Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth comprising a hydrogen polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen; and a stock solution of collagen comprising a constituent of a ground substance of tissue added to and interdisposed within said polymeric meshwork forming a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment of such cells to the surface of the hydrogel polymer, said collagen-hydrogel, when attached to Bowman's membrane of the cornea of an eye, being capable of supporting and promoting epithelial cells growth enabling the corneal epithelium to adhere to and cover said collagen-hydrogel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth comprising a hydrogen polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen; and a stock solution of collagen comprising a constituent of a ground substance of tissue added to and interdisposed within said polymeric meshwork forming a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment of such cells to the surface of the hydrogel polymer, said collagen-hydrogel, when attached to Bowman's membrane of the cornea of an eye, being capable of supporting and promoting epithelial cells growth enabling the corneal epithelium to adhere to and cover said collagen-hydrogel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The collagen-hydrogel of claim 1 wherein said stock solution of collagen is a native collagen derived from animal sources and capable of promoting and supporting growth of epithelial cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The collagen-hydrogel of claim 1 wherein said stock solution of collagen is substantially and uniformally distributed with the polymeric meshwork.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The collagen-hydrogel of claim 2 wherein said hydrophilic monomer is hydrogel monomer solution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The collagen-hydrogel of claim 2 wherein said hydrophilic monomer is hydroxyethylemethacrylate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The collagen-hydrogel of claim 1 wherein said hydrogel polymer includes at least one crosslinking agent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The collagen-hydrogel of claim 6 wherein said at least one crosslinking agent is ethylene glycol dimethacrylate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The collagen-hydrogel of claim 1 wherein said hydrogel polymer is crosslinked by means of ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The collagen-hydrogel of claim 2 wherein said native collagen is harvested from tissues of human cornea, livestock cornea or calf's or livestock's skins.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
238 words
A contact lens having a predetermined shape and power which is adapted to be affixed to Bowman's membrane of the cornea of an eye and when so affixed promotes and supports growth of corneal epithelial cells across the surface thereof and which is attached to the surface of the contact lens, said contact lens comprising a lens body having anterior and posterior surface and formed of a collagen-hydrogel capable of promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment comprising a hydrogel polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen; and a stock solution of collagen comprising a constituent of a ground substance of tissue added to and substantially uniformly interdisposed within said polymeric meshwork forming a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment of such cells to the surface of the hydrogel polymer, said collagen-hydrogel being capable of promoting and supporting growth of epithelial cells to form a corneal epithelium of the eye; said lens body being adapted to have the posterior surface thereof positioned over the pupil of an eye and affixed to Bowman's membrane in an area substantially equal to the shape of said lens body having the corneal epithelium removed therefrom, and when so affixed being capable of supporting and promoting cell growth of the corneal epithelium which adheres to and covers the posterior surface of said lens body.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
238 words
A contact lens having a predetermined shape and power which is adapted to be affixed to Bowman's membrane of the cornea of an eye and when so affixed promotes and supports growth of corneal epithelial cells across the surface thereof and which is attached to the surface of the contact lens, said contact lens comprising a lens body having anterior and posterior surface and formed of a collagen-hydrogel capable of promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment comprising a hydrogel polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen; and a stock solution of collagen comprising a constituent of a ground substance of tissue added to and substantially uniformly interdisposed within said polymeric meshwork forming a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment of such cells to the surface of the hydrogel polymer, said collagen-hydrogel being capable of promoting and supporting growth of epithelial cells to form a corneal epithelium of the eye; said lens body being adapted to have the posterior surface thereof positioned over the pupil of an eye and affixed to Bowman's membrane in an area substantially equal to the shape of said lens body having the corneal epithelium removed therefrom, and when so affixed being capable of supporting and promoting cell growth of the corneal epithelium which adheres to and covers the posterior surface of said lens body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The contact lens of claim 10 wherein said lens body shape is molded from the collagen-hydrogel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
216 words
An artificial lens for an eye which is capable of resisting rejection thereof by the cornea and supporting growth and attachment of epithelial cells from the corneal epithelium to the anterior surface of and permanently implanting the artificial lens on the eye, said artificial lens comprising an optical portion configured for placement over the pupillary zone of the eye and on the central anterior surface of Bowman's membrane of the cornea having the corneal epitheleum thereof removed, said optical portion being dimensioned to substantially cover the total anterior surface of the pupillary zone of an eye, said optical portion being formed of a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth comprising a hydrogel polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen; and a stock solution of collagen comprising a constituent of a ground substance of tissue added to and substantially uniformly interdisposed within said polymeric meshwork forming a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment of such cells to the surface of the hydrogel polymer, said collagen-hydrogel being capable of promoting and supporting growth of epithelial cells enabling corneal epithelium to adhere to and cover the anterior surface of and to permanently implant the artificial lens on the eye.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
216 words
An artificial lens for an eye which is capable of resisting rejection thereof by the cornea and supporting growth and attachment of epithelial cells from the corneal epithelium to the anterior surface of and permanently implanting the artificial lens on the eye, said artificial lens comprising an optical portion configured for placement over the pupillary zone of the eye and on the central anterior surface of Bowman's membrane of the cornea having the corneal epitheleum thereof removed, said optical portion being dimensioned to substantially cover the total anterior surface of the pupillary zone of an eye, said optical portion being formed of a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth comprising a hydrogel polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen; and a stock solution of collagen comprising a constituent of a ground substance of tissue added to and substantially uniformly interdisposed within said polymeric meshwork forming a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment of such cells to the surface of the hydrogel polymer, said collagen-hydrogel being capable of promoting and supporting growth of epithelial cells enabling corneal epithelium to adhere to and cover the anterior surface of and to permanently implant the artificial lens on the eye.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The artificial lens for an eye of claim 12 wherein the stock solution of collagen is formed of native collagen derived from animal sources and capable of promoting and supporting growth of corneal epithelial cells.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The artificial lens for an eye of claim 12 wherein the hydrophilic monomer of the collagen-hydrogel is hydroxyethylemethacrylate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The artificial lens for an eye of claim 12 wherein the hydrogel polymer of the collagen-hydrogel includes at least one crosslinking agent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The artificial lens for an eye of claim 12 wherein said at least one crosslinking agent in the hydrogel polymer of the collagen-hydrogel is ethylene glycol dimethacrylate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The artificial lens for an eye of claim 13 wherein said native collagen of the collagen-hydrogel collagen is harvested from tissues of human cornea, livestock cornea or calf's skins.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The artificial lens of claim 13 wherein said native collagen of the collagen-hydrogel is human tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The collagen-hydrogel of claim 1 wherein the collagen-hydrogel has traces of ammonium persulfate and sodium metabisulfate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
118 words
A collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth formed from a stock solution of collagen which is produced by centrifuging and concentrating a soluble collagen and adding the stock solution of collagen to a hydrogel polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen from the stock solution of collagen forming a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment of such cells to the surface of the hydrogel polymer, said collagen-hydrogel, when attached to Bowman's membrane of the cornea of an eye, being capable of supporting and promoting epithelial cells growth enabling the corneal epithelium to adhere to and cover said collagen-hydrogel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
118 words
A collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth formed from a stock solution of collagen which is produced by centrifuging and concentrating a soluble collagen and adding the stock solution of collagen to a hydrogel polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen from the stock solution of collagen forming a collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and attachment of such cells to the surface of the hydrogel polymer, said collagen-hydrogel, when attached to Bowman's membrane of the cornea of an eye, being capable of supporting and promoting epithelial cells growth enabling the corneal epithelium to adhere to and cover said collagen-hydrogel.