Hydrophilicity Alteration System and Method

• US 20140135920A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perfect Lens, LLC
• Original Assignee: Aaren Scientific Inc. (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Zhou, Stephen Q., Bille, Josef F., Sahler, Ruth
• Granted Patent: US 9,023,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/6.27
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1613 having special lens configurations, e.g. multipart lenses; having particular optical properties, e.g. pseudo-accommodative lenses, lenses having aberration corrections, diffractive lenses, lenses for variably absorbing electromagnetic radiation, lenses having variable focus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1627 for changing index of refraction, e.g. by external means or by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1648 Multipart lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00834 Inlays; Onlays; Intraocular lenses [IOL]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0838 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/009 Using laser curing using laser B29C2035/0838, welding using laser beams B29C65/16
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 71/04 by wave energy or particle radiation , e.g. for curing or vulcanising preformed articles during moulding, e.g. in a mould B29C35/08
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00125 Auxiliary operations, e.g. removing oxygen from the mould, conveying moulds from a storage to the production line in an inert atmosphere
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00461 Adjusting the refractive index, e.g. after implanting
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/023 Implants for natural eyes
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0092 hydrophilic

Abstract

A system/method allowing hydrophilicity alteration of a polymeric material (PM) is disclosed. The PM hydrophilicity alteration changes the PM characteristics by decreasing the PM refractive index, increasing the PM electrical conductivity, and increasing the PM weight. The system/method incorporates a laser radiation source that generates tightly focused laser pulses within a three-dimensional portion of the PM to affect these changes in PM properties. The system/method may be applied to the formation of customized intraocular lenses comprising material (PLM) wherein the lens created using the system/method is surgically positioned within the eye of the patient. The implanted lens refractive index may then be optionally altered in situ with laser pulses to change the optical properties of the implanted lens and thus achieve optimal corrected patient vision. This system/method permits numerous in situ modifications of an implanted lens as the patient'"'"'s vision changes with age.

Claims

1. A system for changing the hydrophilicity of an internal region of a polymeric material, said system comprising:

(a) laser source;

(b) laser scanner; and

(c) microscope objective;

wherein

said laser source is configured to emit a pulsed laser radiation output;

said laser scanner is configured to distribute said pulsed laser radiation output across an input area of said microscope objective;

said microscope objective further comprises a numerical aperture configured to accept said distributed pulsed laser radiation and produce a focused laser radiation output; and

said focused laser radiation output is transmitted by said microscope objective to an internal region of polymeric material (PM);

said focused laser radiation output interacts with polymers within the treated internal region and results in a change in hydrophilicity within said internal region of said PM.

2. A method for changing the hydrophilicity of an internal region of a polymeric material (PM), said method comprising:

(1) generating a pulsed laser radiation output from a laser source;

(2) distributing said pulsed laser radiation output across an input area of a microscope objective;

(3) accepting said distributed pulsed radiation into a numerical aperture within said microscope objective to produce a focused laser radiation output; and

(4) transmitting said focused laser radiation output to an internal region of polymeric material (PM) to modify the hydrophilicity within said internal region of said PM.

124. The method of claim 2 wherein said distribution of said pulsed laser radiation output is configured to be larger than the field size of said microscope objective by use of an X-Y stage configured to position said microscope objective to sequential areas within said PM.

125. The method of claim 2 wherein said laser source further comprises a femtosecond laser source emitting laser pulses with a megahertz repetition rate.

126. The method of claim 2 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has energy in a range of 0.17 to 500 nanojoules.

127. The method of claim 2 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a repetition rate in the range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

128. The method of claim 2 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a pulse width in the range of 10 fs to 350 fs.

129. The method of claim 2 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a spot size in the X-Y directions in the range of 1 to 7 micrometers.

130. The method of claim 2 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a spot size in the Z direction in the range of 0.05 to 10 micrometers.

3. A modified polymeric material (PM) comprising synthetic polymeric materials further comprising a plurality of modified hydrophilicity zones formed within said polymeric material (PM), said plurality of modified hydrophilicity zones created using a method comprising:

(1) generating a pulsed laser radiation output from a laser source;

(2) distributing said pulsed laser radiation output across an input area of a microscope objective;

(3) accepting said distributed pulsed radiation into a numerical aperture within said microscope objective to produce a focused laser radiation output; and

(4) transmitting said focused laser radiation output to an internal region of said PM to modify the hydrophilicity within said internal region of said PM.

4. A lens formation system comprising:

(a) laser source;

(b) laser scanner; and

(c) microscope objective;

wherein

said laser source is configured to emit a pulsed laser radiation output;

said laser scanner is configured to distribute said pulsed laser radiation output across an input area of said microscope objective;

said microscope objective further comprises a numerical aperture configured to accept said distributed pulsed laser radiation and produce a focused laser radiation output; and

said focused laser radiation output is transmitted by said microscope objective to a polymeric lens material (PLM);

said focused laser radiation output interacts with polymers within the treated internal region and results in a change in hydrophilicity within said internal region of said PM.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said distribution of said focused laser radiation output is configured to be larger than the field size of said microscope objective by use of an X-Y stage configured to position said microscope objective to sequential areas within the material.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser source further comprises a femtosecond laser source emitting laser pulses with a megahertz repetition rate.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has energy in a range of 0.17 to 500 nanojoules.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a repetition rate in the range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a pulse width in the range of 10 fs to 350 fs.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein said focused laser radiation output has a spot size in the X-Y directions in the range of 1 to 7 micrometers.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein said focused laser radiation output has a spot size in the Z direction in the range of 0.05 to 10 micrometers.

12. The system of claim 4 wherein said PLM is shaped in the form of a lens.

13. The system of claim 4 wherein said PLM is water saturated.

14. The system of claim 4 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

15. The system of claim 4 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

16. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a two-dimensional pattern within said PLM.

17. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

20. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a convex lens within said PLM.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

23. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a biconvex lens within said PLM.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

26. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a concave lens within said PLM.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

29. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a biconcave lens within said PLM.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

32. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM;

said focused laser radiation creating a hydrophilicity change in the volume associated with said three-dimensional pattern; and

said hydrophilicity change resulting in a corresponding change in refractive index of said volume associated with said three-dimensional pattern.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said hydrophilicity change results in a negative refractive index change within said PLM having an initial refractive index greater than 1.3.

34. The system of claim 32 wherein said refractive index change is greater than 0.01.

35. The system of claim 31 wherein said three-dimensional pattern comprises a plurality of layers within said PLM.

36. The system of claim 4 wherein said PLM comprises a cross linked polymeric copolymer.

37. The system of claim 4 wherein said PLM comprises a crosslinked polymeric acrylic polymer.

38. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser source further comprises an Acousto-Optic Modulator (AOM).

39. The system of claim 4 wherein said laser source further comprises a greyscale Acousto-Optic Modulator (AOM).

40. The system of claim 4 wherein said PLM has been presoaked in a liquid solution comprising water.

41. The system of claim 4 wherein said PLM comprises an ultraviolet (UV) absorbing material.

42. A lens formation method comprising:

(1) generating a pulsed laser radiation output from a laser source;

(2) distributing said pulsed laser radiation output across an input area of a microscope objective;

(3) accepting said distributed pulsed radiation into a numerical aperture within said microscope objective to produce a focused laser radiation output; and

(4) transmitting said focused laser radiation output into a polymeric material (PLM) to modify the hydrophilicity within said PLM.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein said distribution of said focused laser radiation output is configured to be larger than the field size of said microscope objective by use of an X-Y stage configured to position said microscope objective.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser source further comprises a femtosecond laser source emitting laser pulses with a megahertz repetition rate.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has energy in a range of 1 to 500 nanojoules.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a repetition rate in the range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

47. The method of claim 42 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a pulse width in the range of 10 fs to 350 fs.

48. The method of claim 42 wherein said focused laser radiation output has a spot size in the X-Y directions in the range of 0.5 to 10 micrometers.

49. The method of claim 42 wherein said focused laser radiation output has a spot size in the Z direction in the range of 0.1 to 200 micrometers.

50. The method of claim 42 wherein said PLM is shaped in the form of a lens.

51. The method of claim 42 wherein said PLM is water saturated.

52. The method of claim 42 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

53. The method of claim 42 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material, located within the eye of a patient.

54. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a two-dimensional pattern within said PLM.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

56. The method of claim 54 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

57. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

60. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a convex lens within said PLM.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

63. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a biconvex lens within said PLM.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

65. The method of claim 63 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

66. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a concave lens within said PLM.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

69. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a biconcave lens within said PLM.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

72. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM;

said focused laser radiation output interacts with polymers within the treated internal region and results in a change in hydrophilicity within said internal region of said PM; and

said hydrophilicity change resulting in a corresponding change in refractive index of said volume associated with said three-dimensional pattern.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein said hydrophilicity change results in a negative refractive index change within said PLM having an initial refractive index greater than 1.3.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein said refractive index change is greater than 0.01.

75. The method of claim 72 wherein said volume associated with said three-dimensional pattern ranges from 10 micrometers to 100 micrometers.

76. The method of claim 72 wherein said three-dimensional pattern comprises a plurality of layers within said PLM.

77. The method of claim 42 wherein said PLM comprises a crosslinked polymeric copolymer.

78. The method of claim 42 wherein said PLM comprises a crosslinked polymeric acrylic polymer.

79. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser source further comprises an Acousto-Optic Modulator (AOM).

80. The method of claim 42 wherein said laser source further comprises a greyscale Acousto-Optic Modulator (AOM).

81. The method of claim 42 wherein said PLM has been presoaked in a liquid solution comprising water.

82. The method of claim 42 wherein said PLM comprises an ultraviolet (UV) absorbing material.

83. An optical lens comprising synthetic polymeric materials further comprising a plurality of optical zones formed within a material (PLM), said plurality of optical zones created using a lens formation method comprising:

(1) generating a pulsed laser radiation output from a laser source;

(2) transmitting said pulsed laser radiation output into a numerical aperture on a microscope objective to produce a focused laser radiation output; and

(3) distributing said focused laser radiation output within said PLM to modify the refractive index within said PLM by modifying the hydrophilicity of said optical zones.

84. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said distribution of said focused laser radiation output is configured to be larger than the field size of said microscope objective by use of an X-Y stage configured to position said microscope objective.

85. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser source further comprises a femtosecond laser source emitting laser pulses with a megahertz repetition rate.

86. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has energy in a range of 0.17 to 500 nanojoules.

87. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a repetition rate in the range of 1 MHz to 100 MHz.

88. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said pulsed laser radiation output has a pulse width in the range of 10 fs to 350 fs.

89. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said focused laser radiation output has a spot size in the X-Y directions in the range of 0.1 to 10 micrometers.

90. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said focused laser radiation output has a spot size in the Z direction in the range of 0.05 to 200 micrometers.

91. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said PLM is shaped in the form of a lens.

92. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said PLM is water saturated.

93. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

94. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

95. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a two-dimensional pattern within said PLM.

96. The optical lens of claim 95 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

97. The optical lens of claim 95 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

98. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM.

99. The optical lens of claim 98 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

100. The optical lens of claim 98 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

101. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a convex lens within said PLM.

102. The optical lens of claim 101 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

103. The optical lens of claim 101 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

104. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a biconvex lens within said PLM.

105. The optical lens of claim 104 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

106. The optical lens of claim 104 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

107. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a concave lens within said PLM.

108. The optical lens of claim 107 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

109. The optical lens of claim 107 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

110. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM, said pattern forming a biconcave lens within said PLM.

111. The optical lens of claim 110 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material.

112. The optical lens of claim 110 wherein said PLM comprises an intraocular lens contained within an ophthalmic lens material, said ophthalmic lens material located within the eye of a patient.

113. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser scanner is configured to distribute said focused laser radiation output in a three-dimensional pattern within said PLM;

said focused laser radiation creating a hydrophilicity change in the volume associated with said three-dimensional pattern; and

said hydrophilicity change resulting in a corresponding change in refractive index of said volume associated with said three-dimensional pattern.

114. The optical lens of claim 113 wherein said hydrophilicity change results in a negative refractive index change within said PLM having an initial refractive index greater than 1.3.

115. The optical lens of claim 113 wherein said refractive index change is greater than 0.01.

116. The optical lens of claim 113 wherein said volume associated with said three-dimensional pattern ranges from 10 micrometers to 100 micrometers.

117. The optical lens of claim 113 wherein said three-dimensional pattern comprises a plurality of layers within said PLM.

118. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said PLM comprises a crosslinked polymeric copolymer.

119. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said PLM comprises a crosslinked polymeric acrylic polymer.

120. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser source further comprises an Acousto-Optic Modulator (ACM).

121. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said laser source further comprises a greyscale Acousto-Optic Modulator (AOM).

122. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said PLM has been presoaked in a liquid solution comprising water.

123. The optical lens of claim 83 wherein said PLM comprises an ultraviolet (UV) absorbing material.