US4582076A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for cleaning and sterilizing soft contact lenses
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-04-20
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Granted: 1986-04-15
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Expires: 2004-04-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for cleaning and sterilizing soft contact lenses comprises a disinfection unit and a control unit. The disinfection unit comprises a receptacle for selectively containing a cleaning liquid and a sterilizing liquid, and a lens holder having perforate lens compartments. The lens holder is removably mounted in the receptacle and rotatable therein. The rotation of the lens holder effects enhanced cleansing action by turbulent flow of the cleaning liquid over the lenses. A heater is preferably mounted on the control unit in intimate heat transfer relation with the disinfection unit when the units are secured together (e.g. with permanent magnets) for heating the sterilizing liquid in the receptacle. The control unit controls the heater for providing alternating high temperature periods (not greater than about 60° C.) and lower temperature periods for sterilizing the cleaned lenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques E. Prat
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C13/00; G02C13/008; A; A61; A61L; A61L12/00; A61L12/02; A61L12/04; G02C2200/00; G02C2200/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S134/00; Y10S134/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for cleaning and hot sterilizing hydrophilic, soft contact lenses comprising a first, disinfection unit including a receptacle adapted to be at least partly filled with a disinfecting liquid, a lens holder for accommodating two contact lenses, means for removably mounting said lens holder inside said receptacle, means for providing communication between liquid in said receptable and lenses accommodated in said lens holder, means for rotatably mounting said lens holder in said receptacle, means for rotating said lens holder in said receptacle for effecting cleansing action by turbulent flow of the disinfecting liquid over the lenses, means for heating the disinfecting liquid inside receptacle for hot sterilizing the lenses after cleaning, and a second, control unit for controlling said means for heating the disinfecting liquid for providing a series of alternating high temperature (not greater than about 60° C.) and low temperature periods.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Apparatus for cleaning and hot sterilizing hydrophilic, soft contact lenses comprising a first, disinfection unit including a receptacle adapted to be at least partly filled with a disinfecting liquid, a lens holder for accommodating two contact lenses, means for removably mounting said lens holder inside said receptacle, means for providing communication between liquid in said receptable and lenses accommodated in said lens holder, means for rotatably mounting said lens holder in said receptacle, means for rotating said lens holder in said receptacle for effecting cleansing action by turbulent flow of the disinfecting liquid over the lenses, means for heating the disinfecting liquid inside receptacle for hot sterilizing the lenses after cleaning, and a second, control unit for controlling said means for heating the disinfecting liquid for providing a series of alternating high temperature (not greater than about 60° C.) and low temperature periods.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle is selectively adapted to be at least partly filled with and emptied of a rinsing liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said lens holder comprises two compartments for accommodating the respective lens, said lens compartments being disposed radially offset relative to the axis about which said lens holder is adapted to be rotated for enhancing the cleansing action between the cleaning liquid on the lenses in said compartments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said means for rotatably mounting said lens holder comprises bearing means, said lens holder having a shaft member journaled in said bearing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said compartments are longitudinally spaced along said lens holder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said compartments each comprise a bottom and a cover hinged relative to said bottom, said means providing communication between liquid in said receptacle and lenses accommodated in said lens holder comprising perforations in said bottoms and said covers for effecting the cleansing action.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said lens holder comprises a shaft member at each end, said means for rotatably mounting said lens holder comprising a bearing in an endwall of said receptacle and another bearing in a removable plug adapted to be received in the other end of said receptacle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said plug and other end of said receptacle are complementarily threaded for threaded engagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said lens holder is of one-piece molded plastic construction comprising shaft members at each end, a transverse spacer between each shaft member and an adjacent ones of said compartments, and another transverse spacer between said compartments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
107 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said lens holder is of one-piece molded plastic construction comprising shaft members at each end, a transverse spacer between each shaft member and an adjacent ones of said compartments, another transverse spacer between said compartments, each of said compartments having a bottom and a cover hinged to its respective bottom, the bottoms of said compartments interconnect said spacers, and the hinged cover of each of said compartments is adapted to be pivoted from an open position generally in the same plane as its associated bottom and a closed position overlying the associated bottom and extending between adjacent ones of said spacers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the disinfecting liquid selectively comprises a cleaning liquid and a sterilizing liquid for respectively cleaning and sterilizing the lenses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for heating is mounted in said control unit and arranged to be in direct heat transfer relation with said desinfection unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, and means for releasably securing said disinfection unit and said control unit together.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said disinfection unit comprises at least one temperature sensor adapted to be connected to control means of said control unit when said disinfection unit and said control unit are in operative engagement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said means for releasably securing said disinfection unit and said control unit together comprise a permanent magnet affixed to one of said units and magnetizable material affixed to the other of said units.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said receptacle has a base, said base being shaped to receive the configuration of said means for heating protruding from an adjacent portion of said control unit when said disinfection unit and said control are in operative engagement.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for rotating said lens holder has means for determining the correct position of said compartments relative to said control unit for sterilizing lens in said compartments.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle has an endwall adapted to support said receptacle for filling the same and a base for supporting said receptable in its operative position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for rotating said lens holder comprises a micro motor, said micro motor being selectively operative for continuous and alternating operation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control unit comprises control means including an on-off switch, a sound alarm, a timer, a temperature sensing means, a control switch for fast or moderate sterilization, and switch means for controlling said means for rotating said lens holder.
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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) | 1989-04-14 | 1989-10-14 | 1990-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-14 | 1993-10-14 | 1994-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-14 | 1997-10-14 | 1998-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |