid; and a chamber disposed in said central zone and including at least one microchannel in fluid communication with said reservoir, said reservoir and said chamber cooperating with said lens body to provide the lens with one of a first optical characteristic and a second characteristic along said visual axis, based on the relative amount of fluid in said reservoir and said chamber; wherein said body is made of a soft material causing said reservoir to collapse when the wearer gazes downward caused by the eye lid applying an inward pressure on the reservoir causing some of said liquid to flow from said reservoir to said chamber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 20, 21, 22)
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14. (canceled)
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16-19. -19. (canceled)
Specification