OXYGEN PERMEABLE CONTACT LENS STRUCTURES WITH THICK PAYLOADS
First Claim
1. A contact lens structure to be disposed on an eye, comprising:
- an electronics core containing electronic devices, the electronics core laterally overlapping a cornea of the eye, where oxygen flow through the electronics core is not sufficient to oxygenate the cornea;
an oxygen collection strata comprising (a) a gas-permeable outer layer and (b) a collection underlayer, the gas-permeable outer layer exposed to ambient oxygen;
an oxygen distribution stratum disposed between the electronics core and the cornea, the oxygen distribution stratum comprising (x) a gas-permeable inner layer disposed over the cornea and (y) a distribution overlayer; and
a network of oxygen channels from the collection underlayer of the oxygen collection stratum to the distribution overlayer of the oxygen distribution stratum, the collection underlayer transporting oxygen from the gas-permeable outer layer to the network of oxygen channels and the distribution overlayer transporting oxygen from the network of oxygen channels to the gas-permeable inner layer, where at least some of the oxygen channels traverse through the electronics core.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A contact lens structure provides adequate corneal oxygenation while accommodating a relatively thick core with electronic devices. In one approach, an oxygen collection stratum, such as a gas-permeable outer layer coupled with an underlying air gap, collects oxygen from the ambient air. On the cornea-side, an oxygen distribution stratum, such as a gas-permeable inner layer coupled with an overlying air gap, provides distribution of oxygen to the cornea. The two strata are connected via a network of oxygen pathways, such as air shafts through the relatively impermeable core. Thus, the oxygen collection stratum collects oxygen over a portion of the outer surface of the contact lens, which is transmitted through most of the thickness of the contact lens via the oxygen pathways to the oxygen distribution stratum, where the oxygen is distributed to the cornea of the wearer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A contact lens structure to be disposed on an eye, comprising:
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an electronics core containing electronic devices, the electronics core laterally overlapping a cornea of the eye, where oxygen flow through the electronics core is not sufficient to oxygenate the cornea; an oxygen collection strata comprising (a) a gas-permeable outer layer and (b) a collection underlayer, the gas-permeable outer layer exposed to ambient oxygen; an oxygen distribution stratum disposed between the electronics core and the cornea, the oxygen distribution stratum comprising (x) a gas-permeable inner layer disposed over the cornea and (y) a distribution overlayer; and a network of oxygen channels from the collection underlayer of the oxygen collection stratum to the distribution overlayer of the oxygen distribution stratum, the collection underlayer transporting oxygen from the gas-permeable outer layer to the network of oxygen channels and the distribution overlayer transporting oxygen from the network of oxygen channels to the gas-permeable inner layer, where at least some of the oxygen channels traverse through the electronics core. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A contact lens structure to be disposed on an eye, comprising:
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a core laterally overlapping a cornea of the eye, where oxygen flow through the core is not sufficient to oxygenate the cornea; an oxygen collection stratum comprising (a) a gas-permeable outer layer and (b) a collection underlayer, the gas-permeable outer layer exposed to ambient oxygen; an oxygen distribution stratum disposed between the core and the cornea, the oxygen distribution stratum comprising (x) a gas-permeable inner layer disposed over the cornea and (y) a distribution overlayer; and a network of oxygen channels from the collection underlayer of the oxygen collection stratum to the distribution overlayer of the oxygen distribution stratum, the collection underlayer transporting oxygen from the gas-permeable outer layer to the network of oxygen channels and the distribution overlayer transporting oxygen from the network of oxygen channels to the gas-permeable inner layer, where at least some of the oxygen channels traverse through the core.
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Specification