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US4438011A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for sterilizing soft contact lens

Assignee: Chauvin Pharmaceuticals Ltd
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Filing: 1981-11-12
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Granted: 1984-03-20
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Expires: 2001-11-12
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Abstract

Abstract A substantially isotonic, aqueous solution suitable for the sterilization of soft contact lenses having small or no propensity to cause ocular irritation which solution comprises a sterile aqueous solution of 0.00125 to 0.0025% of a chlorhexidine salt and sufficient tonicity adjusting agent to render the solution substantially isotonic said tonicity adjusting agent not containing ionic species producing a tonicity equivalent to more than a 0.3% solution of sodium chloride.

Inventors

  • 👤 John G. B. Howes

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 02:26
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L12/00; A61L12/08; A61L12/14; A61L12/141

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 82 words
A method of sterilizing a soft contact lens, which comprises contacting said lens for sufficient time to effect sterilization with a substantially isotonic, aqueous solution having small or no propensity to cause ocular irritation, said solution comprising a sterile aqueous solution of 0.00125 to 0.0025% of a chlorhexidine salt and sufficient nonionic tonicity adjusting agent to render the solution substantially isotonic, said tonicity adjusting agent containing ionic species producing a tonicity equivalent to not more than a 0.3% solution of sodium chloride.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 82 words
A method of sterilizing a soft contact lens, which comprises contacting said lens for sufficient time to effect sterilization with a substantially isotonic, aqueous solution having small or no propensity to cause ocular irritation, said solution comprising a sterile aqueous solution of 0.00125 to 0.0025% of a chlorhexidine salt and sufficient nonionic tonicity adjusting agent to render the solution substantially isotonic, said tonicity adjusting agent containing ionic species producing a tonicity equivalent to not more than a 0.3% solution of sodium chloride.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method according to claim 1, in which said aqueous solution contains from 0.0015 to 0.002% of said chlorhexidine salt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the tonicity adjusting agent contains ionic species producing a tonicity equivalent of not more than a 0.1% solution of sodium chloride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method according to claim 2, in which said aqueous solution is free from ionic species other than those arising from the chlorhexidine salt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 4, in which the chlorhexidine salt is chlorhexidine gluconate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the tonicity adjusting agent is a polyhydric alcohol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the tonicity adjusting agent is glycerol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
A method according to claim 5, in which the tonicity adjusting is propylene glycol.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of sterilizing a soft contact lens, which comprises contacting said lens for a sufficient time to effect sterilization with a substantially isotonic, aqueous solution having small or no propensity to cause ocular irritation, said solution comprising a sterile aqueous solution of 0.00125 to 0.0025% of a chlorhexidine salt and an amout of an additional antibacterial agent such that the concentration of chlorhexidine salt and additional antibacterial agent does not exceed 0.0035% of the solution and sufficient nonionic tonicity adjusting agent to render the solution substantially isotonic, said tonicity adjusting agent containing ionic species producing a tonicity equivalent to not more than a 0.3% solution of sodium chloride.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of sterilizing a soft contact lens, which comprises contacting said lens for a sufficient time to effect sterilization with a substantially isotonic, aqueous solution having small or no propensity to cause ocular irritation, said solution comprising a sterile aqueous solution of 0.00125 to 0.0025% of a chlorhexidine salt and an amout of an additional antibacterial agent such that the concentration of chlorhexidine salt and additional antibacterial agent does not exceed 0.0035% of the solution and sufficient nonionic tonicity adjusting agent to render the solution substantially isotonic, said tonicity adjusting agent containing ionic species producing a tonicity equivalent to not more than a 0.3% solution of sodium chloride.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 9, in which the solution contains from 0.00025 to 0.0025% of thiomersal as additional antibacterial agent.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3689673A Cited
USRE29693E Cited
US3843782A Cited
GB1432345A Cited
US3888782A Cited
US4013576A Cited
US4285738A Cited
US4354952A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-03-20 1987-09-19 1988-03-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-03-20 1991-09-19 1992-03-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-03-20 1995-09-19 1996-03-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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