Method of ring-shaped structure placement in an eye-mountable device

• US 9,289,954 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twenty Twenty Therapeutics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Linhardt, Jeffrey George, Ho, Harvey
• Primary Examiner(s): Schiffman, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US13/743,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20140197558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14507 specially adapted for measuring characteristics of body fluids other than blood devices for taking samples of body liquids A61B10/0045
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00038 Production of contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00807 Producing lenses combined with electronics, e.g. chips
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00

Abstract

Example eye-mountable devices and methods for fabricating eye-mountable devices are described. A method may include applying a first amount of polymerizable material to a ring-shaped structure, where the ring-shaped structure comprises at least one sensor configured to detect an analyte. The method also may include positioning the ring-shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto in a mold, where the mold is configured to form an eye-mountable device. Further, the method may include applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure in the mold while curing the first amount of polymerizable material. Still further, the method may include adding a second amount of polymerizable material to the mold with the ring-shaped structure therein, and curing the second amount of polymerizable material to form an over-molded polymer layer such that the ring-shaped structure is at least partially enclosed in the eye-mountable device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

applying a first amount of polymerizable material to a ring-shaped structure, wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises at least one sensor;

positioning the ring-shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto in a mold, wherein the mold is configured to form an eye-mountable device;

applying pressure, via a plunger comprising a compliant material, on the ring-shaped structure in the mold while curing the first amount of polymerizable material;

adding a second amount of polymerizable material to the mold with the ring-shaped structure therein; and

curing the second amount of polymerizable material to form an over-molded polymer layer such that the ring-shaped structure is at least partially enclosed in the eye-mountable device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the ring-shaped shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto in the mold comprises positioning the ring-shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto on a previously-formed polymer layer in the mold.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the previously-formed polymer layer defines an anterior side of the eye-mountable device and the over-molded polymer layer defines a posterior side of the eye-mountable device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the previously-formed polymer layer is in a partially-cured state.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the previously-formed polymer layer and the over-molded polymer layer comprise a transparent material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the first amount of polymerizable material to the ring-shaped structure comprises placing the polymerizable material at one or more discrete locations on the ring-shaped structure, and wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure at the one or more discrete locations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure on the entire ring-shaped structure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the over-molded polymer layer comprises a hydrogel material or a silicone elastomer.

9. A method comprising:

applying a first amount of polymerizable material to a ring-shaped structure, wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises at least one sensor;

positioning the ring-shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto on a previously-formed polymer layer in a mold, wherein the mold is configured to form an eye-mountable device;

applying, via a plunger comprising an elastic material, pressure on the ring-shaped structure in the mold; and

adding a second amount of polymerizable material to the mold with the ring-shaped structure therein, and curing the second amount of polymerizable material to form an over-molded polymer layer such that the ring-shaped structure is fully enclosed in the eye-mountable device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the previously-formed polymer layer defines an anterior side of the eye-mountable device and the over-molded polymer layer defines a posterior side of the eye-mountable device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the anterior side of the eye-mountable device is configured to allow an analyte to diffuse therethrough to be detected by the sensor.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the previously-formed polymer layer is in a partially-cured state.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the previously-formed polymer layer and the over-molded polymer layer comprise a transparent material.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the ring-shaped structure is more rigid than the previously-formed polymer layer and the over-molded polymer layer.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein applying the first amount of polymerizable material to the ring-shaped structure comprises placing the polymerizable material on one or more discrete locations on the ring-shaped structure, and wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure at the one or more discrete locations.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure on the entire ring-shaped structure.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure while curing the first amount of polymerizable material.

18. A method comprising:

applying an amount of adhesive material to a ring-shaped structure, wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises at least one sensor;

positioning the ring-shaped structure with the amount of adhesive material applied thereto in a mold, wherein the mold is configured to form an eye-mountable device;

applying pressure, via a plunger comprising a compliant material, on the ring-shaped structure in the mold while curing the amount of adhesive material;

adding a respective amount of polymerizable material to the mold with the ring-shaped structure therein; and

curing the respective amount of polymerizable material to form an over-molded polymer layer such that the ring-shaped structure is at least partially enclosed in the eye-mountable device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the adhesive material comprises a thermosetting polymer.