Dilation enhancer with pre-mediated contact lenses

• US 7,151,960 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David A. Newsome
• Original Assignee: David A. Newsome
• Inventors: Newsome, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/634,054
• Time in Patent Office: 2,324 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604294-298, 604/300, 604/301
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/415 1,2-Diazoles
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0009 involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis microelectromechanical systems A61K9/0097
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis

Abstract

A contact lens with a conductive outer shell (one electrode of a two-electrode electrophoresis device) and a preferably soft, preferably disposable contact lens for contacting a patient'"'"'s eye, assists in delivering dilation drops or other medicaments to a patient'"'"'s eye. Advantageously, the lens is used with a relatively small hand-held power source. Electrophoresis can be used to help deliver dilation drops more rapidly, regardless of the delivery apparatus used for the electrophoresis.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing electrophoresis on a patient'"'"'s eye comprising:

a) a composite contact lens structure that comprises an outer shell having a concave surface and a convex surface;

b) a disposable lens member that removably fits the shell at the concavity; and

c) the convex portion of the shell carrying an electrode for transmitting electrical current to the shell and lens member;

a light-activated power source for providing electricity to the electrode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lens member is soft.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the lens member is made of polyfilcon.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens member is pre-medicated with a dilator drug or dilator reversal drug.

5. An apparatus for performing electrophoresis on a patient'"'"'s eye comprising:

a) a composite contact lens structure that comprises an outer shell having a concave surface and a convex surface;

b) a disposable lens member that removably fits the shell at the concavity; and

c) the convex portion of the shell carrying an electrode for transmitting electrical current to the shell and lens member;

a light-activated power source for providing electricity to the electrode,

wherein the light-activated power source is on or in the shell.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lens member is soft.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lens member is made of polyfilcon.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the lens member is pre-medicated with a dilator drug or dilator reversal drug.