Method and System for Contact Lens Care and Compliance

• US 20110084834A1
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anton Sabeta
• Original Assignee: Anton Sabeta
• Inventors: Sabeta, Anton
• Granted Patent: US 8,628,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/005 Contact lens cases A45C11/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/62 Optical apparatus specially adapted for adjusting optical elements during the assembly of optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/077 Constructional details, e.g. mounting of circuits in the carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

A method for tracking ophthalmic lens care compliance, said method comprising the steps of: including at least one sensor with said ophthalmic product for monitoring at least one ambient condition and for logging and recording at least one reading associated said at least one ambient condition, following a predetermined event; determining whether said at least one reading exceeds at least one predetermined threshold, and issuing an alert when said at least one reading exceeds at least one predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A method for tracking ophthalmic lens care compliance, said method comprising the steps of:

including at least one sensor with said ophthalmic product for monitoring at least one ambient condition and for logging and recording at least one reading associated said at least one ambient condition, following a predetermined event;

comparing said at least one reading to a predetermined threshold and providing an outcome, said predetermined threshold corresponding to said at least one ambient condition, and

issuing an alert based on said outcome.

2. The method of claim I wherein said at least one ambient condition provides sensed data related to at least one of protein concentration, composition of the lacrimal fluid, fungus, pathogens, virus, bacteria, concentrations of compounds in a lens care product, pH level, eye temperature, eye pressure, eye moisture, oxygen reaching the eye, blink rate, pressure from rubbing, frequency of wear, exposure to a lens care product, usage habits, vital signs, pulse rate, oxygen, lacrimal fluid content, protein content, temperature, geolocation coordinates, chemicals, chemical compounds, acoustic energy, moisture content, humidity, smoke, vibration, light, radiation, magnetic fields, air quality, power, motion, global positioning, geo-location, orientation, acceleration, or changes thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said sensed data is analyzed in real-time.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said sensed data is transmitted to a computing device for processing, automatically, periodically, or upon request.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said sensed data is transmitted wirelessly.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said sensed data is transmitted via an RFID air-interface.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said alert is issued to at least one of a user of said ophthalmic product, eye professional, pharmacist, insurance provider, and a guardian or parent.

8. A contact lens compliance system comprising:

at least one sensor for monitoring at least one ambient condition and for logging and recording at least one reading associated said at least one ambient condition, following a predetermined event;

a computer readable medium for storing said at least one reading;

a processor for determining whether said at least one reading exceeds at least one predetermined threshold, said at least one predetermined threshold corresponding to said at least one ambient condition, and providing an outcome, and

wherein said processor issues an alert based on said outcome.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said at least one reading is related to at least one of one of protein concentration, composition of the lacrimal fluid, fungus, pathogens, virus, bacteria, concentrations of compounds in a lens care product, pH level, eye temperature, eye pressure, eye moisture, oxygen reaching the eye, blink rate, pressure from rubbing, frequency of wear, exposure to a lens care product, usage habits, vital signs, pulse rate, oxygen, lacrimal fluid content, protein content, temperature, geolocation coordinates, chemicals, chemical compounds, acoustic energy, moisture content, humidity, smoke, vibration, light, radiation, magnetic fields, air quality, power, motion, global positioning, geo-location, orientation, acceleration, or changes thereof.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said outcome is used determine at least one of usage habits, wear schedule of the lenses or frequency of wear of the lens, or compliance to proper lens care, and advise the user to clean, rinse and dry a contact lens container, change the solution in the container, replace the contact lens and/or the contact lens container.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said outcome is used determine to create a suitable prescription, including recommendations regarding an ideal contact lens type for said user, and analyzed to determine the frequency of wear, and correspondingly the lens care habits of the user.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said outcome is used to cause the system to automatically initiate an order of replacement lenses on a valid prescription.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said sensor determines the length of time the lens is in contact with an eye, and/or exposed to a lens care product.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said concentration of compounds in a lens care product used to determine the product SKU of the solution.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein at least one of an advisory, a recall notice, a rebate, a promotion, an advertisement, is communicated to said user based on at least one of product SKU, lens type, prescription details, and sensed data.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein said sensor includes said computer readable medium and said processor.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said lens comprises said sensor, and said sensor is caused to emit a signal comprising said alert.

18. The system of claim 9 wherein said contact lens container comprises said sensor.

19. A system for tracking the wearable life of an ophthalmic lens, the system comprising:

said ophthalmic lens having thereon or within it at least one sensor for measuring at least one parameter, said sensor having a computer readable medium for storing sensed data and data related to said ophthalmic lens, said data comprising expiration data, said sensor comprising means for emitting said sensed data automatically, or in response to activation by an activating signal applied by an external means;

counter means for determine the elapsed time between said time of activation and expiration data,

wherein the wearable life of an ophthalmic lens is based on said elapsed time and sensed data,

wherein said data is related to at least one of a SKU, unique ID, manufacturer, logo, material of manufacture, composition, lot, no., batch no., warehouse related data;

promotional material, rebate for next pair purchase or free trials, lens features and benefits data, health warnings, data on potential risk or complications, insurance coverage data, regulatory data, authenticity data, fitting details, lens type data, lens care or handling information, recommended usage information such as wear schedule, filling pharmacy, health professional information, time, an ophthalmic product user'"'"'s personal details, prescription information, right eye/left eye identification data, URI, lens case replacement schedule, eye exam schedule, eye appointments, and

wherein said sensed data is related to at least one of a protein concentration, composition of the lacrimal fluid, fungus, pathogens, virus, bacteria, concentrations of compounds in a lens care product, pH level, eye temperature, eye pressure, eye moisture, oxygen reaching the eye, blink rate, pressure from rubbing, light, frequency of wear, exposure to a lens care product, usage habits, vital signs, pulse rate, geolocation coordinates, chemicals, chemical compounds, acoustic energy, moisture content, humidity, smoke, vibration, radiation, magnetic fields, air quality, power, motion, global positioning, geo-location, orientation, acceleration, or changes thereof.

20. A method for contact lens compliance, the method comprising the steps of:

associating said contact lens with at least one sensor for monitoring at least one ambient condition and for logging and recording at least one reading associated said at least one ambient condition, following a predetermined event;

said sensor associated with a data carrier having sensed data related to at least one of said at least one reading, contact lens identity, time data, and orientation data;

comparing said at least one reading to a predetermined threshold and providing an outcome;

determining at least one of the identity, orientation, wearable life of said at least one contact lens;

causing said at least one sensor to emit at least one wireless signal related to said comparison step and determining step; and

providing at least one advisory signal based on said emitted signal, said at least one advisory signal being associated with said contact lens compliance.

21. A computer-readable medium containing program instructions stored thereon, when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

causing at least one sensor included with a ophthalmic lens to emit a data signal periodically, automatically, or in response to a external signal from the at least one sensor via a communication interface;

said at least one sensor for monitoring at least one ambient condition and for logging and recording at least one reading associated said at least one ambient condition, following a predetermined event;

comparing said at least one reading to a predetermined threshold and providing an outcome, said predetermined threshold corresponding to said at least one ambient condition,

issuing an alert based on said outcome; and

wherein said at least one of a said at least one ambient condition provides sensed data related to at least one of protein concentration, composition of the lacrimal fluid, fungus, pathogens, virus, bacteria, concentrations of compounds in a lens care product, pH level, eye temperature, eye pressure, eye moisture, oxygen reaching the eye, blink rate, pressure from rubbing, frequency of wear, exposure to a lens care product, usage habits, vital signs, pulse rate, oxygen, lacrimal fluid content, protein content, temperature, geolocation coordinates, chemicals, chemical compounds, acoustic energy, moisture content, humidity, smoke, vibration, light, radiation, magnetic fields, air quality, power, motion, global positioning, geo-location, orientation, acceleration, or changes thereof.