Tinted lenses and methods of manufacture

• US 7,048,375 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2003
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Praful Doshi
• Original Assignee: Praful Doshi
• Inventors: Bentley, Philip Gareth, Fox, James Edward, Doshi, Praful, Patel, Jagvi Ramesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Sugarman, Scott J.
• Application Number:
  US10/679,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 351/160.R, 351/160.H, 351/161, 351/162, 351/177, 351/165
• US Class Current: 351/162
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00038 Production of contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00153 Differential curing, e.g. by differential radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00317 Production of lenses with markings or patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00336 by making depressions in the lens surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00923 on lens surfaces for colouring or tinting printing or marking in general B41M
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/003 on optical devices, e.g. lens elements; for the production of optical devices production by thermal imaging means B41M5/265
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/52 Macromolecular coatings
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5236 characterised by the use of natural gums, of proteins, e.g. gelatins, or of macromolecular carbohydrates, e.g. cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5254 characterised by the use of polymers obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. vinyl polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/101 Inks specially adapted for printing processes involving curing by wave energy or particle radiation, e.g. with UV-curing following the printing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/041 Lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/043 Contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/046 Contact lenses having an iris pattern

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. Preferably, such lenses are made using bonding agents. 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.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a) a polymer substrate, and

b) a digitally encoded image made with ink;

wherein said polymer substrate forms a lens;

wherein said polymer substrate is subjected to a pre-treatment process that precedes the application of said digitally encoded image to said polymer substrate; and

wherein said pre-treatment process results in an enhanced image quality of said digitally encoded image.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said digitally encoded image is made at least in part using said pre-treatment process.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said pre-treatment process comprises one or more chemical modification of said polymer substrate.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein said one or more chemical modification of said polymer substrate is selected from the group consisting of:

chemical cleaning, chemical texture modification, chemical or electrochemical activation or creation of reactive groups on or within said polymer substrate, application of one or more chemicals to said polymer substrate, and combinations thereof.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said pre-treatment process comprises the application of an image receiver layer.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer comprises a chemical coating applied to the surface of said polymer substrate.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 micrometers to about 200 micrometers.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 micrometers to about 100 micrometers.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 micrometers to about 20 micrometers.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer is applied to the entire area of said polymer substrate.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer is applied to one or more partial area of said polymer substrate.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer is applied to a prior layer on or in said polymer substrate.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein said prior layer is a prior polymer layer containing a coloring agent.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer comprises a highly absorbent polymer.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, wherein said highly absorbent polymer comprises a polyvinylpyrrolidone homopolymer, a polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer, a polyacrylamide homopolymer, a polyacrylamide copolymer, a polyacrylate homopolymer, a polyacrylate copolymer, a proteinaceous material, a carbohydrate, or a combination thereof.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer is non-transiently incorporated into or onto said polymer substrate.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer is a temporary coating.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein said image receiver layer is substantially removable during the normal post-fixation processes.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer is applied prior to, simultaneously with, or after exposure of said polymer substrate to an activating substance.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer is compatible with a base treatment of said polymer substrate.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein said activating substance comprises a base.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 5, wherein said image receiver layer is applied by direct coating, application of droplets or microdroplets, ink jet printing, soaking, impregnation, spin coating, dip coating, curtain coating, or pad printing.

23. A method of making an article of manufacture comprising a polymer substrate and a digitally encoded image made with ink, wherein said polymer substrate forms a lens, comprising:

a) subjecting said polymer substrate to a pre-treatment process; and

b) applying said digitally encoded image to said polymer substrate,

wherein said pre-treatment process results in an enhanced image quality of said digitally encoded image.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said pre-treatment process is applied to said lens.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said digitally encoded image is applied to said lens.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said digitally encoded image is applied in whole or in part directly to said lens.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said digitally encoded image is applied in whole or in part indirectly to said lens.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said digitally encoded image is applied to one or more portions of said lens.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein said digitally encoded image is made at least in part using said pre-treatment process.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said pre-treatment process is applied to one or more portions of the polymer substrate.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein said pre-treatment process comprises one or more chemical modification of said polymer substrate.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said one or more chemical modification of said polymer substrate is selected from the group consisting of:

chemical cleaning, chemical texture modification, chemical or electrochemical activation or creation of reactive groups on or within said polymer substrate, application of one or more chemicals to said polymer substrate, and combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein said pre-treatment process comprises the application of an image receiver layer.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer comprises a chemical coating applied to the surface of said polymer substrate.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 micrometers to about 200 micrometers.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 micrometers to about 100 micrometers.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer has a thickness of between about 0.1 micrometers to about 20 micrometers.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer is applied to the entire area of said polymer substrate.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer is applied to one or more partial area of said polymer substrate.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer is applied to a prior layer on or in said polymer substrate.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said prior layer is a prior polymer layer containing a coloring agent.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer comprises a highly absorbent polymer.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said highly absorbent polymer comprises a polyvinylpyrrolidone homopolymer, a polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer, a polyacrylamide homopolymer, a polyacrylamide copolymer, a polyacrylate homopolymer, a polyacrylate copolymer, a proteinaceous material, a carbohydrate, or a combination thereof.

44. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer is non-transiently incorporated into or onto said polymer substrate.

45. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer is a temporary coating.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said image receiver layer is substantially removable during the normal post-fixation processes.

47. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer is applied prior to, simultaneously with, or after exposure of said polymer substrate to an activating substance.

48. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer is compatible with a base treatment of said polymer substrate.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein said activating substance comprises a base.

50. The method of claim 33, wherein said image receiver layer is applied by direct coating, application of droplets or microdroplets, ink jet printing, soaking, impregnation, spin coating, dip coating, curtain coating, or pad printing.

51. An article of manufacture, comprising:

2.) a polymer substrate

3.) a digitally encoded image made with ink comprising reactive components,

wherein said polymer substrate forms a lens;

wherein said digitally encoded image is applied to said polymer substrate by ink jet printing; and

wherein each said reactive component is stored in an ink jet printer cartridge.

52. The article of manufacture of claim 51, wherein said reactive components are stored in separate ink jet printer cartridges.

53. The article of manufacture of claim 51,

wherein said ink comprises one or more polymerizable monomer and one or more initiator;

and

wherein each said one or more polymerizable monomer and said one or more initiator are stored in an ink jet printer cartridge.

54. The article of manufacture of claim 51, wherein said reactive components are stored in separate ink jet printer cartridges.