Apparatus for asepticizing soft contact lenses at high temperature

• US 4,080,167 A
• Filed: 10/22/1976
• Issued: 03/21/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles J. Beers
• Original Assignee: Charles J. Beers
• Inventors: Beers, Charles J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Barry S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garris, Bradley R.
• Application Number:
  US05/705,465
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 21/93-99, 21/82 R, 21/82 H, 21/85, 21/86, 21/89, 21/103, 21/105, 21/100, 219/385, 219/387, 219/432, 219/439, 219/401
• US Class Current: 219/385
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/04 Heat A61L12/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/04 Heat A61L2/08 takes precedence

Abstract

Apparatus for the asepticizing by heat of soft contact lenses, wherein the lenses are placed in an autoclave which through automatic action raises and maintains them above a temperature level and for a duration to kill the germs, bacteria, and viruses which might otherwise be harmful to the wearer of such lenses.

Claims

1. Apparatus for ascepticising soft contact lenses comprising:

an autoclave having a chamber for said contact lenses, said chamber being defined by insulated walls, one of said walls comprising a sealable inlet means;

said autoclave further having an electrical resistance heater for heating said chamber and means for sensing the temperature in said chamber;

said apparatus further comprising a power unit for supplying electrical energy to said autoclave and having an indent therein for housing said autoclave;

said indent having a spring means resiliently engaging said inlet means and thereby sealing said inlet means;

and said power unit further having means operatively connected to said spring means for automatically ejecting said autoclave from said indent and for simultaneously disconnecting the electrical energy of said power unit from said autoclave at the end of an ascepticising cycle, said ejecting and disconnecting means including latch means for preventing actuation thereof prior to completion of the ascepticising cycle.