US5264161A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of using surfactants as contact lens processing aids
Assignee: Bausch and Lomb Inc
•
Filing: 1991-09-05
•
Granted: 1993-11-23
•
Expires: 2011-09-05
Abstract
Abstract An improved method for manufacturing hydrophilic polymeric devices wherein surfactants are added to the hydration bath to assist in the mold release and processing of hydrophilic polymeric devices, especially hydrophilic contact lenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J. Druskis
- 👤 Rose Ann Milne
- 👤 Dennis Hahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:35
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00009; B29D11/00038; B29D11/00125; B29D11/00192; B29C; B29C33/00; B29C33/56; B29C33/60; B29C33/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
An improved method for releasing hydrophilic polymeric lenses from plastic molds in which said polymeric lenses have been polymerized the improvement which comprises the addition of a surfactant to an aqueous hydration bath for releasing the lens, the hydration bath having an amount of surfactant sufficient to achieve a surfactant concentration of from 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. %.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
An improved method for releasing hydrophilic polymeric lenses from plastic molds in which said polymeric lenses have been polymerized the improvement which comprises the addition of a surfactant to an aqueous hydration bath for releasing the lens, the hydration bath having an amount of surfactant sufficient to achieve a surfactant concentration of from 0.1 wt. % to 10 wt. %.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylene lauryl ethers, polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ethers, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleates, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurates, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monpalmitates, polyoxyethylene stearyl ethers, and their polyoxypropylene analogs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surfactant is dioctyl sodium sulfo-succinate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said surfactant is polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of said bath ranges from 30 degrees C. to 100 degrees C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of said bath ranges from 35 degrees C. to 80 degrees C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said hydrophilic polymeric lenses are contact lenses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said bath comprises from 0.25 wt % to 10 wt % concentration of surfactant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said bath comprises a 0.5 wt % concentration of surfactant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said bath comprises a 0.5 wt % concentration of polyoxyethylene sorbitan 20 monooleate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2976576A
Cited
US3220960A
Cited
US3496254A
Cited
US3426102A
Cited
US3428043A
Cited
US3520949A
Cited
US3679504A
Cited
US3618231A
Cited
US4042652A
Cited
US4347198A
Cited
US4699934A
Cited
US4534916A
Cited
US4761069A
Cited
US5034461A
Cited
US4983332A
Cited
EP0436153A2
Cited
EP0453231A2
Cited
US5080839A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-22 | 1997-05-24 | 1997-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-22 | 2001-05-24 | 2001-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-22 | 2005-05-24 | 2005-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |