METHOD OF FORMING
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a contact lens having a polymeric structure, wherein said contact lens has at least one curved surface, comprising the steps:
- providing a fluid solution comprising a non-macrogelled polymer and a dispersion agent;
applying the fluid solution to at least one receiving surface of a mould, the receiving surface(s) of the mould being shaped to receive said fluid solution; and
allowing the formation of the device, by gelation, by at least one step selected from;
i) removing at least part of the dispersion agent from the fluid solution,ii) modulating the temperature of the fluid solution,iii) modulating at least one of the shear and vibrational state of the fluid solution,iv) modulating the pH of the fluid solution, andv) adding a non-solvent for the non-macrogelled polymer which is a swelling agent for the non-macrogelled polymer.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method of using non-macrogelled polymer-solvent combinations to form devices, in particular medical devices and/or cosmetic devices, more specifically contact lenses. The method of using polymer solvent combinations is suitable for forming useful 3D dimensionally stable structures which may include curved surfaces, which may be significantly different to those curved surfaces achieved by using simple meniscus effects.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of forming a contact lens having a polymeric structure, wherein said contact lens has at least one curved surface, comprising the steps:
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providing a fluid solution comprising a non-macrogelled polymer and a dispersion agent; applying the fluid solution to at least one receiving surface of a mould, the receiving surface(s) of the mould being shaped to receive said fluid solution; and allowing the formation of the device, by gelation, by at least one step selected from; i) removing at least part of the dispersion agent from the fluid solution, ii) modulating the temperature of the fluid solution, iii) modulating at least one of the shear and vibrational state of the fluid solution, iv) modulating the pH of the fluid solution, and v) adding a non-solvent for the non-macrogelled polymer which is a swelling agent for the non-macrogelled polymer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24)
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25-32. -32. (canceled)
Specification