Patent US5452031A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5452031A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contact lens and a method for manufacturing contact lens
Assignee: Boston Eye Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1993-05-21
•
Granted: 1995-09-19
•
Expires: 2013-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A contact lens having a smooth surface is made through use of a computer implementing a spline approximation of corneal topology. Piecewise polynomials approximating the corneal topology have equal first and second derivatives where they join. A curve representing the central optical portion of the lens and the piecewise polynomial adjacent to the central optical portion curve have an equal first derivative where they join. A contact lens is cut corresponding to the smooth surface defined by the piecewise polynomials.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher A. Ducharme
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:16
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02C; G02C7/00; G02C7/02; G02C7/024; G02C7/028; B; B24; B24B; B24B13/00; B24B13/0025; G02C7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of manufacturing a contact lens to fit a corneal topology comprising the steps of, providing data representing said corneal topology, generating from said data a plurality of piecewise polynomials approximating said corneal topology, a plurality of adjacent pairs of said piecewise polynomials having equal first and second derivatives where said piecewise polynomials join, and a first derivative of said piecewise polynomial adjacent to a central optical portion being equal to the first derivative of a curve approximating said central portion, where said piecewise polynomials join, and cutting a contact lens surface corresponding to said plurality of piecewise polynomials.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of manufacturing a contact lens to fit a corneal topology comprising the steps of, providing data representing said corneal topology, generating from said data a plurality of piecewise polynomials approximating said corneal topology, a plurality of adjacent pairs of said piecewise polynomials having equal first and second derivatives where said piecewise polynomials join, and a first derivative of said piecewise polynomial adjacent to a central optical portion being equal to the first derivative of a curve approximating said central portion, where said piecewise polynomials join, and cutting a contact lens surface corresponding to said plurality of piecewise polynomials.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of representing each said piecewise polynomial by a third order polynomial equation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein an outermost peripheral section satisfies a not-a-knot condition where it does not join another said piecewise polynomial approximating said corneal topology.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, approximating said corneal topology in its entirety using said piecewise polynomials.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of manufacturing a contact lens to fit a corneal topology comprising the steps of, providing data representing said corneal topology, determining from said data a spline approximating said corneal topology, said spline being clamped to a curve approximating a central portion of the corneal topology, and cutting a contact lens having a peripheral posterior portion corresponding to said spline.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of manufacturing a contact lens to fit a corneal topology comprising the steps of, providing data representing said corneal topology, determining from said data a spline approximating said corneal topology, said spline being clamped to a curve approximating a central portion of the corneal topology, and cutting a contact lens having a peripheral posterior portion corresponding to said spline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of, storing data representing said spline, whereby said contact lens corresponding to said spline is reproducible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 5 comprising the further steps of, displaying said determined spline, and providing a user interface so that said displayed spline can be altered in response to a user generated signal indicating a change in said approximation of said corneal topology.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 comprising the further step of, calculating a spline which provides a lens of a specific thickness having the desired optical and clinical properties.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A contact lens approximating a corneal topology comprising a posterior surface constructed and arranged in the form of a plurality of piecewise polynomials joined end to end, a plurality of adjacent pairs of said piecewise polynomials having equal first and second derivatives where said piecewise polynomials join, and a first derivative of said piecewise polynomial adjacent to a central optical portion being equal to the first derivative of a curve approximating said central portion, where said piecewise polynomial and said optical portion join.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A contact lens approximating a corneal topology comprising a posterior surface constructed and arranged in the form of a plurality of piecewise polynomials joined end to end, a plurality of adjacent pairs of said piecewise polynomials having equal first and second derivatives where said piecewise polynomials join, and a first derivative of said piecewise polynomial adjacent to a central optical portion being equal to the first derivative of a curve approximating said central portion, where said piecewise polynomial and said optical portion join.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The contact lens of claim 9 further comprising a front surface adjoining said back surface, and adapted so that the first derivative of the outermost curve defining each surface is equal where said front surface and said back surface join.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
A system to manufacture contact lens comprising, a digital data processing system connected to an input device to receive data relating to a corneal topology, said processing system comprising means to define a lens surface corresponding to a plurality of piecewise polynomials approximating said corneal topology, a plurality of adjacent pairs of said piecewise polynomials having equal first and second derivatives where said piecewise polynomials join, and a first derivative of said piecewise polynomial adjacent to a central optical portion being equal to the first derivative of a curve approximating said central portion, where said piecewise polynomials join, and a lathe connected to said digital data processing system, for cutting a lens corresponding to said defined lens surface.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
118 words
A system to manufacture contact lens comprising, a digital data processing system connected to an input device to receive data relating to a corneal topology, said processing system comprising means to define a lens surface corresponding to a plurality of piecewise polynomials approximating said corneal topology, a plurality of adjacent pairs of said piecewise polynomials having equal first and second derivatives where said piecewise polynomials join, and a first derivative of said piecewise polynomial adjacent to a central optical portion being equal to the first derivative of a curve approximating said central portion, where said piecewise polynomials join, and a lathe connected to said digital data processing system, for cutting a lens corresponding to said defined lens surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said input device comprises communication means for connecting to and receiving said data from a plurality of remote data generating sources.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4980993A
Cited
US4976534A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-18 | 1999-03-20 | 1999-09-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-18 | 2003-03-20 | 2003-09-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-18 | 2007-03-20 | 2007-09-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |