SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTACT LENS WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

• US 20150281411A1
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EP Global Communications, Inc (InWith Corp.)
• Original Assignee: EP Global Communications, Inc (InWith Corp.)
• Inventors: Markus, David T., Hayes, Michael C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,459,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/005 Contact lens cases A45C11/046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

The present invention will provide a vision correction device which makes use of wireless transmissions and/or wireless charging to transfer data between the vision correction device and an external device. More specifically, the present invention will incorporate radio frequency technology onto a contact lens, including passive and active embodiments, and may further include wireless charging capability. This is accomplished by positioning an extremely small RF device onto a contact lens, along with an antenna and/or battery, and using a fluid medium to enhance the signal to and from an external device.

Claims

1. A system for contact lens wireless communication comprising:

a contact lens;

a wireless communication device positioned within said contact lens;

a fluid medium; and

an external storage device in fluid contact with said contact lens through said fluid medium;

wherein said external storage device is adapted to send and receive wireless data with said contact lens through said fluid medium.

2. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication device is positioned on the outer perimeter of said contact lens and is adapted to transmit and receive data using radio frequencies.

3. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 2, wherein said wireless communication device is a passive RFID device with no power source having a range between 0-1 m and a frequency range between 10 kHz-100 MHz.

4. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 2, wherein said wireless communication device is an active RFID device with a power source positioned on the outer perimeter of said contact lens having a range between 0-100 m and a frequency range between 10 kHz-5 GHz.

5. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 4, wherein said wireless communication device further comprises a microprocessor positioned on the outer perimeter of said contact lens.

6. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 4, wherein said wireless communication device further comprises an piezoelectric energy harvesting device positioned on the outer perimeter of said contact lens adapted to convert radio frequencies into electrical energy and store said electrical energy in said power source.

7. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 5, wherein said piezoelectric energy harvesting device further comprises a piezoelectric material comprising lead zirconate titanate, barium titanate, lead titanate, potassium niobate, lithium niobate, lithium tantalite, sodium tungstate, zinc oxide, polyvinylidene fluoride, bone, tendon, silk, wood, enamel, dentin, DNA, and viral proteins.

8. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 1, further comprising an antenna assembly adapted to greatly amplify the wireless signal transmitted and received, wherein a lens antenna is positioned on the outer perimeter of said contact lens, a top antenna is positioned in an external device cap, and a bottom antenna is positioned in said external device.

9. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 1, wherein said fluid medium is adapted to amplify the wireless signal between said contact lens and said external storage device between 2-10 times and increase the range between 0.1 mm to 1 cm.

10. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 9, wherein said fluid a medium further comprises a saline solution adapted to disinfect, improve surface wettability, and improve comfort of said contact lens.

11. The system for contact lens wireless communication of claim 1, wherein said external storage device is adapted to transmit an interrogation message and said wireless communication device is adapted to receive and authenticate said interrogation message.

12. A method for contact lens wireless communication comprising:

placing a contact lens within an external storage device;

receiving an interrogation message from said external device;

authenticating said interrogation message within said contact lens; and

transmitting data between said contact lens and said external storage device once authenticated;

wherein said data is transmitted wirelessly between said contact lens and said external storage device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said contact lens further comprises a wireless communication device, an antenna, a power source and microprocessor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said data is transmitted over a period of 2-8 hours.

15. A method for contact lens wireless communication comprising:

forming a wireless communication circuit;

a placing said wireless communication circuit within a first contact lens mold member;

filling said first contact lens mold with a lens precursor material;

enclosing said wireless communication circuit and lens precursor material with a second contact lens mold member, forming a contact lens-shaped cavity;

curing said wireless communication circuit and lens precursor material to create a contact lens with wireless communication;

demolding said contact lens with wireless communication;

delensing said contact lens with wireless communication;

extracting said contact lens with wireless communication;

hydrating said contact lens with wireless communication in an aqueous solution; and

packaging said contact lens with wireless communication;

wherein said contact lens with wireless communication will transmit data with an external device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said wireless communication circuit comprises a wireless communication device and an antenna.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said wireless communication circuit further comprises a power source.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said wireless communication circuit further comprises a microprocessor.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said wireless communication circuit further comprises a piezoelectric energy harvesting device.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said lens precursor material is a polymerizable silicone hydrogel lens precursor composition.