US4744647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semi-opaque corneal contact lens or intraoccular lens and method of formation
Assignee: LENS PLUS Co
•
Filing: 1984-12-04
•
Granted: 1988-05-17
•
Expires: 2004-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A selected pattern of disruptions in the lens material of a soft or hard corneal contact lens or intraoccular lens is provided which substantially disrupts the undistorted transmisability of an image to the lens to render it semi-opaque. Preferably, these disruptions are formed by a laser beam which causes the disruptions. The pattern may be used for coding of lens prescription or the like. In another embodiment, a ring may be formed in a soft contact lens of the general shape of the cornea and colored to provide a total color change in the appearance of the iris.
Inventors
- 👤 Leroy G. Meshel
- 👤 Robert J. Pressley
- 👤 Robert Butcher
- 👤 Theodore Fahlen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:44
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/021; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/08; B23K26/0823; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00932; G02C7/04; G02C7/046
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of treating a limited predetermined area of an eye lens selected from the group consisting of a corneal contact lens or an intraoccular lens in finished or unfinished state to render only that area semi-opaque, comprising directing a focused laser beam into the interior of the eye lens under conditions to form a pattern of disruptions in a predeterined area of the eye lens material which substantially disrupts the undistorted optical transmissibility of visible images through the eye lens, at least a portion of said pattern of disruptions being formed in the interior of the eye lens.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of treating a limited predetermined area of an eye lens selected from the group consisting of a corneal contact lens or an intraoccular lens in finished or unfinished state to render only that area semi-opaque, comprising directing a focused laser beam into the interior of the eye lens under conditions to form a pattern of disruptions in a predeterined area of the eye lens material which substantially disrupts the undistorted optical transmissibility of visible images through the eye lens, at least a portion of said pattern of disruptions being formed in the interior of the eye lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 together with the step of coloring the predetermined area prior to exposure to the laser beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 together with the step of coloring the predetermined area after exposure to the laser beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 or 4 in which the predetermined area is in the form of a ring of a size and shape which conforms to the outline of the iris of the eye.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which the laser is selected from the group consisting of an excimer laser, Nd:YAG lasers, and Alexandrite lasers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the predetermined area comprises a coding symbol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the eye lens comprises a finished corneal contact lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the eye lens is a soft corneal contact lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the eye lens is a hard corneal contact lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the eye lens is a hard gas-permeable contact lens.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the eye lens comprises an introoccular lens.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 in which the eye lens is a corneal contact lens in the unfinished state during laser exposure, and thereafter the lens is finished into final form.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 in which the predetermined area is in the form of a ring, and in which the laser is focused at a predeterined point in the lens material while the lens is rotated to form the ring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 in which said disruptions are characterized by a physical form selected from the group consisting of punctate material disruptions, bubbles, fissures, crazes, cracks and combinations thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
an eye lens selected from the group consisting of a corneal contact lens or intraoccular lens, said eye lens including a pattern of disruptions in the eyelens material which substantially disrupts the undistorted transmissibility of an image through the eye lens to a sufficient extent that such pattern is semi-opaque, said disruptions being characterized by a physical form selected from the group consisting of punctate material disruptions, bubbles, fissures, crazes, cracks and combinations thereof, at least a portion of said pattern being disposed in the interior of the eye lens.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
an eye lens selected from the group consisting of a corneal contact lens or intraoccular lens, said eye lens including a pattern of disruptions in the eyelens material which substantially disrupts the undistorted transmissibility of an image through the eye lens to a sufficient extent that such pattern is semi-opaque, said disruptions being characterized by a physical form selected from the group consisting of punctate material disruptions, bubbles, fissures, crazes, cracks and combinations thereof, at least a portion of said pattern being disposed in the interior of the eye lens.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The eye lens of claim 15 in which the eye lens is colored in the area of said pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The eye lens of claim 15 in which the pattern is in the form of a ring of a size and shape to conform to the outline of the iris of the eye.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The eye lens of claim 17 in which said ring is colored.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The eye lens of claim 15 in which the pattern comprises a coding symbol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The eye lens of claim 15 in the form of a hard corneal contact lens.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The eye lens of claim 15 in the form of a soft corneal contact lens.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The eye lens of claim 15 in the form of a gas-permeable contact lens.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The eye lens of claim 15 in the form of an intraoccular contact lens.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of treating a limited predetermined area of an eye lens selected from the group consisting of a corneal contact lens or intraoccular lens in finished or unfinished state ot render only that area semi-opaque, comprising directing a focused laser eam into the the eye lens under conditions to form a pattern of disruptions in a predetermined area of the eye lens material which substantially disrupts the undistorted optical transmissibility of visible images through the eye lens, said pattern of disruptions being formed in the interior of the eye lens without any substantial physical disruption at the eye lens surface.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of treating a limited predetermined area of an eye lens selected from the group consisting of a corneal contact lens or intraoccular lens in finished or unfinished state ot render only that area semi-opaque, comprising directing a focused laser eam into the the eye lens under conditions to form a pattern of disruptions in a predetermined area of the eye lens material which substantially disrupts the undistorted optical transmissibility of visible images through the eye lens, said pattern of disruptions being formed in the interior of the eye lens without any substantial physical disruption at the eye lens surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
95 words
An eye lens selected from the group consisting of a corneal contact lens or intraoccular lens, including a pattern of disruptions in the eye lens material which substantially disrupts the undistorted transmissibility of an image through the lens to a sufficient extent that such pattern is semi-opaque, said disruptions being characterized by a physical form selected from the group consisting of punctate material disruptions, bubbles, fissures, crazes, cracks, and combinatios thereof, essentially all of said pattern being disposed in the interior of said eye lens without any substantial physical disruptions at the eye lens surface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
95 words
An eye lens selected from the group consisting of a corneal contact lens or intraoccular lens, including a pattern of disruptions in the eye lens material which substantially disrupts the undistorted transmissibility of an image through the lens to a sufficient extent that such pattern is semi-opaque, said disruptions being characterized by a physical form selected from the group consisting of punctate material disruptions, bubbles, fissures, crazes, cracks, and combinatios thereof, essentially all of said pattern being disposed in the interior of said eye lens without any substantial physical disruptions at the eye lens surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3410979A
Cited
US3549733A
Cited
US4194814A
Cited
US4219721A
Cited
US4455893A
Cited
US4563565A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-17 | 1991-11-16 | 1992-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-17 | 1995-11-16 | 1996-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-17 | 1999-11-16 | 2000-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |