Lenses capable of post-fabrication power modification

• US 7,210,783 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2002
• Issued: 05/01/2007
• 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:
  US10/175,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093150A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: 351159-167, 351/219, 351/160.H, 351/160.R, 623 516- 626, 526/279, 264/1.2, 264/485, 264/488, 522/99, 522/182, 425/3
• US Class Current: 351/219
• 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. An optical element comprising:

a first polymer matrix;

a refraction modulating composition;

the refraction modulating composition comprising monomers having the formula;

X—

Y—

X¹

wherein X and X¹ are siloxane moieties containing a photopolymerizable group and Y is selected from the formulas;

2. The optical element of claim 1 wherein X and X¹ are selected from the formulas:

3. The optical element of claim 1 wherein said refraction modulating composition comprises a blend of monomers.

4. The optical element of claim 2 wherein Z contains a moiety selected from the group consisting of acrylate, allyloxy, cinnamoyl, methacrylate and vinyl.

5. The optical element of claim 1 wherein R¹, R², R³ and R⁴ are independently selected from the group consisting of C₁ to C₁₀ alkyls and aryls.

6. The optical element of claim 2 wherein R⁵ and R⁶ are independently selected from the group consisting of C₁ to C₁₀ alkyls and aryls.

7. The optical element of claim 1 wherein R¹, R² and R³ are selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl and propyl and R⁴ is phenyl.

8. The optical element of claim 1 wherein R¹ and R² are selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl and propyl and R³ and R⁴ is phenyl.

9. The optical element of claim 1 wherein R1, R², R³ and R⁴ are methyl.

10. The optical element of claim 1 wherein R¹, R², and R³ are methyl and R⁴ is phenyl.

11. The optical element of claim 1 wherein R¹ and R² are methyl and R³ and R⁴ are phenyl.

12. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the first polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyvinyl, polysiloxane and polyphosphazene.

13. The optical element of claim 1 further comprising a photoinitiator.

14. The optical element of claim 13 wherein the photoinitiator is 2,2-dimethyoxy-2-phenylacetophenone.

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

16. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the element is a contact lens.

17. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the element is a data storage device.

18. An optical element comprising:

a first polymer matrix;

a refraction modulating composition;

the refraction modulating composition comprising monomers having the formula;

X—

Y—

X¹

wherein Y is;

19. The optical element of claim 18 further comprising a photoinitiator.

20. The optical element of claim 18 wherein said refraction modulating composition comprises a blend of monomers.

21. The optical element of claim 18 wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are selected from the group consisting of C₁ to C₁₀ alkyls and aryls.

22. The optical element of claim 18 wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵ and R⁶ are methyl.

23. The optical element of claim 18 wherein the first polymer matrix is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyvinyl, polysiloxane and polyphosphazene.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein R¹, R², R³, R⁵ and R⁶ are selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl and propyl and R⁴ is phenyl.

25. The optical element of claim 18 wherein the photopolymerizable group is selected from the group consisting of acrylate, methacrylate, allyloxy, cinnamoyl, stibenyl and vinyl.