Compositions and methods for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses

• US 9,591,850 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Novartis Ag
• Inventors: Muya, Leroy Wainaina, Ketelson, Howard Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Fisher, Abigail
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOI, FRANK I
• Application Number:
  US14/496,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20150093452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 25/30 characterised by the surfactants
• CPC Class Codes: A01N 59/00 Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 12/128 neutralised with catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents

Abstract

This invention relates generally to disinfection and cleaning systems for medical devices. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to compositions, methods and articles for simultaneously cleaning and disinfecting contact lenses. The present invention is directed to ophthalmic compositions containing one or more block copolymers referred to as (polyoxyethylene)-(poly-oxybutylene) block copolymers (“PEO-PBO”). The invention is particularly directed to the use of PEO-PBO di-block copolymers as non-foaming wetting agents in peroxide-based compositions for disinfecting contact lenses.

Claims

1. A composition for disinfecting a contact lens, comprising about 0.5 w/v % to about 6 w/v % by weight hydrogen peroxide and at least one poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) di-block copolymer, wherein the poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) di-block copolymer is of the formula (EO)_m(BO)_n, wherein EO is oxyethylene and BO is oxybutylene, and wherein m is 10 and n is 5, wherein the composition comprising (EO)_m(BO)_n in the range of 0.001 to 0.5 weight/volume percent, wherein the composition is incapable of foaming at any time within a disinfection cycle carried out in a disinfection cup having a platinum-coated plastic disk that catalytically decomposes hydrogen peroxide generating oxygen gas bubbles excessively to cause overflow of the composition from the disinfection cup.

2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the poly (oxyethylene)-poly (oxybutylene) di-block copolymer is of the formula:

3. A composition according to claim 1, further comprising an effective amount of a poly (oxyethylene)-poly (oxypropylene) block copolymer having the structure:

4. A composition according to claim 3, wherein the polyoxyethylene component of the block copolymer constitutes about 40 weight percent of the block copolymer.

5. A composition according to claim 3, wherein the molecular weight of the polyoxypropylene block is from about 1200 and about 3100.

6. A composition according to claim 3, wherein the molecular weight of the polyoxypropylene block is about 1700.

7. A composition according to claim 3, wherein said poly (oxyethylene)-poly (oxypropylene) block copolymer is present in the range of about 0.005% to about 0.8%.

8. A composition according to claim 3, wherein said poly (oxyethylene)-poly (oxypropylene) block copolymer is present less than 0.1%.

9. A method of disinfecting a contact lens comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting a contact lens with an aqueous solution of about 0.5 w/v % to about 6 w/v % by weight hydrogen peroxide and at least one poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) di-block copolymer, wherein the poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) di-block copolymer is of the formula (EO)_m(BO)_n, wherein EO is oxyethylene and BO is oxybutylene, and wherein m is 10 and n is 5, wherein the composition comprising (EO)_m(BO)_n in the range of 0.001 to 0.5 weight/volume percent, wherein the composition is incapable of foaming at any time within a disinfection cycle carried out in a disinfection cup having a platinum-coated plastic disk that catalytically decomposes hydrogen peroxide generating oxygen gas bubbles excessively to cause overflow of the composition from the disinfection cup, and

(b) neutralizing said hydrogen peroxide by catalytic decomposition.

10. A method of disinfecting a contact lens as claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of neutralizing comprises contacting said solution with a metal catalyst.

11. A method of disinfecting a contact lens as claimed in claim 10, wherein the lens is ready for insertion into the eye without a step of manually rubbing the lens.