Tinted lenses and methods of manufacture

US 6,834,955 B2
Filed: 09/07/2001
Issued: 12/28/2004
Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
Status: Expired due to Term

First Claim

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1. A method of making a lens comprising a digitally encoded image and a polymer, comprising:

a) providing a polymer;

b) providing an ink;

c) providing directly to said polymer a digitally encoded image made with said ink;

wherein at least a portion of said digitally encoded image is produced using ink jet printing;

further wherein said ink jet printing comprises piezo printing.

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Abstract

The present invention recognizes that lenses, such as contact lenses, can be pigmented using ink that include polymers or polymerizable monomers, preferably the same monomers used to make the lens. The ink can be used to make images on or within the lens. Images made using these inks are preferably digital and can be used in a variety of printing methods, including ink-jet printing.

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188 Claims

1. A method of making a lens comprising a digitally encoded image and a polymer, comprising:
- a) providing a polymer;
  
  b) providing an ink;
  
  c) providing directly to said polymer a digitally encoded image made with said ink;
  
  wherein at least a portion of said digitally encoded image is produced using ink jet printing;
  
  further wherein said ink jet printing comprises piezo printing.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
- - 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises a single color image.
  - 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises a multi-colored image.
  - 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is transparent.
  - 5. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is opaque.
  - 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is partially opaque.
  - 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises a hydrogel.
  - 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said lens is a soft lens.
  - 9. The method of claim 1, wherein said lens is a hard lens.
  - 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said lens is a hybrid lens.
  - 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said lens comprises between about 0% percent and about 80% percent water.
  - 12. The method of claim 1, wherein said lens is permeable to oxygen.
  - 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer is hydrophobic.
  - 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer is hydrophilic.
  - 15. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of acrylics, silicones and polycarbonates.
  - 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises an acrylic.
  - 17. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer is an acrylic.
  - 18. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises a silicone.
  - 19. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer is a silicone.
  - 20. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer comprises a polycarbonate.
  - 21. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer is a polycarbonate.
  - 22. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink-jet printing further comprises thermal printing.
  - 23. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of said digitally encoded image is produced using pad-transfer printing.
  - 24. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is on at least one surface of said polymer.
  - 25. The method of claim 24, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 26. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is on one surface of said polymer.
  - 27. The method of claim 26, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 28. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is printed directly on said polymer.
  - 29. The method of claim 28, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 30. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is printed directly on the surface of a mold.
  - 31. The method of claim 30, wherein said mold is used for form at least one surface of said polymer.
  - 32. The method of claim 31, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 33. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is within said polymer.
  - 34. The method of claim 33, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 35. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is laminated within said polymer.
  - 36. The method of claim 35, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 37. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is provided directly to said polymer.
  - 38. The method of claim 37, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 39. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises at least one dye.
  - 40. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises at least one vat dye.
  - 41. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises at least one particle.
  - 42. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises at least one pigment.
  - 43. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises at least one reactive dye.
  - 44. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises at least one diazo dye.
  - 45. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises water.
  - 46. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises a solvent.
  - 47. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises a monomer.
  - 48. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises a polymer.
  - 49. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises a homopolymer.
  - 50. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises a heteropolymer.
  - 51. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises a copolymer.
  - 52. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises an initiator.
  - 53. The method of claim 52, wherein said initiator is a UV initiator.
  - 54. The method of claim 52, wherein said initiator is a thermal initiator.
  - 55. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises a dispersant.
  - 56. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises an anti-bacterial agent.
  - 57. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises an anti-fungal agent.
  - 58. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises a disinfectant.
  - 59. The method of claim 1, wherein said ink comprises a humectant.
  - 60. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is entrapped within said polymer.
  - 61. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image forms a chemical bond with said polymer.
  - 62. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image forms a self-adhesion bond with said polymer.
  - 63. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image forms a polymer-polymer bond with said polymer.
  - 64. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises at least one pattern.
  - 65. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises at least one color.
  - 66. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises an image of an iris of an eye.
  - 67. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from at least one color.
  - 68. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from at least two separate colors.
  - 69. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from a mixture of at least two separate colors.
  - 70. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from at least three separate colors.
  - 71. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from a mixture of at least three separate colors.
  - 72. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from at least four separate colors.
  - 73. The method of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from a mixture of at least four separate colors.

74. A method of making a lens comprising a digitally encoded image and a polymer, comprising:
- a) providing a polymer;
  
  b) providing an ink;
  
  c) providing directly to said polymer a digitally encoded image made with said ink;
  
  wherein at least a portion of said digitally encoded image is produced using ink jet printing;
  
  further wherein said ink jet printing comprises thermal printing.
- View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145)
- - 75. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises a single color image.
  - 76. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises a multi-colored image.
  - 77. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is transparent.
  - 78. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is opaque.
  - 79. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is partially opaque.
  - 80. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer comprises a hydrogel.
  - 81. The method of claim 74, wherein said lens is a soft lens.
  - 82. The method of claim 74, wherein said lens is a hard lens.
  - 83. The method of claim 74, wherein said lens is a hybrid lens.
  - 84. The method of claim 74, wherein said lens comprises between about 0% percent and about 80% percent water.
  - 85. The method of claim 74, wherein said lens is permeable to oxygen.
  - 86. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer is hydrophobic.
  - 87. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer is hydrophilic.
  - 88. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of acrylics, silicones and polycarbonates.
  - 89. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer comprises an acrylic.
  - 90. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer is an acrylic.
  - 91. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer comprises a silicone.
  - 92. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer is a silicone.
  - 93. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer comprises a polycarbonate.
  - 94. The method of claim 74, wherein said polymer is a polycarbonate.
  - 95. The method of claim 74, wherein a portion of said digitally encoded image is produced using pad-transfer printing.
  - 96. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is on at least one surface of said polymer.
  - 97. The method of claim 96, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 98. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is on one surface of said polymer.
  - 99. The method of claim 98, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 100. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is printed directly on said polymer.
  - 101. The method of claim 100, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 102. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is printed directly on the surface of a mold.
  - 103. The method of claim 102, wherein said mold is used for form at least one surface of said polymer.
  - 104. The method of claim 103, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 105. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is within said polymer.
  - 106. The method of claim 105, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 107. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is laminated within said polymer.
  - 108. The method of claim 107, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 109. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is provided directly to said polymer.
  - 110. The method of claim 109, wherein said polymer forms a lens.
  - 111. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises at least one dye.
  - 112. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises at least one vat dye.
  - 113. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises at least one particle.
  - 114. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises at least one pigment.
  - 115. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises at least one reactive dye.
  - 116. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises at least one diazo dye.
  - 117. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises water.
  - 118. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises a solvent.
  - 119. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises a monomer.
  - 120. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises a polymer.
  - 121. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises a homopolymer.
  - 122. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises a heteropolymer.
  - 123. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises a copolymer.
  - 124. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises an initiator.
  - 125. The method of claim 124, wherein said initiator is a UV initiator.
  - 126. The method of claim 124, wherein said initiator is a thermal initiator.
  - 127. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises a dispersant.
  - 128. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises an anti-bacterial agent.
  - 129. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises an anti-fungal agent.
  - 130. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises a disinfectant.
  - 131. The method of claim 74, wherein said ink comprises a humectant.
  - 132. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is entrapped within said polymer.
  - 133. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image forms a chemical bond with said polymer.
  - 134. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image forms a self-adhesion bond with said polymer.
  - 135. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image forms a polymer-polymer bond with said polymer.
  - 136. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises at least one pattern.
  - 137. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises at least one color.
  - 138. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image comprises an image of an iris of an eye.
  - 139. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from at least one color.
  - 140. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from at least two separate colors.
  - 141. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from a mixture of at least two separate colors.
  - 142. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from at least three separate colors.
  - 143. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from a mixture of at least three separate colors.
  - 144. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from at least four separate colors.
  - 145. The method of claim 74, wherein said digitally encoded image is derived from a mixture of at least four separate colors.

146. A method of making a lens comprising a digitally encoded image and a polymer, comprising:
- a) providing a polymer;
  
  b) providing an ink;
  
  c) providing directly to said polymer a digitally encoded image made with said ink;
  
  wherein at least a portion of said digitally encoded image is produced using ink jet printing;
  
  further wherein said ink jet printing comprises piezo printing;
  
  further wherein said ink comprises a colorant.
- View Dependent Claims (147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167)
- - 147. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises a monomer.
  - 148. The method of claim 147, wherein said monomer comprises a hydrophilic monomer.
  - 149. The method of claim 148, wherein said hydrophilic monomer comprises a methacrylate monomer.
  - 150. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises a dispersing agent.
  - 151. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises an initiator.
  - 152. The method of claim 151, wherein said ink comprises a UV initiator.
  - 153. The method of claim 151, wherein said ink comprises a thermal initiator.
  - 154. The method of claim 146, wherein said lens comprises acrylic polymer.
  - 155. The method of claim 146, wherein said colorant comprises a pigment.
  - 156. The method of claim 146, wherein said colorant comprises a dye.
  - 157. The method of claim 156, wherein said dye comprises a reactive dye.
  - 158. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises a solvent.
  - 159. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises an antibacterial agent.
  - 160. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises an antikogating agent.
  - 161. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises a humectant.
  - 162. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises a surfactant.
  - 163. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises a thickener.
  - 164. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink comprises a bonding agent.
  - 165. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink has a viscosity between about 1 centipoise and about 200 centipoise.
  - 166. The method of claim 146, wherein said ink has a surface tension between about 20 dynes/cm and about 70 dynes/cm.
  - 167. The method of claim 146, further wherein said ink-jet printing uses thermal printing.

168. A method of making a lens comprising a digitally encoded image and a polymer, comprising:
- a) providing a polymer;
  
  b) providing an ink;
  
  c) providing directly to said polymer a digitally encoded image made with said ink;
  
  wherein at least a portion of said digitally encoded image is produced using ink jet printing;
  
  further wherein said ink jet printing comprises thermal printing;
  
  further wherein said ink comprises a colorant.
- View Dependent Claims (169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188)
- - 169. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises a monomer.
  - 170. The method of claim 169, wherein said monomer comprises a hydrophilic monomer.
  - 171. The method of claim 170, wherein said hydrophilic monomer comprises a methacrylate monomer.
  - 172. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises a dispersing agent.
  - 173. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises an initiator.
  - 174. The method of claim 173, wherein said ink comprises a UV initiator.
  - 175. The method of claim 173, wherein said ink comprises a thermal initiator.
  - 176. The method of claim 168, wherein said lens comprises acrylic polymer.
  - 177. The method of claim 168, wherein said colorant comprises a pigment.
  - 178. The method of claim 168, wherein said colorant comprises a dye.
  - 179. The method of claim 168, wherein said dye comprises a reactive dye.
  - 180. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises a solvent.
  - 181. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises an antibacterial agent.
  - 182. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises an antikogating agent.
  - 183. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises a humectant.
  - 184. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises a surfactant.
  - 185. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises a thickener.
  - 186. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink comprises a bonding agent.
  - 187. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink has a viscosity between about 1 centipoise and about 200 centipoise.
  - 188. The method of claim 168, wherein said ink has a surface tension between about 20 dynes/cm and about 70 dynes/cm.

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Current Assignee
Praful Doshi
Original Assignee
Praful Doshi
Inventors
Doshi, Praful
Primary Examiner(s)
Sugarman, Scott J.

Application Number

US09/949,520
Publication Number

US 20020030788A1
Time in Patent Office

1,208 Days
Field of Search

351/160-R-1, 351/177, 264/2.1, 264/2.6
US Class Current

351/162
CPC Class Codes

B29D 11/00038   Production of contact lenses

B29D 11/00317   Production of lenses with m...

B29D 11/00894   colouring or tinting

B29K 2995/002   Coloured

G02B 1/043   Contact lenses

G02C 7/046   Contact lenses having an ir...

Tinted lenses and methods of manufacture

First Claim

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188 Claims

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Tinted lenses and methods of manufacture

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Abstract

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