Lenses capable of post-fabrication power modification

• US 6,824,266 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology, Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology, Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Grubbs, Robert H., Kornfield, Julia A., Jethmalani, Jagdish M., Sandstedt, Christian A., Schwartz, Daniel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US10/358,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20030173691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 351/159-177, 351/160.R, 351/160.H, 351/219, 623/5-6-, 264/1.1, 264/485, 264/488, 526/279, 522/99, 522/182, 252/586, 252/582
• US Class Current: 351/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1627 for changing index of refraction, e.g. by external means or by tilting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1635 for changing shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/16 for reconstruction of eye parts, e.g. intraocular lens, cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/18 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/043 Contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/00 Simple or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/14 Photorefractive lens material
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to lenses that are capable of post-fabrication power modifications. In general, the inventive lenses comprise (i) a first polymer matrix and (ii) a refraction modulating composition that is capable of stimulus-induced polymerization dispersed therein. When at least a portion of the lens is exposed to an appropriate stimulus, the refraction modulating composition forms a second polymer matrix. The amount and location of the second polymer matrix may modify a lens characteristic such as lens power by changing its refractive index and/or by altering its shape. The inventive lenses have a number of applications in the electronics and medical fields as data storage means and as medical lenses, particularly intraocular lenses, respectively.

Claims

1. A method for implementing an optical element comprising:

(a) providing an optical element having a refraction modulating composition dispersed therein, wherein the refraction modulating composition is capable of stimulus induced polymerization;

(b) exposing at least a portion of the element to stimulus;

(c) waiting an interval of time; and

(d) exposing at least a portion of the element to stimulus.

2. The method of claims 1 wherein the portion of the element exposed in step (d) is the same portion exposed in step (b).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion of the element exposed in step (d) is the entire element.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the external stimulus is light.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the external stimulus is ultraviolet light.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the exposure step of exposing at least a portion of the lens to an external stimulus (C) causes a change in the optical properties of the lens.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the change in optical properties is induced by the stimulus induced polymerization of the refraction modulating composition.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of exposing the same or different portion of the lens to an external stimulus (d) causes further changes to the optical properties of the lens.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the change in optical properties is induced by the stimulus induced polymerization of the refraction modulating composition.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of repeating steps (b) through (d).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the refraction modulating composition is capable of photo-induced polymerization.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the interval of time is determined by the diffusion rate of the refraction modulating composition.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the intraocular lens further comprises a first polymer matrix.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of poly-carbonates, acrylics, methacrylics, phosphazenes, siloxanes, vinyls, homopolymers, and copolymers thereof.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first polymer matrix comprises a polysiloxane.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the optical element is an intraocular lens.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the refraction modulating composition comprises a photoinitiator and one or more monomers of the general formula:

18. The method of claim 17 wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are each independently a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or phenyl and Z is selected from the group consisting of acrylate, allyloxy, cinnamoyl, methacrylate, stebenyl and vinyl.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of exposing at least a portion of the lens to a stimulus (b) results in a change in the optical properties of the lens.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of exposing the same or different portion of the lens to stimulus (d) results in a change in the optical properties of the lens.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising repeating steps (b) through (d) until a desired change in optical properties is achieved.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the intraocular lens further comprises a first polymer matrix.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the refraction modulating composition comprises a siloxane.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the refraction modulating composition comprises a photoinitiator and one or more monomers of the general formula:

25. The method of claim 17 wherein R¹, R², R³, and R⁵ and R⁶ are independently selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl and propyl and R⁴ is phenyl.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein the monomer is selected from the group consisting of (i) dimethysiloxane-dephenylsiloxane copolymer end capped with a vinyldimethysilane group, (ii) dimethylsiloxane-methylphenylsiolxane copolymer end capped with a methacryloxy propyldimethylsilene group, and (iii) dimethylsiloxane end capped with a methacryloxypropylldimethylsiloxane group.

27. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of exposing the entire lens to a stimulus.

28. A method of implementing an adjustable intraocular lens comprising:

(a) implanting an intraocular lens in a patient, the adjustable intraocular lens comprising a refraction modulating composition dispersed therein, the refraction modulating composition being capable of stimulus induced polymerization;

(b) exposing at least a portion of the intraocular lens to a stimulus;

(c) waiting an interval of time;

(d) exposing a different or same portion of the intraocular lens to a stimulus.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the stimulus is light.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the changes in optical properties is induced by the stimulus induced polymerization of the refraction modulating composition.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the stimulus in ultraviolet light.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the refraction modulating composition is capable of photo-induced polymerization.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the change in optical properties is induced by the stimulus induced polymerization of the refraction modulating composition.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the first polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers of siloxanes, acrylates, methacrylates, phosphazenes and vinyls.

35. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of exposing the entire lens to a stimulus once the desired optical properties are achieved.