EP0597880A4 - Gerät und verfahren zur reinigung von kontaktlinsen. - Google Patents

Gerät und verfahren zur reinigung von kontaktlinsen.

Info

Publication number
EP0597880A4
EP0597880A4 EP19920914469 EP92914469A EP0597880A4 EP 0597880 A4 EP0597880 A4 EP 0597880A4 EP 19920914469 EP19920914469 EP 19920914469 EP 92914469 A EP92914469 A EP 92914469A EP 0597880 A4 EP0597880 A4 EP 0597880A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cleaning
pads
pad
lens
cleaned
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19920914469
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0597880A1 (de
Inventor
Mary B Beckrich
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0597880A1 publication Critical patent/EP0597880A1/de
Publication of EP0597880A4 publication Critical patent/EP0597880A4/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02CSPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
    • G02C13/00Assembling; Repairing; Cleaning
    • G02C13/008Devices specially adapted for cleaning contact lenses

Definitions

  • This invention has relation to the cleaning of contact lenses with a minimum of contact between the lenses and fingers, lens cases, and other possible contaminants.
  • Enzymatic cleaners are recommended for use with surfactant cleaners although surveys show that 35% of soft contact lens wearers never clean with enzymatic cleaners, only 20% clean once a week, and 35% once every two weeks. About 60% of RGP wearers never use enzymes, 5% once a week and 15% once every two weeks. Ibid, page 76. Some enzymatic cleaners can work effectively in as little as fifteen minutes of contact between the cleaner and the lens. Ibid, inside back cover.
  • An apparatus for cleaning contact lenses includes a pair of cleaning pads for each lens to be cleaned.
  • Each pad is partially defined by a pair of opposed, spaced-apart, roughly parallel, working surfaces, a first of such working surfaces being a cleaning surface and a second of such surfaces being a handling surface.
  • Each pad is so constituted and constructed that its cleaning surface readily conforms to and comes into intimate contact with one of the opposed side surfaces of a contact lens to be cleaned when the pads are positioned with their cleaning surfaces in facing relation to each other with the lens to be cleaned therebetween, and when pressure toward the lens is applied to the opposed handling surfaces of the pads.
  • Pressure and movement means is provided to apply pressure to the handling surfaces of the pads in direction toward the lens and to apply relative lateral movement to the handling surfaces of the pads to move the pads laterally with respe.t to each other when the lens to be cleaned is positioned between the pad*-;.
  • the cleaning surface portions of both p* ⁇ s are of materials which will not tend to abrade the lens being cleaned.
  • the handling surface portions of each pad have a coefficient of friction with respect to that part of the pressure and moving means in contact with the handling surface portion compared to the coefficient of friction between the pad cleaning surfaces and the lens such that movement of the pads laterally with respect to each other will result primarily in movement. of the cleaning surfaces of the pads over the opposed surfaces of the lenses.
  • portions of the pads adjacent the cleaning surfaces are liquid absorbent.
  • At least that portion of the handling surface of at least one of the pads which comes into contact with a portion of e pressure and movement means is covered with a release xe pressure sensitive adhesive to tend to prt.ent relative movement of that pad and the pressure and movement means.
  • a method of cleaning lenses includes the first step of positioning each lens to be cleaned between a pair of cleaning pads such as set out above. The lens is to be in contact with central portions of each pad. A second step of the method is to apply pressure and movement means to central portions of the handling surfaces of each pad in approximate axial alignment with the center of the lens to be cleaned.
  • a third step is to cause the pressure and movement means to press the pads toward each other and to move the pads with respect to each other radially of the lens and in all directions; but for distances not greater than the largest radius of the lens being cleaned.
  • the step of moving the pads with respect to each other in all directions includes moving one of the pads to have its central portion perform a figure of eight movement with respect to the central portion of the other pad
  • the cleaning surface portions of both pads are of materials which will not tend to abrade the lens being cleaned and portions of the pads adjacent the cleaning surfaces are liquid absorbent.
  • the method includes a further step of impregnating the absorbent portion of the pads with an appropriate lens cleaning liquid.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lens cleaning case forming part of an apparatus for cleaning concave/convex contact lenses
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 3—3 in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4—4 in FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an upper motion plate cleaning pad made according to one form of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a lower, base mounted, cleaning pad made according to another form of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 7—7 in FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the lens cleaning case of the present invention showing a cap portion of a boss or stanchion of an upper cleaning pad motion plate and diagrammatically indicating the relative horizontal movement of this plate with respect to the cover of the lens cleaning case during the process of cleaning concave/convex cont'. lenses;
  • FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a second embodiment for cleaning concave/convex contact lenses made according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 10—10 in FIG. 9.
  • a lens cleaning case 10 is part of an apparatus 12 for cleaning concave/convex contact lenses 14,14.
  • the cleaning case includes a base 16 and a cover 18 pivotally mounted to the base 16 as at 20 in the form of the invention as shown.
  • a resilient latch 21 on the cover holds the cover firmly to the base in the form of the invention as shown, and as best seen in FIG. 4.
  • the base 16 is provided with a pair of rounded, convex or domed lower cleaning pad receptacles 22,22, in the form of the invention as shown. These receptacles 22,22 are fixedly positioned in the base in side by side coplanar relationship with respect to each other.
  • An upper cleaning pad motion plate 24 includes a pair of rounded, concave or dished, upper cleaning pad receptacles 26,26, in the form of the invention as shown. These upper cleaning pad receptacles 26,26 form an integral part of the upper cleaning pad motion plate 24 and are in side by side, coplanar relation to each other to be in approximately concentric relationship with respect to the lower cleaning pad receptacles 22,22 when the motion plate is installed inside of the cover 18.
  • the cover 18 is provided with a generally rectangular cleaning pad motion plate movement limiting opening 28, this opening having rounded corners.
  • Motion plate 24 includes a centrally positioned upwardly extending stanchion or boss 30 extending through the opening 28 in the cover 18.
  • the motion plate boss 30 is provided with an upper cap portion 32.
  • this cap portion is in the form of a generally rectangular cap 34 which is integrally adhered to or otherwise fastened to a cylindrical upper portion of the boss 30 as at 36 after the boss has been extended through the cover opening 28 to thus permanently associate the motion plate 24 with the cover 18.
  • the motion plate 24 need not necessarily be permanently associated with the cover, and that the upper cap portion 32 need only be accessible to the person cleaning the lenses through the opening 28 for manual manipulation of the motion plate.
  • each of the pads 46,46 are provided, each to be assembled with one of the pair of rounded, concave or dished, upper cleaning pad receptacles 26,26; and a pair of lower, base mounted cleaning pads 48,48, each to be assembled with one of the pair of rounded convex or domed, lower cleaning pad receptacles 22,22.
  • Each of the pads 46,46 and 48,48 are partially defined by opposed, spaced-apart, roughly parallel, working surfaces 44,44. A first of these working surfaces of each pad is a cleaning surface 50, and a second of the surfaces is a handling surface 52.
  • the cleaning surfaces 50 of upper pads 46,46 c ⁇ e on the bottom and the cleaning surfaces 50 of the pads 48,48 are on the top so that when the upper pads 46 are assembled to the upper cleaning pad receptacles 26 and the lower cleaning pads 48 are assembled to the lower cleaning pad receptacles 22, the cleaning surfaces 50 will be in facing relationship to each other.
  • the pads Before the cleaning pads are assembled to the pad receptacles, the pads can have different forms. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, either an upper or lower cleaning pad 46 or 48 can initially be stored flat with or with or without slots 54 therein. Where the cleaning pad 46 or 48 is fairly stiff, the presence of slots 54 can help insure that the pad will easily conform to the upper cleaning pad receptacles 26, for example. Where pads of softer materials are used, these slots may not be needed.
  • the pads may be put into assembled relationship with respect to their pad receptacles using a roughened handling surface 52 and a roughened interior surface of the cleaning pad receptacles 26 or 22; or an adhesive can be placed on the handling surface of the pad or into the receptacle to insure that the pads stay in place during the cleaning operation.
  • Hook and eye fasteners, cylindrical ridges or rims built into the periphery of the cleaning pad receptacles, or any other usual or preferred means of maintaining the pads in place during cleaning can be used.
  • the pads can initially have an at least slightly domed or dished contour such as seen in FIGS. 2 y 3, 4, 6 and 7. This will lessen the problem in maintaining the pads in position in the pad receptacles during the cleaning operation.
  • a further, and preferred, means of maintaining the pads in position is illustrated best in FIG. 7 wherein the handling surface 52 of the pad 48 is covered with a fluid impervious substrate 56, and this substrate can carry a releasable pressure sensitive adhesive 57 thereon. While these pads are being stored before they are used, a removable protective skin 58 will cover the adhesive 57 on the substrate 56. In FIG. 7, this skin 58 is shown in the process of being removed from handling surface of the cleaning pad preparatory to use in cleaning a contact lens.
  • a resilient means such as a compression coil spring 60 is firmly seated and held on a base compression spring boss 62 and extends upwardly within the base 16 when the cover 18 is open, and the upper cleaning pad motion plate 24 is clear of the base.
  • a tapered downwardly extending motion plate boss 64 moves inside of the upper end of the coil spring 60 more precisely aligning the cleaning upper pad receptacles 26,26 to be concentric with the lower cleaning pad receptacles 22,22.
  • This spring 60 has the further function of nominally holding the upper cleaning pad motion plate 24 up against the underside of the cover 18 thus insuring that when the cleaning process has been completed, the upper motion plate cleaning pads 46,46 will be spaced from the contact lenses 14,14 so that when the cover 15 is removed, these lenses 14 will remain undisturbed on the center portion of the lower, base mounted cleaning pads 48,48 for easy access to the wearer.
  • resilient means can be used instead of spring 60 within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims which follow.
  • a block of sponge rubber or other resilient foam can be fastened either to a motion plate boss or to the center part of the base 16; and it will then become the resilient means.
  • liquid be used in performing the cleaning of contact lenses.
  • These liquids can have several purposes including the control of deleterious matter such as dust, protein build-up, bacteria, fungi, yeast and Acanthamoeba, for example.
  • such liquid will serve as a lubricant to reduce the friction between the cleaning pads and the lenses . during the use of the apparatus.
  • This invention is not concerned with the character of the liquids used as long as such liquids do not take the apparatus and method outside of the scope of the claims which follow.
  • Such liquids are characterized herein as any "liquid suitable for cleaning contact lenses" or "suitable cleaning liquid.”
  • the pads can be made of any usual or preferred material which will not have an abrading action on the lenses. Also, preferably, at least the portion of the pad adjacent to the cleaning surface will be made of absorbent material 65; and, except for the pad immediately adjacent the handling surface, it is preferred that the entire pad be absorbent.
  • the apparatus of the invention includes a suitable cleaning liquid 66 which has been injected or otherwise permeated into the absorbent portion 65 of the pads 46, 46, 48 and 48 at least in adjacent relationship to the cleaning surface of the pad.
  • a suitable cleaning liquid 66 which has been injected or otherwise permeated into the absorbent portion 65 of the pads 46, 46, 48 and 48 at least in adjacent relationship to the cleaning surface of the pad. This can be done by dipping the pads in an appropriate cleaning fluid 66, by depositing the fluid or liquid directly on the absorbent portions of the pads immediately before use of the pads, by impregnating each pad at its point of manufacture and then hermetically sealing it so that the liquid will still be in place when the sealed enveloped is opened and the pad is situated in its appropriate cleaning pad receptacle, 22 or 26, or by any other usual or preferred method.
  • the suitable cleaning liquid 66 is indicated to have been impregnated into the absorbent portion of the cleaning pad 48 on the right-hand side of -li ⁇ the figure, while the left-hand side of that pad is illustrated as being of absorbent material but not yet impregnated with the fluid 66.
  • the cover 18 of the lens cleaning case 14 is pivoted from the position as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 to an open position (not specifically shown) . This will bring the portion of the cover in adjacent relation to the motion plate movement limiting opening 28 into contact with the underside of the cap 34, and this will cause the motion plate 2 to be raised away from the lower cleaning pad receptacles 22,22 of the base 16.
  • Lower, base mounted cleaning pads 48,48 having been impregnated with suitable cleaning liquid 66, will be prepared for releasable pressure sensitive adhesion to the domed lower cleaning pad receptacles 22,22 by manual removal of the protective skin 58 from the liquid impervious substrate 56 of the handling surface 52 of these cleaning pads 48,48.
  • Each such pad will then be installed on a top central portion of its respective lower cleaning pad receptacle 22, and will thereafter resist relative movement with respect to such lower cleaning pad receptacles until the pads are pulled from the receptacles after they have been used for their intended purpose and are to be discarded.
  • the cleaning surfaces 50 of the upper pads are in facing relation to the cleaning surfaces 50 of the lower pads, or will be when the cover is closed.
  • the contact lenses 14,14 to be cleaned are carefully placed on the very top center portions of the cleaning surfaces of the pads 46,46.
  • the cover 18 is now brought back into place to the position as seen in FIG. 1, to position the various elements of the invention and the contact lenses as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.
  • a pressure and movement means is now used to consummate the cleaning action.
  • This means in the form of the invention as shown, includes the upper cleaning pads 46,46, the upper cleaning pad motion plate 24 and its upwardly extending boss 30 including its upper cap portion 32.
  • This pressure and movement means is now activated by manually exerted downward pressure on the finger receiving upper surface 40 of the upper cap portion 32 to apply pressure on the lenses 14,14 by pushing the upper pads 4.6,46 down against the lower pads 48,48.
  • the finger applying this pressure is used to move the upper cap portion 32 relatively with respect to the cover 18, thus moving the upper pads 46,46 with respect to the lower pads 48,48.
  • the finger applying the manual pressure and movement can move, carrying the upper surface 40 of the cap 34 of the upper cap portion 32 with it, to prescribe a "figure 8" motion as schematically indicated in FIG. 8.
  • the pads 46 and 48 having been positioned firmly in the receptacles 22 and 26, respectively, it is necessary only that the coefficient of friction between the pads and the receptacle exceed the coefficient of friction between the pads and the lenses.
  • the cleaning surfaces 50- of the pads 46 and 48 are of similar or identical materials; and it is expected that the upper and lower surfaces of the contact lenses themselves will have substantially equal coefficients of friction whether in touch with the cleaning surface of the upper pad or the cleaning surface of the lower pad. This being the case, the relative movement of the cleaning surfaces of the upper and lower pads with respect to each other will result in the movement of the upper surface of the contact lens with respect to the lower surface of the upper pad being substantially equal to the movement of the lower surface of the contact lens will have with respect to the upper surface of the lower pad. Thus, after sufficient movement of the upper cleaning pads 46,46, the entire upper and lower surfaces of the contact lenses 14,14 will be properly cleaned.
  • the moving finger or weight
  • the compression coil spring 60 acting on the downwardly extending motion plate boss 64, will cause the motion plate 24 to again move to its central position, and the spring will also cause the motion plate and its upper cleaning pad receptacles 26,26 to carry the upper pads 46,46 away from the contact lenses 14,14.
  • the cover 18 can now be raised moving the motion plate and its attached upper cleaning pads 46,46 away from the lenses. Using sterile techniques, the now disinfected and cleaned lenses 14,14 can be reinserted into the eyes of the wearer.
  • FIGS. 9 and 10 A second embodiment of the invention for cleaning concave/convex contact lenses is shown generally in FIGS. 9 and 10 as apparatus 80.
  • Apparatus 80 comprises a case 82 having a base 84 and a cover 86.
  • Cover 86 is pivotally mounted to the base 84 with a hinge assembly comprising a rod 81 inserted into hinge blocks 83 and ?5.
  • a resilient latch 88 on cover 86 interlocks with a catch 87 on base 84 to hold cover 86 firmly in a closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 10.
  • Base 84 is provided with a pair of rounded, concave or dished, lower cleaning pad receptacles 90,90 having left and right indicating marks.
  • Receptacles 90,90 are fixedly positioned in base 84 in a side-by- side coplanar relationship with respect to each other.
  • Apparatus 80 further comprises an upper cleaning pad motion plate 92.
  • Motion plate 92 includes a pair of rounded, convex or domed, upper cleaning pad receptacles 94,94.
  • Upper cleaning pad receptacles 94,94 form an integral part of motion plate 92 and are in side-by-side coplanar relation to each other to be in approximately concentric relationship with respect to the lower cleaning pad receptacles 90,90 when motion plate 92 is installed inside cover 86.
  • Outer surfaces of receptacles 94,94 are shaped and sized based on the average human cornea.
  • an outside radius 89 of the domed outer surfaces is 0.259 inches.
  • the specific size of receptacles 94,94 however does not limit the present invention. Receptacles 94,94 can accommodate both hard and soft contact lenses having a wide range of sizes.
  • receptacles 90,90 are sized to accommodate movement of receptacles 94,94. This movement is necessary to effectively clean all surface portions of contact lenses placed therebetween and described below.
  • the inside radius 91 of receptacles 90,90 is 0.629 inches.
  • Motion plate 92 includes a centrally positioned upwardly extending stanchion or boss 98. Boss 98 extends through a generally rectangular cleaning pad motion plate movement limiting opening 96 in cover 86 and is secured to an upper portion 100. As with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and 8, opening 96 includes rounded corners.
  • upper portion 100 is a generally rectangular plate 102. Plate 102 is positioned on cover 86 within a larger rectangular recessed depression 101. A finger receiving upper surface similar to surface 40 shown in Figure 2 with an upstanding rim around that surface may be included to assist the user in retaining the finger on the plate 102.
  • plate 102 is secured to boss 98 with catches 106,106 that interlock with corresponding apertures 108,108 in boss 98. It is to be understood, however, that the motion plate 92 need not necessarily be permanently associated with plate 102 in that boss 98 need only be accessible to the person cleaning the lenses through the opening 96 for manual manipulation of motion plate 92.
  • An upper portion cleaning pad retainer 122 is hinged to motion plate 92 with a ⁇ hinge assembly comprising hinge blocks 93 and 95.
  • Pad retainer 122 includes a pair of openings 127,127. Openings 127,127 are positioned in a side-by-side coplanar relation to each other and concentrically align with receptacles 94,94. Openings 127,127 each have an inside diameter sufficient to receive the corresponding receptacle 94 and a portion of a cleaning pad 112 to be described below.
  • Cleaning pad 112 includes a lower pad portion 114 and an upper pad portion 116.
  • Lower pad portion 114 is secured to base 84 with spaced apart catches 118 protruding through a plurality of apertures 118 along a perimeter 120 of lower pad portion 114.
  • upper pad portion 116 is interposed between a lower surface of motion plate 92 and an upper surface of pad retainer 122.
  • Pad retainer 122 stretches upper pad portion 116 over receptacles 94,94 such that the domed outer surfaces are covered.
  • cleaning pad 112 is made from a flexible material which could stretch over receptacles 94,94, slots 125 are.cut through a center portion of upper pad portion.116. The presence of slots 125 can help insure that the pad will easily conform to the outer surface of receptacles 94,94.
  • An aligning tab 121 formed on upper pad portion 116 and a corresponding aligning groove 123, adjacent hinge blocks 93 on 122, enable the user to easily align upper pad portion 116 next to receptacles 94,94.
  • Cleaning pad 112 comprises opposed, spaced- apart, roughly parallel, working surfaces 124.
  • a first of these working surfaces of each portion of pad 112 is a cleaning surface 126 and a second of the surfaces is a handling surface 127.
  • the cleaning surfaces 126 of upper pad portion 116 are on the bottom surface portions covering receptacles 94,94, and the cleaning surfaces 126 of the lower pad portion 114 are on the top surface portions where lenses 128,128 are positioned.
  • the cleaning surfaces 126 will be in facing relationship to each other.
  • the handling surfaces 129 are on sides of pad 112 opposite each of the cleaning surfaces 126. In other words, handling surfaces 129 on upper pad portion 116 contact adjacent receptacles 94,94 on motion plate 92, while handling surfaces 129 on lower pad portion 114 contact portions of receptacles 90,90.
  • pad 111 can be made of any usual or preferred material which will not have an abrading action on lenses 128. Also, preferably, at least a portion of pad 112 adjacent to the cleaning surface will be made of a material that is absorbent to any desired cleaning or disinfecting fluid at least in adjacent relationship to the cleaning surfaces 126 of pad 112.
  • the cover 86 of the lens cleaning case 82 is -pivoted to an open position. It is to be understood that the cover 86 could be removed entirely, and then the motion plate 92 lifted clear of the base 84 without departing from the spirit of the invention the scope of some of the claims which follow.
  • used cleaning pad 112 would be manually pulled from the plurality of catches 118 on base 84 and undamped from receptacles 94,94 by rotating pad retainer 122 away from motion plate 92. The used cleaning pad would be discarded and a fresh cleaning pad 112 would then be chosen. The user would then align aligning tab 121 within groove 123 and subsequently rotate pad retainer 122 to stretch upper pad portion 116 over receptacles 94,94. The friction between stretched upper pad portion 116 with receptacles 94,94 and inner side walls of openings 127,127 is sufficient to maintain pad retainer 122 in this generally closed position; however, a suitable fastener could be included if desired.
  • Lower pad portion 114 is then installed on the plurality of catches 118. With pad 112 so installed, cleaning surfaces 126 of pad portion 114 are in facing relation to the cleaning surfaces 126 of lower pad portion 114, or will be when cover 86 is closed. If not already impregnated with suitable cleaning liquid, each of the cleaning surfaces 126 on upper and lower pad portions 114 and 116 are sufficiently wetted.
  • the contact lenses 128,128 to be cleaned are then carefully placed on the upper surface 138 of pad portion 116 and in the preferred embodiment, each well 131 of contact lenses 128,128 are filled with cleaning solution.
  • Suitable indicator marks 137 such as dye spots or preformed depressions in lower pad portion 114, can be provided so that the user can easily position the lenses 128 on lower portion 114.
  • dye spots if dye spots are used, a suitable dye that is insoluble to the cleaning fluid would be required.
  • Cover 86 is now brought back into the closed position to dispose the various elements of the invention and the contact lenses as shown in FIG. 10.
  • a pressure and movement means is then used to consummate the cleaning action.
  • This pressure and movement means includes the upper pad portion 116, the upper cleaning pad motion plate 92 and its upwardly extending boss 98 and in the preferred embodiment, plate 102.
  • the pressure and movement means is activated by manually exerting downward pressure on plate 102 to apply pressure on lenses 128,128 by pushing the upper pad portion 116 down against lower pad portion 114-.
  • Case 82 specifically the closure of cover 86 on base 84, limits the maximum pressure that can be exerted on lenses 128,128. In the preferred embodiment, the maximum pressure is approximately three ounces of force.
  • the finger applying pressure is used to move plate 102 relatively with respect to cover 86, thus moving the upper pad portion 116 with respect to the lower pad portion 114.
  • the finger applying the manual pressure and movement can move to prescribe a "Figure 8" motion.
  • pad portions 114 and 116 having been positioned on receptacles 90 and 94, respectively, it is necessary only that the coefficient of friction between the pads and the receptacle exceed the coefficient of friction between the pads and the lenses. It is preferred that cleaning surfaces 126 of pad portions 114 and 116 are made from similar or identical materials.
  • the upper and lower surfaces of contact lenses 128,128 themselves will have substantially equal coefficients of friction whether in touch with the cleaning surface of upper pad portion 116 or lower pad portion 114.
  • the relative movement of the cleaning surfaces of the upper and lower pad portions with respect to each other will result in the movement of the upper surface of contact lenses 128,128 with respect to the lower surface of upper pad portion 116 being substantially equal to tne movement of the lower surfaces of the contact lenses 128,128 with respect to the upper surface of lower pad portion 114.
  • the entire upper and lower surfaces of contact lens 128,128 will be properly cleaned.
  • Cover 86 can now be raised moving motion plate 92 upward and away from lenses 128,128. Using sterile techniques, the now disinfected and cleaned lenses 128,128 can be reinserted in to the eyes of the wearer.
  • the thumb and index finger can then be moved with respect to each other, and the contact lens will be cleaned using the method of the invention and without any possibility of deleterious substances on the hands of the operator causing any difficulties in disinfecting, neutralizing or cleaning the lens.
  • the index finger will be lifted away from the thumb, and the cleaned lens will be ready to be reinserted into the eye of the wearer.
  • the invention herein is described and illustrated with reference to concave/convex contact lenses.
  • the invention is equally applicable to other shapes of lenses (flat lenses, for example) and other plates or discs that require a cleaned surface or surfaces.
  • the present invention is well suited to clean the surfaces of semi-conductor wafers.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Eyeglasses (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Silver Salt Photography Or Processing Solution Therefor (AREA)
  • Nitrogen Condensed Heterocyclic Rings (AREA)
EP19920914469 1992-06-11 1992-06-11 Gerät und verfahren zur reinigung von kontaktlinsen. Withdrawn EP0597880A4 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1992/004945 WO1993025932A1 (en) 1992-06-11 1992-06-11 Apparatus and method for cleaning contact lenses

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0597880A1 EP0597880A1 (de) 1994-05-25
EP0597880A4 true EP0597880A4 (de) 1994-11-30

Family

ID=22231151

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19920914469 Withdrawn EP0597880A4 (de) 1992-06-11 1992-06-11 Gerät und verfahren zur reinigung von kontaktlinsen.

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0597880A4 (de)
JP (1) JPH06509888A (de)
AU (1) AU2237892A (de)
BR (1) BR9206363A (de)
FI (1) FI940644A7 (de)
NO (1) NO940478L (de)
WO (1) WO1993025932A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4577976B2 (ja) * 2000-11-14 2010-11-10 株式会社メニコンネクト コンタクトレンズの洗浄・保存容器および洗浄方法
BR8203219U (pt) * 2002-10-24 2004-07-27 Augusto Cezar Mangabeira Nunez Estojo anti-rasgo para lentes de contato
EP3817620B1 (de) * 2018-07-08 2022-04-20 Berlisi Industries Behälter für kontaktlinsen

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4779300A (en) * 1987-03-09 1988-10-25 Pompe Larry W Contact lens cleaning device
WO1990008604A1 (en) * 1989-02-02 1990-08-09 Beckrich Corporation Apparatus and method for cleaning contact lenses
US5023971A (en) * 1988-10-25 1991-06-18 Pompe Larry W Contact lens surface treatment apparatus

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3150406A (en) * 1962-11-13 1964-09-29 Milton L Obitts Wash kit with contact lens storing and placing devices
US3344461A (en) * 1965-10-23 1967-10-03 Dennis W Floor Contact lens handling apparatus
US4187574A (en) * 1978-07-27 1980-02-12 Bausch & Lomb Incorporated Contact lens cleansing apparatus
US4546517A (en) * 1981-09-11 1985-10-15 Caniglia Joseph E Wiping device
US4559662A (en) * 1984-05-14 1985-12-24 Kunold Jr Robert Device for cleaning contact lens
JPH01121818A (ja) * 1987-11-06 1989-05-15 Matsushita Refrig Co Ltd コンタクトレンズの洗浄装置

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4779300A (en) * 1987-03-09 1988-10-25 Pompe Larry W Contact lens cleaning device
US5023971A (en) * 1988-10-25 1991-06-18 Pompe Larry W Contact lens surface treatment apparatus
WO1990008604A1 (en) * 1989-02-02 1990-08-09 Beckrich Corporation Apparatus and method for cleaning contact lenses

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO9325932A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH06509888A (ja) 1994-11-02
FI940644A0 (fi) 1994-02-11
AU2237892A (en) 1994-01-04
NO940478L (no) 1994-04-08
FI940644A7 (fi) 1994-04-06
EP0597880A1 (de) 1994-05-25
BR9206363A (pt) 1995-03-14
WO1993025932A1 (en) 1993-12-23
NO940478D0 (no) 1994-02-11

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