DYNAMIC FLUID ZONES IN CONTACT LENSES

• US 20130242255A1
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Published: 09/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Roffman, Jeffrey H., Copper, Lenora L., Hawke, Ryan, Otts, Daniel B., Caldarise, Salvatore G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,046,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/159.04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/043 Contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/021 with pattern for identification or with cosmetic or therapeutic effects methods and processes take preference, e.g. printing, marking or copying processes B41M; identification in general G09F3/00; producing decorative effects in general B44C; surface treatment of glass C03C15/00 - C03C23/00; positioning or marking of lenses B24B13/0055
• 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

Abstract

A contact lens incorporating one or more dynamic fluid zones fabricated from a material that is readily deformable under eyelid pressure during blinking allows for the delivery of one or more agents to the eye, dynamic cosmetic eye enhancement, and/or dynamic rotational misalignment correction. The one or more agents may include therapeutic agents, nutritional agents and pharmacological agents.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a corrective lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface; and

at least one dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being formed from a deformable material and comprising at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional, and a pharmacological agent for delivery to an eye of a patient through one or more openings, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being configured to interact with the eyelids such that blinking causes movement of the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional, and a pharmacological agent.

2. The ophthalmic device according to claim 1, wherein the corrective lens is a contact lens.

3. The ophthalmic device according to claim 2, wherein the contact lens comprises a soft contact lens.

4. The ophthalmic device according to claim 2, wherein the contact lens comprises a toric contact lens.

5. The ophthalmic device according to claim 1, further comprises at least one second dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, wherein the at least one second fluid dynamic zone substantially surrounds the at least one dynamic fluid zone and comprises a deformable material.

6. The ophthalmic device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one second dynamic fluid zone is configured to compress the at least one dynamic fluid zone under eyelid pressure during blinking thereby forcing the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional and a pharmacological agent from the at least one dynamic fluid zone onto the eye.

7. The ophthalmic device according to claim 6, wherein the one or more openings comprises a valve configured to allow one way fluid flow.

8. The ophthalmic device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one dynamic fluid zone comprises one or more peripheral reservoirs and a central reservoir, the one or more peripheral reservoirs and the central reservoir being connected to and in fluid communication with one another via one-way valves.

9. The ophthalmic device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more peripheral reservoirs are configured to compress under eyelid pressure during blinking thereby forcing the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional and a pharmacological agent from one peripheral reservoir to another peripheral reservoir to the central reservoir.

10. The ophthalmic device according to claim 9, wherein the central reservoir is configured to compress under eyelid pressure during blinking thereby forcing the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional and a pharmacological agent supplied from the one or more peripheral reservoirs to the eye.

11. The ophthalmic device according to claim 10, wherein the one or more openings are positioned in the central reservoir and comprise a valve configured to allow one way fluid flow.

12. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a corrective lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface; and

at least one dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being formed from a deformable material and comprising a cosmetically eye enhancing material, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being configured to interact with eyelids such that blinking causes the cosmetically eye enhancing material to move thereby reflecting light in a dynamic manner.

13. The ophthalmic device according to claim 12, wherein the corrective lens is a contact lens.

14. The ophthalmic device according to claim 13, wherein the contact lens comprises a soft contact lens.

15. The ophthalmic device according to claim 13, wherein the contact lens comprises a toric contact lens.

16. The ophthalmic device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one dynamic fluid zone comprises a reservoir for the cosmetically eye enhancing material.

17. The ophthalmic device according to claim 16, wherein the cosmetically eye enhancing material comprises a fluid and particles.

18. The ophthalmic device according to claim 17, wherein the fluid comprises silicone oils.

19. The ophthalmic device according to claim 17, wherein the particles comprise mica chip fragments.

20. The ophthalmic device according to claim 17, wherein the particles comprise helicone liquid crystals.

21. The ophthalmic device according to claim 17, wherein the fluid further comprises surfactants.

22. The ophthalmic device according to claim 17, wherein the fluid further comprises oils.

23. The ophthalmic device according to claim 17, wherein the fluid further comprises a liquid having at least one thin film layer thereon.

24. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a contact lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface and requiring rotational stability on eye;

at least one dynamic stabilization zone incorporated into the contact lens, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone being configured to facilitate alignment, via rotation, of the contact lens on the eye at a rotational angle for optimal visual acuity and comprising a deformable material at eye temperature, and wherein the eyelids make an angle of contact with the at least one dynamic stabilization zone that changes when the eyelids move across the at least one dynamic stabilization zone; and

at least one dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being formed from a deformable material and comprising at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional, and a pharmacological agent for delivery to an eye of a patient through one or more openings, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being configured to interact with the eyelids such that blinking causes movement of the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional, and a pharmacological agent.

25. The ophthalmic device according to claim 24, wherein the corrective lens is a contact lens.

26. The ophthalmic device according to claim 25, wherein the contact lens comprises a soft contact lens.

27. The ophthalmic device according to claim 25, wherein the contact lens comprises a toric contact lens.

28. The ophthalmic device according to claim 24, wherein the angle of contact between the eyelids and the at least one dynamic stabilization zone increases during blinking thereby increasing the rotational force acting on the contact lens until the eyelids are substantially in contact with one another thereby flattening the deformable material in the at least one dynamic stabilization zone.

29. The ophthalmic device according to claim 24, wherein the deformable material comprises a biocompatible liquid at eye temperature.

30. The ophthalmic device according to claim 24, wherein the deformable material comprises a biocompatible gel at eye temperature.

31. The ophthalmic device according to claim 24, wherein the deformable material comprises a biocompatible gas at eye temperature.

32. The ophthalmic device according to claim 24, further comprises at least one second dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, wherein the at least one second fluid dynamic zone substantially surrounds the at least one dynamic fluid zone and comprises a deformable material.

33. The ophthalmic device according to claim 32, wherein the at least one second dynamic fluid zone is configured to compress the at least one dynamic fluid zone under eyelid pressure during blinking thereby forcing the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional and a pharmacological agent from the at least one dynamic fluid zone onto the eye.

34. The ophthalmic device according to claim 33, wherein the one or more openings comprises a valve configured to allow one way fluid flow.

35. The ophthalmic device according to claim 24, wherein the at least one dynamic fluid zone comprises one or more peripheral reservoirs and a central reservoir, the one or more peripheral reservoirs and the central reservoir being connected to and in fluid communication with one another via one-way valves.

36. The ophthalmic device according to claim 24, wherein the one or more peripheral reservoirs are configured to compress under eyelid pressure during blinking thereby forcing the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional and a pharmacological agent from one peripheral reservoir to another peripheral reservoir to the central reservoir.

37. The ophthalmic device according to claim 36, wherein the central reservoir is configured to compress under eyelid pressure during blinking thereby forcing the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional and a pharmacological agent supplied from the one or more peripheral reservoirs to the eye.

38. The ophthalmic device according to claim 37, wherein the one or more openings are positioned in the central reservoir and comprise a valve configured to allow one way fluid flow.

39. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a contact lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface and requiring rotational stability on eye; and

at least one dynamic stabilization zone incorporated into the contact lens, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone being configured to facilitate alignment, via rotation, of the contact lens on the eye at a rotational angle for optimal visual acuity and comprising a deformable material, and wherein the eyelids make an angle of contact with the at least one dynamic stabilization zone that changes when the eyelids move across the at least one dynamic stabilization zone, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone also comprising a cosmetically eye enhancing material, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone being configured to interact with the eyelids such that blinking causes the cosmetically eye enhancing material to move thereby reflecting light in a dynamic manner.

40. The ophthalmic device according to claim 39, wherein the corrective lens is a contact lens.

41. The ophthalmic device according to claim 40, wherein the contact lens comprises a soft contact lens.

42. The ophthalmic device according to claim 40, wherein the contact lens comprises a toric contact lens.

43. The ophthalmic device according to claim 39, wherein the angle of contact between the eyelids and the at least one dynamic stabilization zone increases during blinking thereby increasing the rotational force acting on the contact lens until the eyelids are substantially in contact with one another thereby flattening the deformable material in the at least one dynamic stabilization zone.

44. The ophthalmic device according to claim 39, wherein the deformable material comprises a biocompatible liquid at eye temperature.

45. The ophthalmic device according to claim 39, wherein the deformable material comprises a biocompatible gel at eye temperature.

46. The ophthalmic device according to claim 39, wherein the deformable material comprises a biocompatible gas at eye temperature.

47. The ophthalmic device according to claim 39, wherein the cosmetically eye enhancing material comprises a fluid and particles.

48. The ophthalmic device according to claim 47, wherein the fluid comprises silicone oils.

49. The ophthalmic device according to claim 47, wherein the particles comprise mica chip fragments.

50. The ophthalmic device according to claim 47, wherein the particles comprise helicone liquid crystals.

51. The ophthalmic device according to claim 47, wherein the fluid further comprises surfactants.

52. The ophthalmic device according to claim 47, wherein the fluid further comprises oils.

53. The ophthalmic device according to claim 47, wherein the fluid further comprises a liquid having at least one thin film layer thereon.

54. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a contact lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface and requiring rotational stability on eye;

at least one dynamic stabilization zone incorporated into the contact lens, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone being configured to facilitate alignment, via rotation, of the contact lens on the eye at a rotational angle for optimal visual acuity and comprising a deformable material at eye temperature, and wherein the eyelids make an angle of contact with the at least one dynamic stabilization zone that changes when the eyelids move across the at least one dynamic stabilization zone; and

at least one dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being formed from a deformable material and comprising a cosmetically eye enhancing material, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being configured to interact with eyelids such that blinking causes the cosmetically eye enhancing material to move thereby reflecting light in a dynamic manner.

55. The ophthalmic device according to claim 54, wherein the corrective lens is a contact lens.

56. The ophthalmic device according to claim 55, wherein the contact lens comprises a soft contact lens.

57. The ophthalmic device according to claim 55, wherein the contact lens comprises a toric contact lens.

58. The ophthalmic device according to claim 54, wherein the angle of contact between the eyelids and the at least one dynamic stabilization zone increases during blinking thereby increasing the rotational force acting on the contact lens until the eyelids are substantially in contact with one another thereby flattening the deformable material in the at least one dynamic stabilization zone.

59. The ophthalmic device according to claim 54, wherein the deformable material comprises a biocompatible liquid at eye temperature.

60. The ophthalmic device according to claim 54, wherein the deformable material comprises a biocompatible gel at eye temperature.

61. The ophthalmic device according to claim 54, wherein the deformable material comprises a biocompatible gas at eye temperature.

62. The ophthalmic device according to claim 54, wherein the at least one dynamic fluid zone comprises a reservoir for the cosmetically eye enhancing material.

63. The ophthalmic device according to claim 62, wherein the cosmetically eye enhancing material comprises a fluid and particles.

64. The ophthalmic device according to claim 63, wherein the fluid comprises silicone oils.

65. The ophthalmic device according to claim 63, wherein the particles comprise mica chip fragments.

66. The ophthalmic device according to claim 63, wherein the particles comprise helicone liquid crystals.

67. The ophthalmic device according to claim 63, wherein the fluid further comprises surfactants.

68. The ophthalmic device according to claim 63, wherein the fluid further comprises oils.

69. The ophthalmic device according to claim 63, wherein the fluid further comprises a liquid having at least one thin film layer thereon.

70. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a contact lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface and requiring rotational stability on eye;

at least one dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being formed from a deformable material and comprising at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional, and a pharmacological agent for delivery to an eye of a patient through one or more openings, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being configured to interact with the eyelids such that blinking causes movement of the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional, and a pharmacological agent; and

at least one dynamic stabilization zone incorporated into the contact lens, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone being configured to facilitate alignment, via rotation, of the contact lens on the eye at a rotational angle for optimal visual acuity and comprising a deformable material, and wherein the eyelids make an angle of contact with the at least one dynamic stabilization zone that changes when the eyelids move across the at least one dynamic stabilization zone, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone also comprising a cosmetically eye enhancing material, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone being configured to interact with the eyelids such that blinking causes the cosmetically eye enhancing material to move thereby reflecting light in a dynamic manner.

71. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a contact lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface and requiring rotational stability on eye;

at least one first dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, the at least one first dynamic fluid zone being formed from a deformable material and comprising at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional, and a pharmacological agent for delivery to an eye of a patient through one or more openings, the at least one first dynamic fluid zone being configured to interact with the eyelids such that blinking causes movement of the at least one of a therapeutic, a nutritional, and a pharmacological agent;

at least one second dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, the at least one second dynamic fluid zone being formed from a deformable material and comprising a cosmetically eye enhancing material, the at least one second dynamic fluid zone being configured to interact with eyelids such that blinking causes the cosmetically eye enhancing material to move thereby reflecting light in a dynamic manner; and

at least one dynamic stabilization zone incorporated into the contact lens, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone being configured to facilitate alignment, via rotation, of the contact lens on the eye at a rotational angle for optimal visual acuity and comprising a deformable material at eye temperature, and wherein the eyelids make an angle of contact with the at least one dynamic stabilization zone that changes when the eyelids move across the at least one dynamic stabilization zone.

72. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a corrective lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface; and

at least one dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, the at least one dynamic fluid zone being formed from a deformable material and comprising a cosmetically eye enhancing material, the at least one dynamic fluid zone including a design feature being configured to interact with the upper eyelid such that blinking causes the cosmetically eye enhancing material to move in a wavelike manner through the at least one dynamic fluid zone.

73. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a corrective lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface; and

at least one dynamic fluid zone incorporated into the contact lens between the front surface and the back surface in the peripheral region, the at least one dynamic fluid zone comprising a cosmetically eye enhancing material that reflects light based upon internally generated stimulus.

74. An ophthalmic device comprising:

a contact lens having an optic region, a peripheral region surrounding the optic region, a front surface and a back surface and requiring rotational stability on eye; and

at least one dynamic stabilization zone incorporated into the contact lens, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone being configured to facilitate alignment, via rotation, of the contact lens on the eye at a rotational angle for optimal placement of rotationally asymmetric limbal ring patterns and comprising a deformable material, and wherein the eyelids make an angle of contact with the at least one dynamic stabilization zone that changes when the eyelids move across the at least one dynamic stabilization zone, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone also comprising a cosmetically eye enhancing material, the at least one dynamic stabilization zone being configured to interact with the eyelids such that blinking causes the cosmetically eye enhancing material to move thereby reflecting light in a dynamic manner.