Patent US4718066A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4065324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Contact lens cleaning solution
Assignee: Alcon Vision LLC
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Filing: 1976-12-16
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Granted: 1977-12-27
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Expires: 1996-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Silicone and/or hydrophilic soft contact lenses are freed of proteinaceous and other deposits by rubbing them with a buffered, aqueous solution of a crystalline sodium silicate, and rinsing. Heavy encrustations or deposits remaining after the above treatment may be removed from the lenses by heating them in said solution, removing them and rinsing.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy F. Rankin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:07
CPC Classifications
C; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/0005; C11D3/0078; C11D7/00; C11D7/02; C11D7/04; C11D7/10; C11D7/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
A solution for cleaning hydrophobic silicone or hydrophilic soft contact lenses, which solution comprises sodium sesquisilicate dissolved in deionized or distilled water to the extent of 0.5% by weight and sufficient dilute hydrochloric acid to achieve a pH of approximately 7.0.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
41 words
A solution for cleaning hydrophobic silicone or hydrophilic soft contact lenses, which solution comprises sodium sesquisilicate dissolved in deionized or distilled water to the extent of 0.5% by weight and sufficient dilute hydrochloric acid to achieve a pH of approximately 7.0.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of cleaning proteinaceous and other tear deposits from soft contact lenses which method comprises applying to said lenses a few drops of an aqueous solution containing from about 0.1-5% crystalline sodium silicate, said solution having an isotonic pH of about 7.0, rubbing the lenses with the fingers and rinsing with water.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of cleaning proteinaceous and other tear deposits from soft contact lenses which method comprises applying to said lenses a few drops of an aqueous solution containing from about 0.1-5% crystalline sodium silicate, said solution having an isotonic pH of about 7.0, rubbing the lenses with the fingers and rinsing with water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the soft contact lenses are hydrophobic or hydrophilic soft contact lenses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the crystalline sodium silicate is selected from the group consisting of sodium orthosilicate, sodium metasilicate and sodium sesquisilicate.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of cleaning proteinaceous and other deposits from hydrophobic or hydrophilic soft contact lenses which method comprises applying to said lenses a few drops of an 0.5% solution of sodium sesquisilicate in deionized or distilled water, adjusted to approximately pH 7.0 with dilute hydrochloric acid, rubbing said lenses with the fingers and rinsing with deionized or distilled water.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
59 words
A method of cleaning proteinaceous and other deposits from hydrophobic or hydrophilic soft contact lenses which method comprises applying to said lenses a few drops of an 0.5% solution of sodium sesquisilicate in deionized or distilled water, adjusted to approximately pH 7.0 with dilute hydrochloric acid, rubbing said lenses with the fingers and rinsing with deionized or distilled water.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of cleaning proteinaceous and other tear deposits from soft contact lenses which method comprises heating said lenses in an isotonic aqueous solution having a pH of about 7.0 and containing about 0.1-5% of a crystalline sodium silicate, removing the lenses and rinsing the lenses with deionized or distilled water.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of cleaning proteinaceous and other tear deposits from soft contact lenses which method comprises heating said lenses in an isotonic aqueous solution having a pH of about 7.0 and containing about 0.1-5% of a crystalline sodium silicate, removing the lenses and rinsing the lenses with deionized or distilled water.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the soft contact lenses are either hydrophobic or hydrophilic soft contact lenses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the crystalline sodium silicate is selected from the group consisting of sodium orthosilicate, sodium metasilicate and sodium sesquisilicate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the crystalline sodium silicate is present to the extent of .5 to 1 percent by weight in a buffered aqueous solution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the solution containing the lenses is heated to a temperature of from about 40° to 100° C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the solution containing the lenses is heated for 1 to 5 minutes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the lenses are immersed in a quantity of said solution ranging from 5 to 25 ml.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of cleaning proteinaceous and other deposits from hydrophobic or hydrophilic soft contact lenses which method comprises heating said lenses at 100° C for three minutes in about 5 ml of an 0.5% solution of sodium sesquisilicate in deionized or distilled water, adjusted to approximately pH 7.0 with dilute hydrochloric acid, removing said lenses and rinsing said lenses with deionized or distilled water.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of cleaning proteinaceous and other deposits from hydrophobic or hydrophilic soft contact lenses which method comprises heating said lenses at 100° C for three minutes in about 5 ml of an 0.5% solution of sodium sesquisilicate in deionized or distilled water, adjusted to approximately pH 7.0 with dilute hydrochloric acid, removing said lenses and rinsing said lenses with deionized or distilled water.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-26 | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-26 | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-26 | 1989-06-27 | 1989-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |