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ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA COATING FOR OPHTHALMIC DEVICES

  • US 20120137635A1
  • Filed: 11/23/2011
  • Published: 06/07/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for producing ready-to-use silicone hydrogel contact lenses each having a durable plasma hydrophilic coating, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) generating an atmospheric plasma flow from a working gas, wherein the working gas comprises at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of a C1-C12 alkane, an oxaalkane having up to 12 carbon atoms, a C2-C12 alkene, an oxaalkene having up to 12 carbon atoms, a C2-C12 alkyne, a C1-C12 alkanol, a cycloalkanol having up to 12 carbon atoms, an oxaallyne having up to 12 carbon atoms, a mono-clooxaalkane having up to 12 carbon atoms, a bi-clooxaalkane having up to 12 carbon atoms, a tricycloalkane having up to 12 carbon atoms, an aromatic hydrocarbon having up to 12 carbon atoms, and combinations, wherein the at least one organic compound is unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxy, amino, formyl or carboxyl, and has up to 12 carbon atoms;

    (b) controlling the continuity of the atmospheric plasma flow with a power generator;

    (c) introducing the atmospheric plasma flow to a surface of a wet or blot-died wet silicone hydrogel contact lens to form a plasma coating on the wet or blot-dried wet silicone hydrogel contact lens;

    (d) placing and sealing the silicone hydrogel contact lens with the plasma coating thereon in a lens package containing a buffered saline; and

    (e) autoclaving the sealed lens package containing the silicone hydrogel contact lens with the plasma coating thereon so as to obtain the ready-to-use silicone hydrogel contact lens, wherein the plasma coating on the ready-to-use silicone hydrogel contact lens survives autoclaving and imparts to the ready-to-use silicone hydrogel contact lens a hydrophilicity/wettability characterized by having a water-break-up time of at least about 5 seconds and/or no more than about 30% of increase in average water contact angle relative to the same plasma coating before autoclaving.

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