JP2023041650A - Contact lens package and usage and manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a contact lens package.SOLUTION: The invention is about an improved contact lens package and its usage manufacturing and assembling methods. The contact lens package is configured as such that it contains contact lens and packaging solution, when a force is applied to the lever of the package and/or when the package is squeezed by the user, the contact lens is lifted out of the packaging solution.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

(Cross reference to related applications)
This patent application is filed September 14, 2020, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/077,779; No. 63/124,835, filed on September 13, 2021, and US Provisional Application No. 63/243,525, filed September 13, 2021.

In a conventional contact lens package, the contact lens is typically placed in a molded plastic base having a cavity (or "bowl") containing the contact lens with its concave side facing up. As a result, the user experience for transferring a contact lens from the package to the eye generally consists of the user "picking" the contact lens out of the bowl with a finger and then flipping the lens to place it on the eye. It involves getting the correct orientation on top. This process requires multiple touches of the lens, which can transfer contaminants or pathogens from the hand to the lens and ultimately to the eye. Not only is this handling experience unsanitary, it is also overly cumbersome, cumbersome, and mechanically stresses the lens, which when over-manipulated tears, breaks, or ruptures. It can be distorted. Some packages are designed to present the lens with the convex side facing up to eliminate the need to invert the lens, but often achieve transfer of the lens to the eye. To do so, the lens still needs to be "picked" out of the packaging solution, or otherwise requires manipulation of the lens and/or multiple touches of the lens.

In view of increased eye health awareness and customer demand for a more convenient experience, a need has arisen for contact lens packages that allow for a less cumbersome and more hygienic contact lens handling process. In one regard, "one-touch" packaging, i.e., the contact lens wearer can remove the lens from the lens storage package with a single touch of one of the user's fingers, and then, with this single touch, properly position the lens on the eye. It would be ideal to provide contact lens wearers with a package that allows them to With such a design, there is no need to transfer and manipulate the lens from one finger to another prior to placing the lens on the eye. Providing such a one-touch package not only streamlines the lens preparation and insertion process, but also drops the lens when it is being prepared for orientation and insertion onto the eye. , or other fingers of the wearer, and also reduces the possibility of touching the side of the lens intended to contact the eye.

The design of one-touch lens packages faces several different challenges. The wearer, ideally, should be able to consistently position and adhere the lens to the finger during removal from the package, and then release the lens consistently from the finger onto the eye. need to Each contact lens (both reusable and daily disposable types) has its own unique surface, bulk, and geometric properties. Finger sizes and forces applied to the lenses by contact lens wearers during transport may also vary. These factors can affect the process of picking the lens from the package onto the finger and then onto the surface of the eye. Among other considerations, variations in the amount of packaging solution that adheres to the lens and package can affect the process of placing the lens on the finger and thus the ability to adhere the lens to the finger. It would be desirable for the wearer to be able to expel any toxic packaging solution. It would also be desirable to drain the packaging solution in a controlled manner to avoid leakage. It would also be beneficial for the packaging solution to remain sterile and accessible to the wearer after opening to allow rewetting or cleaning of the lenses. Also, wearers may be concerned about the possibility of transferring external products, such as bacteria or cosmetics, to contact lenses and, of course, the manufacture of the package itself is recognized by medical and commercial provider associations. It should also conform to expected industry standards.

Additionally, the one-touch package should ideally not add prohibitively to the cost of goods over current contact lens packages. as this can result in increased costs to the wearer population. The package should not make it difficult to hold the lens when removed from the package. Additionally, if the configuration of the package were to maintain or even reduce the volume of solution required to package the lens, this would reduce the ecological impact of the lens package. Likewise, it would be beneficial if all or part of the packaging could be made from recycled materials and/or be wholly or partially recyclable.

In addition, it would be advantageous if the package were constructed of materials that are already approved by various regulatory agencies and ideally do not require changes in solution chemistry or lens composition. Optimally, as well, the functionality of the package preferably prevents any electronics or other electrical components, insofar as such components may adversely affect the performance of either the package or the lens. , do not incorporate.

There are several desirable attributes that make it difficult to achieve one-touch package functionality and are often lacking in known attempts to create one-touch packages. These attributes include, for example: i) the package should ideally protect the lens, i.e. protect the integrity of the lens (e.g. lens shape and optical integrity); ii) the lens package should maintain the hydration of the lens when stored in order to maintain the properties of the lens, and iii). 4.) The lens within its package is preferably fully immersed in the package solution, if desired, and configured to remove such solution when ready to be transferred from the package. iv) the package should generally have a retortable seal to contain both the lens and the solution; vi) the lens should be positioned so that it can be easily removed by the wearer; and vii) the package should ideally be at It should be possible to effectively drain the packaged solution from the lens immediately, allowing it to be more easily transported to the wearer's fingers and then onto the eye.

Known packages that have attempted to provide reduced touch or one-touch orientation fail to provide one or more of the above desired attributes of one-touch packages. For example, WO2014/195588, WO2009/069265, and JP6339322 disclose packages presenting lenses in a convex bowl-down configuration. However, the lens support structure substantially conforms to the shape of the contact lens, thereby providing an undesirable contact area between the lens and the lens support. These references are also silent regarding mechanisms for effective solution drainage from lenses and lens supports.

Similarly, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20200229560 describes a lens support that supports the concave (anterior or anterior) surface of a contact lens, or the contact lens rim, and when the lens package is opened, the packaging solution may form a lattice. A package is disclosed that has a grid through which it can be discharged into the bottom chamber. The aforementioned deficiencies of the prior art are merely exemplary and not exhaustive.

Accordingly, there remains a need for contact lens packages that provide a consistent one-touch lens removal experience, effective solution management, or that address one or a combination of the aforementioned challenges or deficiencies.

It has now been found that some or all of the foregoing and related objectives can be achieved in a contact lens package having one or more of the aspects described herein. For example, a contact lens package of the present invention can contain a contact lens and a packaging solution, wherein the package is configured to lift the contact lens out of the packaging solution when the package is being squeezed by the user. The contact lens package includes a lid, a base, a cavity containing the contact lens and packaging solution, and a lever, which hinges along a pivot line of the base when a force is applied to the lever. and a base including a lever configured to operate. The package intersects the lens support with the pivot line such that a force applied to the lever causes the lens support to lift the contact lens out of the package solution and into position on the lens support for one-touch transfer by the user. can further include: In some cases, the lever is a separate component that is connected to the base by attachment means. The pivot line can be defined by at least one void in the base and can be imparted to the base by one or more of creases, cuts, lines, etching, and the like. The base of the package may consist of plastic and the lid may be a film. In some cases, the base and lens support and/or the lever and lens support are a single unitary component.

The lens support can be bonded to the base by i) laser welding, ii) heating, iii) ultrasonic welding, iv) adhesives, or the like. The base can include one or more finger engagement features configured to assist the user in gripping the package or to direct the application of force such that the lever hinges downward. Possible figure engagement features include a projection of the base at the distal end of the package and/or an overhang along at least a portion of the circumference of the package. A dimple sized to correspond to a user's finger or thumb can be located at the end of the base proximal to the user. The finger engaging features are distal finger engaging features, one positioned at the end of the base proximal to the user and the other positioned at the end of the base distal to the user. can be paired so that Alternatively, the finger engagement features can be located on any other opposite side or end of the package.

The package lid can include one or more lens-facing surfaces that extend downward into the cavity above the contact lenses when the package is in an unopened state. The lens-facing surface and the lens support are in a cavity such that the optic zone of the contact lens floats in the package solution between the lens-facing surface and the lens support when the package is in an unopened state. can be configured within A cavity in the package can accommodate a contact lens in a raised position when the package is in an unopened or opened state. Also, the lens support can have a profile that does not substantially match the profile of the contact lens. The wet contact area between the lens support and the contact lens may be less than about 30 mm ² , less than about 25 mm ² , or less than about 20 mm ² when the package is in the opened state. The package can include a lid insert having at least one alignment feature and/or one or more lockout features.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more specific description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3A-3D illustrate the steps of opening a contact lens package, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 3A-3D illustrate the steps of opening a contact lens package, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 3A-3D illustrate the steps of opening a contact lens package, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 3A-3D illustrate the steps of opening a contact lens package, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 1 shows a perspective view of a contact lens package in an open state, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a contact lens package, according to certain embodiments. FIG. FIG. 10 shows an enlarged view of a lid insert within a cavity of an embodiment; 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an unopened contact lens package, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an unopened contact lens package, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 4 illustrates an air inlet guide for a contact lens package, according to certain embodiments. 4A and 4B show an embodiment of a lens support in side and top views, respectively; 4A and 4B show an embodiment of a lens support in side and top views, respectively; Figures 4A and 4B show alternative embodiment lens supports in side and top views, respectively; Figures 4A and 4B show alternative embodiment lens supports in side and top views, respectively; 1 illustrates an embodiment contact lens package in a nested configuration. 1 illustrates an exemplary method of manufacturing a contact lens package, according to certain embodiments. 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support; 1 illustrates an exemplary lens support;

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein reference numerals indicate specific elements. The following description is not intended to limit the myriad of embodiments to a single preferred embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

References to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example embodiment," etc. Although the illustrated embodiments may include a particular feature, structure, aspect, or property, it is not intended that all embodiments necessarily include a particular feature, structure, or property. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, where certain features, structures, aspects or characteristics are described in connection with one embodiment, the implementation of such features, structures or characteristics in connection with other embodiments is expressly are considered to be within the knowledge of those skilled in the art, whether or not described in

As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings. An advantage of certain embodiments of the present invention is that they pass from the package to the wearer's finger and then from the finger to the wearer's eye without flipping the lenses, dropping them off the finger, or further manipulation. To facilitate consistent one-touch lens transfer to the Consistent lens transport includes a transport rate of at least about 70%, at least about 80%, or at least about 90% of the transport relative to the initial finger (or "dab") touch. The lens also desirably "rises" on the finger without folding or flipping and then transfers to the eye when placed on the eye. Packages of certain embodiments can provide the desired one-touch transfer over a range of finger sizes and dove pressures. Environmental conditions such as temperature and whether the finger is wet or dry can also affect transfer rates, with higher temperatures generally improving lens transfer.

Lens(es) or contact lens(es) refer to an ophthalmic device that resides on the eye. They generally have a hemispherical shape and are used for optical correction, cosmetic enhancement, UV shielding and visible light or glare reduction, wound healing, therapeutic efficacy including drug or nutraceutical delivery, diagnostic assessment or monitoring, or any of these. can provide a combination of The term lens includes soft hydrogel contact lenses, which are generally provided to the consumer in a hydrated package and have a relatively low modulus of elasticity that allows them to conform to the cornea. Contact lenses suitable for use with the packages of the present invention include all hydrated contact lenses, including conventional hydrogel contact lenses and silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Hydrogels are hydrated crosslinked polymer systems that contain water in the equilibrium state and can contain at least about 25%, or at least 35% water in the hydrated state. Hydrogels are typically oxygen permeable and biocompatible, making them excellent materials for manufacturing contact lenses.

Conventional hydrogel contact lenses do not contain silicone-containing components and generally have higher water content, lower oxygen permeability, elastic modulus, and shape memory than silicone hydrogels. Conventional hydrogels are prepared from monomer mixtures containing primarily hydrophilic monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”), N-vinylpyrrolidone (“NVP”), or polyvinyl alcohol. US Pat. Nos. 4,495,313, 4,889,664, and 5,039,459 disclose the formation of conventional hydrogels. Conventional hydrogels can be ionic or non-ionic and include polymacon, etafilcon, nelfilcon, ocufilcon, lenefilcon, and the like. The oxygen permeability of these conventional hydrogel materials is typically less than 20-30 barrers.

Silicone hydrogel formulations include balafilcon samfilcon, lotrafilcon A and B, delfilcon, galyfilcon, senofilcon A, B and C, oak Examples include narafilcon, comfilcon, formofilcon, riofilcon, fanfilcon, stenfilcon, somofilcon, and kalifilcon. "Silicone hydrogel" refers to a polymer network made from at least one hydrophilic component and at least one silicone-containing component. Silicone hydrogels can have a modulus in the range of 60-200, 60-150, or 80-130 psi, and a water content in the range of 20-60%. Examples of silicone hydrogels include acquafilcon, asmofilcon, balafilcon, comfilcon, delefilcon, enfilcon, fanfilcon, formo formofilcon, galyfilcon, lotrafilcon, narafilcon, riofilcon, samfilcon, senofilcon, somofilcon, and stenfilcon ), verofilcon (including all variations thereof), as well as U.S. Pat. 5,314,960, 5,331,067, 5,371,147, 5,998,498, 6,087,415, 5,760,100 No. 5,776,999, No. 5,789,461, No. 5,849,811, No. 5,965,631, No. 6,367,929, No. 6 , 822,016, 6,867,245, 6,943,203, 7,247,692, 7,249,848, 7,553,880 , Nos. 7,666,921, 7,786,185, 7,956,131, 8,022,158, 8,273,802, 8, 399,538, 8,470,906, 8,450,387, 8,487,058, 8,507,577, 8,637,621, 8,703,891, 8,937,110, 8,937,111, 8,940,812, 9,056,878, 9,057 , 821, 9,125,808, 9,140,825, 9156,934, 9,170,349, 9,244,196, 9 , 244,197, 9,260,544, 9,297,928, 9,297,929 and WO 03/22321, Silicone hydrogels such as those prepared in 2008/061992 and US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0048847. These patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Silicone hydrogels can have a higher shape memory than conventional contact lenses.

Hydrogel lenses are viscoelastic materials. Contact lenses can form optical distortions if the lens interacts with either the package or any air bubbles within the package. The degree of optical distortion, and the length of time required for the distortion to relax, varies with chemistry and to a lesser extent with lens geometry. Conventional lens materials, such as polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate-based lenses such as Etafilcon A or Polymacon, have low loss modulus and tan delta compared to silicone hydrogels, resulting in less and Less severe optical distortions can be created. Incorporation of silicone (which generally increases the bulk elastic response), wetting agents such as PVP (which generally increases the viscous response), or coatings of conventional hydrogel materials (which can reduce the elastic response at the lens interface) can enhance the lens' Viscoelastic properties can be changed. Conventional hydrogel contact lenses and silicone hydrogel contact lenses with short or rigid crosslinkers and/or curing agents have short shape memory and may be less susceptible to deformation during storage. As used herein, a high or higher shape memory hydrogel exhibits an optical strain of at least about 0.18 from contact with air bubbles or packaging after accelerated aging at 55° C. for 5 weeks. Viscoelastic properties, including loss modulus and tan delta, can be measured using dynamic mechanical analysis.

Contact lenses may be of any geometry or power and have a generally hemispherical shape, with a concave posterior surface that rests against the eye in use and a contact lens that faces away from the eye and during blinking. and a convex anterior surface in contact with the eyelid.

The center or vertex of the lens is the center of the lens optic zone. The optical zone provides optical correction and can have a diameter of about 7 mm to about 10 mm. The lens perimeter or lens edge is the edge where the anterior and posterior sides meet.

A wet lens is a contact lens and any residual packaging solution adhered to it after the packaging solution has been drained. Wet contact is the total contact area between the wetted lens and the lens support.

Embodiments can include a lens support surrounded by a sealable cavity, also interchangeably referred to as a chamber. The cavity can have any convenient form and can include a package base and at least a lid, each of which is described in detail below. As used herein, the terms "the lid," "a lid," "the base," and "a base" are used in the singular and plural. includes both The lid and package base are sealed together to form a cavity that keeps the contact lens, support, and package solution sterile during shipping and storage prior to use. The contact lens package is compatible with contact lenses and solutions, and is made from materials that are retortable and biologically inert.

A "film" or "multilayer film" is a film used to seal packages, often called lidstock. Multilayer films used in conventional contact lens packages can be used in the packages of the present invention as base, lid components, or both. Multilayer films include multiple layers, including a barrier layer, or coating, including a foil layer, a sealing layer that seals the film to the rest of the package, a release initiation layer, a lamination layer, and stiffness, heat resistance, printing Additional layers selected from layers that improve other package properties such as suitability, puncture resistance, barrier resistance to water or oxygen may also be included. The multilayer film forms a steam sterilizable (retortable) seal. Multilayer films can include PET, BON, or OPP film layers for increased stiffness and heat resistance, or EVOH or PVDC coatings for improved barrier resistance to oxygen or water vapor.

As used herein, "unopened" or "unopened" refers to a contact lens package that is closed and contains contact lenses in solution.

As used herein, "open state" or "open" refers to the contact lens package after the sterilization seal has been broken. Depending on the context described herein, the open condition extends to the condition of the package when the user manipulates the package to cause the lens to be lifted out of the packaging solution for transfer by the user.

As used herein, "wearer" or "user" refers to the person opening the contact lens package. A user is generally considered the person who opens the package and transfers the contact lens contained therein to the person's eye. However, the user in some contexts may use the lens package on behalf of the wearer, such as an eye care provider (“ECP”) or another individual who performs for or assists the wearer. can be a person who deals with

The packaging solution is any physiologically compatible solution compatible with the selected lens material and packaging. Package solutions include buffered solutions having a physiological pH, such as buffered saline solutions. Package solutions can contain known ingredients including buffers, pH and tonicity modifiers, lubricants, wetting agents, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, package coating ingredients, and the like.

A package base can form the bottom of the package. It can be made from any material suitable for packaging medical devices, including plastic. A package lid generally resides at the top portion of the package and seals the base to form a cavity that houses the lens support, the lens, and at least a portion of the package solution. The lid can be made from any material suitable for packaging medical devices, including molded sheets of foil or plastic, laminated films, or plastic. Packages comprising plastic for the structure on the one hand and foil or laminated film on the other, or packages comprising foil or laminated film as outer layers of the lid and base are known in the art and are examples of suitable combinations. .

Reference throughout this description to the injection molding process and the use of materials conventionally applied to injection molding should be understood as exemplary. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other means of manufacture are possible within the scope of the appended claims, including but not limited to alternative molding processes, thermoforming, 3D printing, and the like. Similarly, references to heat seals and heat sealing are exemplary to the embodiments described herein. Other means of securing package components will be apparent to those skilled in the art, including the use of adhesives, glue, thermal bonding, welding such as heat, ultrasonic or laser welding, or mechanical traps and the like.

A particular aspect of the present invention is the ability of contact lenses to adhere to air bubbles or interactions with the interior of the lens package that may occur during storage or shipping due to gravitational or other forces, such as mechanical pressure applied from outside the package. can help reduce or prevent significant optical damage to the As used herein, significant optical damage means a root-mean-squared (RMS) value of about 0.08 μm or greater.

Referring to the figures, FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate steps for handling a contact lens package containing contact lenses in a packaging solution, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. An unopened contact lens package 100 with lid 106 and base 110 is shown in FIG. 1A. In this embodiment, lid 106 is a multi-layer film, also referred to herein as foil, and base 110 is constructed from a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene plastic. In this embodiment, the lid 106 takes the form of a relatively flexible material (i.e., a multi-layer film) and the base 110 takes the form of a relatively rigid material, although other embodiments include lid and It should be appreciated that both of the bases can include substantially rigid components. For example, in some embodiments both the base and lid can be constructed of polypropylene plastic or other relatively rigid material. The base 110 includes a pivot line 114 along which the portion of the base forming the lever 118 can hinge when a force is applied to the lever 118 .

Base 110 further includes a number of optional finger engagement features 122a-122c to assist the user in handling the contact lens package during the opening process. Finger dimple 122a, which may be sized to correspond to a user's finger or thumb, is located at the end of base 110 proximal to the user. An overhang 122b along the periphery of the base 110 and a projection 122c are located at the end of the package 118 distal to the user. The finger dimples 122a in this embodiment are also angled downward such that a force, eg, pressure applied by the user's thumb, causes the lever 118 to hinge downward at the pivot line 114. FIG. The package 100 in this embodiment is for example held down by the user when the lever is depressed or when the package is squeezed, i.e. by the user by hand at opposite ends of the package, i.e. one end. It is further configured with a profile that slopes from the proximal to the distal end to further promote a downward moment on the lever when pressure is applied by the fingers on one side and the thumb on the other. In this embodiment, the package 100 is configured such that a squeezing force is applied to the distal and proximal ends. However, alternate embodiments are possible in which the opposing forces associated with squeezing are applied to alternate opposite ends of the package such as, but not limited to, the sides, left, and right of the package.

In a first step, shown in FIG. 1B, a user is holding an unopened contact lens package 100 by its base 110 . As shown, the user's grip on the package 100 provides a more stable grip on the package and/or in a later step presents the contact lens contained in the package to the user for transfer to the user's eye. It can be improved by one or more finger engagement features 122a-c that are arranged and configured to assist in applying a force that causes lifting to occur. Finger dimple 106 is positioned on lever 118 of base 110 and is sized for a user's thumb 126 to grip the package. At each opposite end of the package 100, the user lifts the package as shown by firmly positioning a finger under the overhang 122b and against the protrusion 122c at the end of the base 110. can be grasped. In the case of overhangs, the overhang regions may be curved or flat to provide an increased area that can provide opposing forces when the package is being squeezed. . The user can then open the package by opening the lid 106, which in this embodiment allows the user to roll the foil from the proximal end to the distal end of the base 110 in the direction indicated by arrow 134. It involves peeling open 106 , thus breaking the sterile seal between foil (lid) 106 and base 110 . Although not required, in this preferred embodiment the package is optimized for opening by the user grasping the base with one hand and peeling off the lid 106 with the other hand.

As shown in the step shown in FIG. 1C, the package lid 106 may be removed by completely removing the lid as shown, or alternatively, the package solution (not shown) on the lens support 140 may be removed. ) by partial removal sufficient to substantially expose a lens cavity 136 containing a contact lens 138 suspended therein. With package 100 opened, the user then applies force 142 to lever 118 . In this embodiment, the package is squeezed by the user such that the user's hands or hands apply opposing forces 142 and 146 to the proximal and distal ends of the package, respectively, thereby causing lever 118 to exert greater force. configured to generate force.

Referring to FIG. 1D, force applied by the user to the lever causes lens support 140 to lift contact lens 138 out of the packaging solution (not shown). Ideally, the lens support lifts the contact lens high enough above the package cavity where the lens faces the user, and is thus visible and transferable from the support, while the lens is not subject to gravity. It is configured to be lifted not so high that it slides off the support underneath. This can be achieved with a lift angle of about 15° to 60° relative to the horizontal plane defining the top of the base when force is applied by the user. The lens support preferably, when so lifted, as in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, allows sufficient packaging solution to drain from the contact lens to allow one-touch transfer by the user. The user taps (also referred to interchangeably as “dubbing”) the convex surface of the contact lens 138 to release the contact lens from the lens support 138 by tapping the contact lens onto the user's finger 154 . Contact lens 138 is transferred from lens support 140 by allowing it to adhere.

In this embodiment, the contact lens 138 is conveniently presented to the wearer in a convex orientation, without the need to reorient the lens prior to placing the concave side of the lens 138 on the surface of the wearer's eye. Convex sides are meant to be accessible to the wearer. However, it will be appreciated that other orientations, such as the concave orientation of conventional blister packages, are possible within the scope of the present invention. Transfer of the contact lens 138 from the lens support 140 can be by the wearer's finger 154, directly touching the lens, or by applying an applicator film (eg, as described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20190046353) or finger contact. It can be done either by touching indirectly through another cover applied to the surface, or by another transfer means such as a manual or automatic applicator device or tool. Upon transfer of the contact lens 138 from the package 100, the lens is placed such that the convex side of the contact lens 138 touches the finger 154 and the concave side of the lens 138 touches the surface of the user's eye, as shown in the illustrated steps. It is placed on the finger 154 (or other transfer means), oriented for direct application.

2 and 3, FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the open contact lens package 100 with the lens support 140 lifting the contact lens 138 out of the packaging solution (not shown). FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the contact lens package 100. FIG. Contact lens package 100 includes a base 110 having a proximal end (A) and a distal end (B). At its distal end (B), the base 110 hinges along a cavity 136 containing a contact lens 138 in the packaging solution and a pivot line 114 of the base when a force is applied to the lever 118. and a lever 118 configured to. In this embodiment, lever 118 is formed as part of an integral component that makes up base 118 . More specifically, base 110, including lever 118, is formed as a one-piece, injection-molded polypropylene plastic part. Alternative materials and processes for forming the base will be understood by those skilled in the art, including thermoforming and 3D printing (using materials such as ABS, PLA, HIPS, PETG, nylon, or others). deaf. Preferably, the material used for the base is relatively rigid, having a glass transition temperature of about 125 C when measured according to ASTM D1238-10 (Standard Test Method for Melt Flow Rate of Thermoplastics by Extrusion Plastometer). (T _g ). In this embodiment, pivot line 114 is defined by a plurality of voids 158 in the base. Air gaps 158 are positioned in a linear configuration along the horizontal axis at which lever 118 hinges. The lack of material that creates the air gap 158 provides sufficient relief along the line in the base material to hinge the lever 118 at the desired position when force is applied to the lever by the user. The distance of the lifting arm, ie the distance from the pivot line to the center of the contact lens when placed on the support, is about 10-12 mm, preferably 12-17 mm. The use of one or more voids is but one of the myriad ways in which a pivot line can be defined within the scope of the present invention. For example, in other embodiments where the lever is formed of the same material as the rest of the base, the material is made thinner along the pivot line by laterally creasing the plastic at the desired location. and/or by cutting, etching, or otherwise imparting pivot lines to the base material. Additionally, in embodiments where the lever takes the form of a separate component, the pivot line may simply represent the horizontal interface between the lever and the rest of the base. In such embodiments, hinge motion along the pivot line can be provided by hinge components, rotatable interlocking attachments, or the like. It should be understood that alternative embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention in which the lever is a separate component coupled to the remainder of the base by attachment means. For example, forming the lever as a separate injection molded part and then forming the remainder of the base separately via a number of attachment means including laser welding, ultrasonic welding, adhesives, mechanical attachment, heat staking, etc. It can be attached to a molded (or printed, etc.) part.

The underside of the base is slanted, as in the illustrated embodiment, to allow the packages to "nest", thereby keeping the primary packaging material and contact lenses hydrated. In addition to reducing the amount of packaging solution required, it can allow for more compact secondary packaging during storage and shipping (as further described with reference to FIG. 9). In this example, the base 110 slopes from the proximal end (A) to the distal end (B) at an angle of approximately 14°, leaving a footprint of approximately 29 mm wide, 44 mm long, and 9.5 mm high. have. A preferred slope has a range of about 10-20°, but the slope can be steeper, eg, about 20-30°, if desired. The base includes a well or cavity 136 formed in a tapered region in which a contact lens 138 and lens support 140 are received when the package 100 is unopened. In this embodiment, the cavity has a volume of approximately 2240 μL, which is loaded with approximately 2080 μL of packaging solution, sufficient to completely immerse the contact lens 138 within the cavity 136 . Foil lid 106 is secured to base 110 via a retortable seal formed between beads 152 on the top surface of the base around cavity 136 . The seal can be formed by known heat sealing techniques and related equipment.

A finger engaging feature (dimple) 122a is sized to accommodate a user's finger or thumb and is located at the end of base 110 proximal to the user. The finger dimples 122a in this embodiment are also angled downward such that a force, eg, pressure applied by the user's thumb, causes the lever 118 to hinge downward at the pivot line 114. FIG. The finger dimple position of this dimple and the position of the user's finger relative to the pivot line affect the amount of squeeze force required to hinge the lever along the pivot line. In this example, the dimple depth below the pivot line is 4.5 mm as measured from the seal level to the base of the dimple.

Lens support 140 is coupled to lever 118 such that a force applied to lever 118 causes lens support 140 to lift contact lens 138 out of the packaging solution. In the illustrated embodiment, the lens support 140 is a separately molded (or printed) component that is fixedly attached to the lever 118 portion of the base. Here, attachment is via stakes 162 formed in the lever portion of the base material. The lens support 140 has openings 166 corresponding to the stakes 162 so that the stakes 162 fit into the openings 166 when the lens support 140 is placed on the base. Heat is applied to the stakes/openings using a hot plate to deform the plastic material using heat and force to hold the stakes firmly in place like rivets. Joining is accomplished by partially deforming stake 162 around opening 166 . Numerous other means of attachment besides heat staking are possible within the scope of the claims, including, for example, laser welding, ultrasonic welding, gluing, mechanical clipping, and the like. Additionally, it should be noted that in alternative embodiments, the lens support may be formed as part of the same integrally molded or printed component as the entire lever and/or base. The bond/attachment point of the lens support to the lever is preferably about 2-5 mm from the pivot line to the front face of the peg/stake. In many embodiments, such as the one shown where the pivot line is formed by creases in plastic or other substantially rigid material, the pivot line may have a thickness, i.e., completely It does not have to be sharp. In these cases, such separation between the attachment point and the pivot line may be necessary to maximize the lift angle for a given bending force.

As seen in FIG. 2, the underside of lid 106 includes a plurality of lens-facing surfaces 168, which in this embodiment are formed as protrusions extending downward toward the convex surfaces of the lenses. The lens-facing surface 168 is generally shaped to mirror the convex lens surface of the contact lens to be received within the lid cavity 136 . The lens-facing surface 168 functions to align the contact lens over the lens support and to protect the contact lens from significant optical damage due to gravity or air-induced forces. In some embodiments, the lens-facing surface also acts as an air inlet guide by guiding air entering the package over the contact lens to reduce the incidence of the contact lens sticking to the package upon opening. function as In this case, the lens-facing surface is provided on a molded plastic lid insert 170, which is attached to the inner surface of the foil lid 106 by heat sealing. However, in other embodiments, the lens facing surface may be integral with the lid rather than being a separate component, for example if the lid is substantially rigid. It will be appreciated that all features described as being applied to the lid insert are equally applicable to embodiments in which the same features are integrated with the lid.

The lens-facing surfaces of the present invention function to support the lens when loaded by these forces to avoid or reduce significant optical damage. For example, the interaction of gravity and air bubbles in the packaging solution can lead to optical damage if not properly controlled. In one aspect, the lens-facing surface, such as lens-facing surface 168 of the illustrated embodiment, has a thickness of at least about 3 percent, preferably at least about 20 percent, while still accommodating any desired air evacuation channels. %, or as large as possible, including a relatively large contactable surface area. The contactable surface area is the lens and the surface facing the lens when the lens is loaded, i.e., placed in contact under an applied force such as, but not limited to, gravity or bubble interaction. is understood to mean the contact area between The accessible surface area determines the pressure applied to the area of the lens when/when the lens is loaded. The larger the area, the lower the pressure. In the illustrated embodiment, the lens-facing surface 168 has a contactable surface area of 100 mm ² , whereas a conventional contact lens has a surface area of approximately 215 mm ² . As discussed in more detail below, a surface area above the lens is used to facilitate movement of air entering the package and to reduce any tendency of the lens to stick to the lens-facing surface/lid insert. preferably at least 10% of is left exposed.

Lens-facing surfaces 168 are also spaced apart to define air exhaust channels 169 to allow air, particularly air bubbles in the packaging solution, to travel away from the contact lens and into the volume surrounding cavity 136 . . Advantageously, the air exhaust channel has a positive slope towards the surrounding volume with a vertical rise of at least about 2 mm. The air exhaust channel allows smaller air bubbles to escape from the area around the lens surface while avoiding larger air bubbles from entering the space above the lens. Towards this end, a preferred embodiment provides at least two polarizers each having a width of about 1 mm to 1.5 mm, or preferably 1.5 mm to 2 mm, specifically 1.5 mm in the illustrated embodiment. Including air exhaust channel. In a related aspect, air exhaust channels 169 advantageously form an "X" configuration. This configuration of air exhaust channel positions relative to each other ensures that when the package is rotated sideways, at least one of the channels will always be aligned with the central axis from near the center of the cavity angled with respect to the plane perpendicular to gravity. allows you to have This aspect takes advantage of buoyancy to allow air bubbles to escape from the lens regardless of the orientation the lens package takes, thus, for example, air bubbles that might otherwise arise from pushing the lens into the lens support. Reduce some optical damage.

The lid insert 170 is attached to the inner surface of the lid 106 in this embodiment by a heat seal between the multilayer film lid 106 and the upper planar surfaces 172a-d of the lid insert. As discussed in more detail later herein, alignment of the lid insert with the base during the heat-sealing process and during storage is achieved by including one or more alignment features on the base and/or lid insert. can be assisted by For example, alignment features 174 in the illustrated embodiment take the form of columns on the inner walls of cavity 136 of base 110 . Alignment features 174 resist rotation and lateral movement of lid insert 170 when pressure is applied to seal package 100 or during normal use. forming the cavity and lid insert (or an integral part of the lid including the surface facing the lens) with a non-circular shape such that the components are inherently interlocking and resist rotation, including but not limited to; , alternative alignment features are possible.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an enlarged view of lid insert 170 when inserted into cavity 132 of base 110 is shown. The location of alignment features (eg, columns 174 ) on the walls of cavity 136 of base 110 correspond to openings 178 of lid insert 170 . Column 174 and opening 178 cooperate as an assembly to limit rotation and lateral movement of lid insert 170 . In another aspect, the lid insert prevents the lens support from being lifted (other than for the expected time during opening) and prevents the lens support from being lifted when sealing pressure is applied or during storage, shipping, or the user. can be configured to ensure that the lens is not compressed within the package by an external force when opening the package. When pressure is applied overhead, e.g., when the lid is sealed to the base, or when the lid insert (if present) is sealed to the lid, the lens-facing surface A lockout feature can be included to prevent a lid feature such as a lid feature (whether integrated or included on the lid insert) from colliding with the lens. To prevent the lens support from striking the lens (e.g., by bending the pack on its pivot before opening) by creating a contact point between the lens support and the lid insert. of lockout features can be included. Yet another lockout feature in this embodiment is created by a ledge 180 along the perimeter of the floor of cavity 136 . One function of ledge 180 is to avoid pinch points around the lens during assembly. The height of the ledge above the cavity floor is made sufficient so that the lid insert and/or the lens-facing features of the lid are stopped at a height above where the lens is housed below. . In this embodiment, the ledge is approximately 0.8 mm in height above the base of the lens. It should be appreciated that ledges are yet another exemplary lockout feature among many possibilities. To ensure this, the lid insert can be locked out at any level (eg, level with the base of the lens, level with the top of the pack).

5A and 5B show cross-sectional views of contact lens package 100 in an unopened state. Specifically, FIG. 5B shows a cross-section taken through the cross-sectional plane AA shown in the perspective side view of FIG. 5A. As shown, the package 100 is configured such that the contact lens 138 substantially floats between the lens support 140 and the lens-facing surface 168 when in the unopened state. The package of the present invention preferably minimizes contact with the contact lens when the package is closed and the lens floats in the package solution. Ideally, the optic zone of the lens is free-floating and has temporary or no contact with the lens support during storage. Depending on the buoyancy and orientation of the lens in the package solution, the lens can be on its periphery on the floor of the cavity of the base of the package or on its convex surface on the lens-facing surface. As shown, the contact lens package 100 is in a lid-up orientation with the rim of the contact lens resting on the floor of the cavity 136 in the base 110 . However, the optic zone of contact lens 138 effectively floats between lens support 140 and lens-facing surface 168 .

Cavity 132 is preferably substantially filled with packaging solution, provided that the manufacturing process may not allow the package to be sealed under vacuum pressure. In such cases, it is expected that some amount of air will be trapped within the cavity. If these bubbles are not managed, they can interact with the lens and cause significant optical damage to the lens. Thus, a peripheral volume within the cavity, ie, a volume within the cavity around the location of the lens on the lens support, can be provided. Ideally, such volumes should be provided at the distal and proximal ends of the package, such as 132' and 132'' of cavity 132 of package 100, so that air bubbles are not transported or It has a place to exist regardless of the orientation of the package during storage.

In one aspect, the lens-facing surface is exposed to air by an arrangement and configuration that causes air entering the package upon opening to travel over the contact lens to avoid the contact lens from sticking to the lid or its lens-facing surface. It can act as an entrance guide. As shown in FIG. 6, the contact lens package 100 is shown in an assembled and unopened state, in this embodiment the foil lid is not shown so that the components located within the package 100 can be seen. , and the package 100 is configured to be opened from the proximal end (A) to the distal end (B) such that air enters the package in the direction indicated by arrow 190 . To ensure that air moves over the lens, the lid insert 170 is configured so that the convex surface of the lens 138 is exposed over the lens edge closest to the point 192 where air enters the cavity upon opening. ing. This positioned the lens-facing surface primarily over the lateral and distal surface regions of the contact lens to expose at least about 10% of the surface area of the contact lens closest to the point 192 where air enters the cavity. This can be achieved by leaving More specifically, in this embodiment, 15% of the surface area of the contact lens remains exposed.

The lens supports of the present invention can lift the lens out of the package solution when the user applies force(s) to the package, such as squeezing the package, as described with respect to embodiments herein. It can take on a myriad of shapes and forms. However, as previously mentioned, the lens support may hold the lens in the desired convex orientation (bow down relative to the base) and position (centered above the support) during shipping and storage. preferable. Ideally, the lens support provides an open structure under the lens so that, upon opening, the packaging solution can flow out of the lens and support without trapping water between the support and the underside of the lens. can be allowed to be expelled. It is also preferred that the lens support have a sufficient number of contact points with the lens to prevent the lens from folding onto the support, rotating off the support, or translating across the support. . This allows the apex of the lens to be supported by the elastic stiffness of the lens itself, or minimizes sinking of the lens apex, while limiting the contact area between the support and the lens. Contact between the support and the lens after solution draining and excessive water entrapped between the support and the lens are greater than the surface tension between the wearer's finger and the lens. It can create surface tension between the lens and water on the support and around the lens support, preventing efficient lens transport. The sum of the contact between the lens and the lens support when the package is opened and the solution drained from the lens and lens support is the total wet contact area, which is less than about 30 mm ² , 25 mm ^{2 .} less than, or less than 20 mm ² , distributed at least around the lens periphery as described herein. As used herein, "wetting contact area" refers to the area of direct solid contact between the lens support and the lens, and the wet contact area for less than about 30 seconds, about 5 seconds, depending on the intended user experience of the package. Less than, or less than about 2 seconds, plus the area of any meniscus reservoir or solution bridge that forms between the lenses after the lenses are lifted and the package solution is allowed to drain. .

For lenses made from polymers with longer shape memory, the lens support can be designed to limit contact between the lens and the support during storage. Such contact can be distributed around the lens periphery. Contact between the lens optic zone, the lens support, and the lid interior (including any air inlet guides) may be temporary or may be between the optic zone and the support, lid, or air inlet guide. No contact is required. Lenses such as conventional hydrogels, which have shorter shape memory, are less prone to distortion from package contact and contact distributed around the perimeter and throughout the lens profile, including the lens center zone (approximately 9 mm, or approximately 5 mm diameter). can have points.

The lens support of the present invention is preferably designed so that both the fingertip and the lens conform to each other when dubbed without causing lens flipping or damage to the lens during removal from excessive pressure during dubbing. Allows to transform into Therefore, the mode of removal of the lens from the present package is compared to the area between the lens and the lens support such that the contact area between the finger and the lens exceeds the contact surface area of the lens support underneath the lens. to control the ratio of the contact area between the finger and the lens. This ensures that the surface tension between the finger and the lens exceeds the surface tension between the lens and the lens support. Therefore, the lens adheres to the finger for lens transport and placement on the eye.

The lens supports are preferably at least 2, at least 3, 3-14, 4-14, 3-8, or 4-8, 4-6, or 6 with the contact lens edge along the peripheral support. provide contact points for If two peripheral supports are used, they may be wider to provide stability without exceeding the contact area desired for consistent lens transport. Peripheral contact points prevent the lens from rotating off the lens and can be distributed in a number of configurations where the space between the furthest adjacent contacts is smaller than the diameter of the lens. As the number of peripheral supports increases, the potential for residual packaging solution to form films between adjacent peripheral supports and solution bridges between supports and lenses may increase during draining. Peripheral supports with less than 50% open space, such as those in the form of screens or strainers, generally provide insufficient drainage to ensure one-touch transfer. Similarly, contact between the support and the lens after solution draining and excessive water entrapped between the support and the lens may cause the surface tension between the wearer's finger and the lens to exceed the surface tension between the wearer's finger and the lens. A large, surface tension between the lens and the water on and around the lens support can be created to impede efficient lens transport. The width of the constituent support members of the lens support varies between the limits of the molding process chosen and the width required for efficient evacuation of the packaging solution upon opening. Suitable widths include about 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, about 0.5 to about 1, or about 0.5 to about 0.7 mm, with lens support designs having fewer contact points being thicker. It will be appreciated that it can have arms.

The lens support can achieve sufficient drainage of the package solution from the lens to enable one-touch transfer by one or a combination of ejection techniques referred to herein as channel ejection and backside ejection. Channel draining involves the formation of a channel member on the lens support that, under gravity, causes the package solution to flow out of the lens through the channel when the lens support is being lifted. Rear ejection, on the other hand, refers to enhanced ejection from the underside of the lens where the lens rests on the lens support. This area below the apex of the lens tends to trap packaging solutions due to the hydrophilic nature of modern contact lens materials. In some embodiments, enhanced rear ejection can be achieved by designing the lens support with a central opening of at least about 12 mm ³ below the apex of the lens.

7A and 7B, an exemplary lens support 140 is shown in side and top views, respectively. Lens support 140 represents an example of a lens support that utilizes a hybrid of back and channel exhaust to sufficiently remove packaging solution from the lens to enable one-touch transfer. Lens support 140 includes a central support consisting of three central support members 200a-c in a semi-circular configuration having a diameter of approximately 8 mm. The central support members 200a-c are raised by pillars 204 by 2.5 mm. Pillars 204 extend upwardly from channel members 204a and 204b, which transition along their lengths from proximal ends (A) to distal ends (B) to provide peripheral support 208. to form a channel formation. These members ensure that when the contact lens is lifted from the package, the contact lens is in a preferred convex orientation (bowl down relative to the base of the package) with seven contact points when the lens is lifted out of the package solution. ) on the lens support 240 .

The design of the lens support 140 creates a central opening 212 to allow the package solution to back-drain from the lens and lens support 140 when the package is opened and the lens support is lifted out of the package solution. enable. This allows the apex of the lens to be supported by the elastic stiffness of the lens itself and minimizes sinking of the lens apex, while limiting the contact area between the support 140 and the lens. This design also provides sufficient support at the edges of the contact along channel members 204 a and 204 b and at fewer points along peripheral support 208 . This configuration substantially reduces the wetted contact area between the lens support 140 and the contact lens to at least about 25 mm ² when measured 2 seconds after the lens support 140 is lifted.

One of the myriad of alternative embodiments of lens supports within the scope of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, which are shown in side and top views, respectively. Lens support 300 represents an example of a lens support that relies on backside ejection to sufficiently remove packaging solution from the lens to enable one-touch transfer. Lens support 300 includes a central support 310 consisting of four equally spaced radial spokes extending across a diameter of approximately 10.5 mm. The central support member 310 is raised by pillars 314 by 2.7 mm. Pillar 314 extends upwardly from support member 318, which includes tabs 324 that, in certain embodiments of the present invention, can couple lens support 300 to the base of a contact lens package. Peripheral support members 328 and 330 are formed in a continuous bowtie configuration to provide support to the edges of the contact lens when the lens is lifted from the package and placed on the support. The central and peripheral support members of support 300 provide five contact points when the contact lens is being lifted from the package and the contact lens is in a preferred convex orientation (of the package) when the lens is being lifted from the package solution. bowl down relative to the base) to rest on the lens support 300 .

The design of the lens support 300 includes sufficient open space between the spokes of the central support 310 so that when the package is opened and the lens support is lifted out of the package solution, the package solution will penetrate the lens and the lens support. Allowing the body 140 to be ejected backwards. This allows the apex of the lens to be supported by the elastic stiffness of the lens itself and minimizes sinking of the lens apex, while limiting the contact area between the support 300 and the lens. This design also provides sufficient support to the edges of the contact lens at points along the peripheral support members 328 and 330 . This configuration substantially reduces the wetted contact area between the lens support 300 and the contact lens to at least about 25 mm ² when measured 2 seconds after the lens support 300 is lifted. that the embodiments of lens supports shown and described herein are but two of the myriad embodiments of lens supports within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims; must be emphasized. To ensure certainty, a number of additional exemplary but non-limiting exemplary lens supports are shown in FIGS. 11-25 (Appendix A).

As noted above, in one aspect, the contact lens packages of the present invention can be configured to allow nested configurations. FIG. 9 shows two contact lens packages 100 shown as packages 100' and 100'' in a nested configuration. Nested configurations, such as the one shown, in which the packages fit tightly together within a smaller volume, are useful in reducing the amount of secondary packaging (e.g., cartons or other containers in which the primary package is provided to the consumer). Useful. In this embodiment, packages 100' and 100' are designed to nest when the base is placed against the base and inverted against each other from the proximal end to the distal end. The ability of the contact lens packages 100' and 100'' to nest is made possible by a combination of features, including the taper of the bases 110' and 110'' of each package, and finger engagement features (dimples) 122a' and 122a. '' serve as stops for lateral movement of the bases 110' and 110''.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an exemplary method of manufacturing/assembling a contact lens package is shown, according to certain embodiments. A first exemplary method of manufacturing/assembling the exemplary contact lens package 100 is shown as steps 1001A, 1002A, 1003A, 1004A, and 1005. In a first step 1001A, the contact lens 138 is placed on the lens support 140, in this embodiment the contact lens is placed on the lens support 140 with its concave side of the contact lens resting on the lens support. placed above. The lens support can be pre-dosed with sufficient packaging solution to bond the contact lens to the support. In a slightly alternative approach, not shown, the lens support can be inserted into the cavity first and the contact lens can then be placed on the support. In a next step 1002 A, lens support 140 with contact lens 130 placed thereon is inserted into cavity 136 of base 110 . A lid insert 170 including a lens-facing surface 168 is then placed over the convex side of the contact lens 138 at step 1003 . Next, at step 1003A, the cavity is loaded with enough packaging solution to completely immerse the contact lens 138 within the cavity, ideally as completely as possible without overflowing the cavity. Preferably, at least one of the fittings and/or surface features of the lid insert to the base cavity has a friction fit so that the lid insert does not float out of place when packaging solution is being added to the cavity. create a match. Finally, at step 1005, the lid 106 is sealed onto the base 110, for example by heat-sealing the foil to the base, as described in more detail above, so that it can be placed in a sterile environment. to seal the contact lens 138 and packaging solution within the cavity 136 at .

An alternative exemplary method of manufacturing/assembling the exemplary contact lens package 100 is shown as steps 1001B, 1002B, 1003B, 1004B, and 1005. In a first step 1001B, a package base 110 is provided and a lens support 140 is coupled to the cavity 136 of the base 110 . In this embodiment, lens support 140 is bonded to the base by a heat staking process, as described in more detail above. However, as mentioned above, other attachment means are possible within the scope of the claims, including, for example, laser welding, ultrasonic welding, gluing, mechanical clipping, and the like. Next, at step 1002B, the contact lens 138 is placed on the lens-facing surface of the lid insert 170, with the convex side of the lens placed against the lens-facing surface 168 of the lid insert 170 in this embodiment. It is written. The lens 138 can be placed on the lid insert by manual or automated means, such as through a lens transfer nozzle. Lid insert 170 with contact lens 138 placed thereon is then placed on lens support 140 within cavity 136 of base 110 at step 1003B. Next, at step 1004B, cavity 136 is loaded with enough packaging solution to completely immerse contact lens 138 within cavity 136, ideally as completely as possible without overflowing the cavity. be. Finally, at step 1005, the lid 106 is sealed onto the base 110, for example by heat-sealing the foil to the base, as described in more detail above, so that it can be placed in a sterile environment. to seal the contact lens 138 and packaging solution within the cavity 136 at .

In some methods of manufacturing/assembling contact lens packages within the scope of the present invention, providing the packaging solution to the cavity is performed as opposed to all at once, as described in the exemplary methods above. Additionally, it can be done in multiple doses at different steps in the assembly process. For example, in embodiments where the lens is placed on the lens support (eg, step 1001A above), before placing the lens on the lens support, the lens is fixed to the lens under the surface tension of the solution. It may be advantageous to pre-load a small amount of packaging solution onto the lens support. Dividing the input of the packaging solution can also be used when filling the cavity, such as by dividing the about 2080 μL input into two approximately equal sized inputs, e.g., in steps 1001B and 1004B above. can be advantageous.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used certain nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many of the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Accordingly, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.

While the "Summary of the Invention" and "Summary" sections may present one or more, but not all exemplary embodiments of the invention as contemplated by the inventor, the present invention and the accompanying It is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way.

The foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiments should make the general nature of the invention fully apparent and enable others to practice the invention without undue trial and error by applying the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Such specific embodiments may be readily modified and/or adapted for various uses without departing from the general concept. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, and as such, the phraseology or terminology herein is used as a teaching and instructional term. perspective should be interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Packages of the present invention can be manufactured using known materials and processes. Packaging materials may be virgin, recycled, or a combination thereof. The volume within the package cavity can vary depending on the design chosen.

It is not necessary to incorporate every feature described herein in every package, and those skilled in the art will be able to combine these features using the teachings herein to create a wide variety of improved packages. A contact lens package can be provided. In summary, the contact lens packages of the present invention can be combined in a wide variety of combinations as described herein to provide the desired improved and/or one-touch packaging. incorporates new features of The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

[Mode of implementation]
(1) A contact lens package comprising:
a lid;
base and
a cavity containing a contact lens and packaging solution;
a lever configured to hinge along a pivot line of the base when a force is applied to the lever;
a base, and
a lens support, wherein the force applied to the lever causes the lens support to lift the contact lens from the packaging solution to a position on the lens support for one-touch transfer by a user; a lens support intersecting said pivot line;
A contact lens package comprising:
(2) The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein said lever is a separate component coupled to said base by attachment means.
(3) The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein said pivot line is defined by at least one void within said base.
(4) The contact lens package of embodiment 1, wherein the pivot line is imparted to the base by one or more of creases, cuts, filaments, and etching.
(5) The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein said base is constructed of a relatively rigid material.

(6) A contact lens package according to embodiment 5, wherein the lid comprises a film and the base comprises a plastic material.
(7) The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein said base and said lens support are a single unitary component.
Aspect 8. The contact lens package of aspect 1, wherein the lever and the lens support are a single unitary component.
9. The lens support of claim 1, wherein the lens support is bonded to the base by at least one of i) laser welding, ii) heating, iii) ultrasonic welding, and iv) adhesive. contact lens packaging.
(10) the base has at least one finger configured to i) assist a user in gripping the package, or i) direct the application of force such that the lever hinges downward; 2. The contact lens package of embodiment 1, comprising an engagement feature.

Clause 11. The contact lens package of clause 10, wherein said at least one finger engagement feature comprises a projection of said base at a distal end of said package.
Clause 12. The contact lens package of clause 10, wherein said at least one finger engagement feature comprises an overhang along at least a portion of the circumference of said package.
(13) said at least one finger engaging feature includes a dimple sized to correspond to said user's finger or thumb, said dimple being at an end of said base proximal to said user; 11. The contact lens package according to embodiment 10, which is located in
(14) a proximal finger engaging feature, wherein said at least one finger engaging feature is located at an end of said base proximal to said user; and said base distal to said user. and a distal finger-engaging feature located at the end of the contact lens package of embodiment 10.
Clause 15. The contact lens package of clause 1, wherein the lid comprises a lens-facing surface that extends downward into the cavity above the contact lens when the package is in an unopened state.

(16) the lens-facing surface and the lens support are such that the optic zone of the contact lens is between the lens-facing surface and the lens support when the package is in an unopened state; 16. A contact lens package according to embodiment 15, configured within said cavity to float in a packaging solution.
(17) The contact lens package of embodiment 1, wherein the cavity accommodates the contact lens in a convex position when the package is in an unopened or opened state.
Clause 18. The contact lens package of clause 1, wherein the lens support has a profile that does not substantially match the profile of the contact lens.
Embodiment 1.19. When the package is in an opened state, the wet contact area between the lens support and the contact lens is less than about 30 ^mm2 , less than about 25 ^mm2 , or less than about 20 ^mm2 . A contact lens package as described in .
(20) comprising at least one lens-facing surface within the cavity on the convex side of the contact lens, wherein when the package is in an unopened state, the at least one lens-facing surface comprises the contact lens; 2. The contact of embodiment 1, configured to align a lens on the lens support or to protect the contact lens from significant optical damage due to gravity, mechanical forces, or air-induced forces. lens package.

Aspect 21. The contact lens package of aspect 20, wherein the at least one lens-facing surface is provided on a lid insert, and wherein the lid insert is attached to an inner surface of the lid.
(22) The contact lens package of embodiment 21, wherein the lid insert includes at least one alignment feature.
(23) The contact lens package of embodiment 21, wherein the lid insert includes at least one lockout feature.
(24) A contact lens package containing a contact lens and a packaging solution, wherein the contact lens is configured to lift the contact lens from the packaging solution when the package is being squeezed by a user.
(25) the package is a lever configured to hinge along a pivot line of the base of the package when a force is applied to the lever; and a lens support. and a lens support configured such that the force applied to the lever causes the lens support to lift the contact lens from the packaging solution. package.

(26) The package is configured such that the force applied to the lever causes the lens support to lift the contact lens from the package solution to a position on the lens support for one-touch transfer by the user. 26. A contact lens package according to embodiment 25, wherein the contact lens package comprises:
(27) The contact lens package of embodiment 25, wherein said lever is a separate component coupled to said base by attachment means.
Aspect 28. The contact lens package of aspect 25, wherein the pivot line is defined by at least one void in the base.
Aspect 29. The contact lens package of aspect 25, wherein the pivot line is imparted to the base by one or more of creases, cuts, filaments, and etching.
(30) A contact lens package according to embodiment 25, wherein the base is constructed of a relatively rigid material.

(31) A contact lens package according to embodiment 25, wherein said base and said lens support are a single unitary component.
(32) A contact lens package according to embodiment 25, wherein said lever and said lens support are a single unitary component.
33. Aspect 25, wherein the lens support is coupled to the base by at least one of i) laser welding, ii) heating, iii) ultrasonic welding, and iv) an adhesive. contact lens packaging.
(34) the base includes at least one finger configured to i) assist a user in gripping the package, or i) direct the application of force such that the lever hinges downward; 26. A contact lens package according to embodiment 25, comprising an engagement feature.
Clause 25. The contact lens package of clause 25, wherein said at least one finger engagement feature comprises a projection of said base at a distal end of said package.

Clause 36. The contact lens package of clause 35, wherein said at least one finger-engaging feature comprises an overhang along at least a portion of the circumference of said package.
(37) said at least one finger engaging feature includes a dimple sized to correspond to said user's finger or thumb, said dimple being an end of said base proximal to said user; 36. The contact lens package according to embodiment 35, which is located in
(38) a proximal finger engaging feature, wherein said at least one finger engaging feature is located at an end of said base proximal to said user; and said base distal to said user. and a distal finger-engaging feature located at the end of the contact lens package of embodiment 35.
(39) The contact lens of embodiment 25, wherein the lid of the package comprises a lens-facing surface that extends downwardly into the cavity above the contact lens when the package is in an unopened state. package.
(40) the lens-facing surface and the lens support are such that the optic zone of the contact lens is between the lens-facing surface and the lens support when the package is in an unopened state; 40. A contact lens package according to embodiment 39, configured within said cavity to float in a packaging solution.

(41) The contact lens package of embodiment 24, wherein said package accommodates said contact lens in a convex position when said package is in an unopened or opened state.
42. The contact lens package of embodiment 25, wherein the lens support has a profile that does not substantially match the profile of the contact lens.
43. When the package is in an opened state, the wet contact area between the lens support and the contact lens is less than about 30 ^mm2 , less than about 25 ^mm2 , or less than about 20 ^mm2 , embodiment 25. A contact lens package as described in .
(44) comprising at least one lens-facing surface within the cavity on the convex side of the contact lens, wherein when the package is in an unopened state, the at least one lens-facing surface comprises the contact lens; 26. A contact according to embodiment 25, configured to align a lens on the lens support or to protect the contact lens from significant optical damage due to gravity, mechanical forces, or air-induced forces. lens package.
(45) The contact lens package of embodiment 25, comprising a lid insert, said lid insert attached to an inner surface of said lid.

(46) The contact lens package of embodiment 45, wherein the lid insert includes at least one alignment feature.
47. The contact lens package of embodiment 45, wherein the lid insert includes at least one lockout feature.
(48) A method of handling a package containing a contact lens in a packaging solution, comprising:
opening the lid of the package;
squeezing the package, wherein squeezing the package causes a lens support to lift the contact lens from the package solution;
transferring the contact lens from the lens support to a user's eye;
A method, including
Clause 49. The method of clause 48, wherein said squeezing includes said user's hands applying force to opposite ends of said package.
50. The method of embodiment 49, wherein said opposite ends of said package are distal and proximal ends of said package with respect to said user.

51. The method of embodiment 49, wherein said opposite ends of said package are left and right sides of said package with respect to said user.
52. The method of claim 48, wherein the lid comprises foil, and wherein the opening comprises peeling the foil from at least a portion of the package.
53. The method of embodiment 48, wherein causing the lens support to lift the contact lens produces a lift angle of about 15° to 60° with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the top of the package.
(54) further comprising transferring the contact lens from the lens support to the user's hand, wherein transferring the lens includes tapping a convex surface of the contact lens to remove the contact lens from the contact lens by the tapping; 49. A method according to embodiment 48, comprising releasing a from the lens support to adhere to the user's finger.
(55) A method of manufacturing a package containing a contact lens in a packaging solution, comprising:
placing a contact lens on a lens support;
inserting the lens support into a cavity in the base of the package;
placing an insert with a lens-facing surface over the contact lens;
injecting a packaging solution into the cavity;
sealing the lid on the base, wherein the sealing seals the contact lens and the packaging solution within the cavity in a sterile environment;
A method, including

Aspect 56. A method according to aspect 55, wherein placing the contact lens on the lens support is performed after inserting the lens support into the cavity of the base.
Aspect 57. The method of aspect 55, wherein placing the contact lens on the lens support comprises placing a concave side of the contact lens on the lens support.
58. The method of embodiment 55, further comprising dosing the lens support with a packaging solution prior to placing the contact lens on the lens support.
(59) A method of manufacturing a package containing a contact lens in a packaging solution, comprising:
providing a package base, the package base comprising a cavity to which a lens support is coupled;
placing a contact lens on the lens-facing surface of the lid insert;
inserting the lens-facing surface, with the contact lens resting on the lens-facing surface, onto the lens support within the cavity of the base;
injecting a packaging solution into the cavity;
sealing the lid on the base, wherein the sealing seals the contact lens and the packaging solution within the cavity in a sterile environment;
A method, including
60. Embodiment 59, wherein disposing the contact lens on the lens-facing surface of the lid insert comprises disposing the convex side of the contact lens on the lens-facing surface. described method.

(61) further comprising aligning the lid insert within the cavity of the base, wherein the aligning translates the lid insert over an alignment feature within the cavity of the base; 56. The method of embodiment 55, comprising
(62) further comprising aligning the lid insert within the cavity of the base, wherein the aligning translates the lid insert over an alignment feature within the cavity of the base; 56. The method of embodiment 55, comprising
(63) further comprising locking said lid insert within said cavity of said base, wherein said locking is sufficient to cause protrusions on sides of said lid insert to frictionally secure to sidewalls of said cavity; 56. The method of embodiment 55, comprising applying pressure to the lid insert.

Claims (63)

A contact lens package,
a lid;
base and
a cavity containing a contact lens and packaging solution;
a lever configured to hinge along a pivot line of the base when a force is applied to the lever;
a base, and
a lens support, wherein the force applied to the lever causes the lens support to lift the contact lens from the packaging solution to a position on the lens support for one-touch transfer by a user; a lens support intersecting said pivot line;
A contact lens package comprising: 2. The contact lens package of Claim 1, wherein the lever is a separate component coupled to the base by attachment means. 2. The contact lens package of Claim 1, wherein the pivot line is defined by at least one void in the base. 2. The contact lens package of Claim 1, wherein the pivot line is imparted to the base by one or more of creases, cuts, filaments, and etching. 2. The contact lens package of Claim 1, wherein the base is constructed of a relatively rigid material. 6. The contact lens package of Claim 5, wherein the lid comprises a film and the base comprises a plastic material. 2. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein said base and said lens support are a single unitary component. 2. A contact lens package according to claim 1, wherein said lever and said lens support are a single unitary component. 2. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein the lens support is bonded to the base by at least one of i) laser welding, ii) heating, iii) ultrasonic welding, and iv) adhesive. . The base has at least one finger engagement feature configured to i) assist a user in gripping the package, or i) direct the application of force such that the lever hinges downward. 2. The contact lens package of Claim 1, comprising a portion. 11. A contact lens package according to claim 10, wherein said at least one finger engagement feature comprises a projection of said base at a distal end of said package. 11. The contact lens package of Claim 10, wherein the at least one finger-engaging feature includes an overhang along at least a portion of the circumference of the package. The at least one finger engaging feature includes a dimple sized to correspond to a finger or thumb of the user, the dimple positioned at an end of the base proximal to the user. 11. The contact lens package of claim 10, comprising: a proximal finger engaging feature, wherein the at least one finger engaging feature is located at an end of the base proximal to the user; and an end of the base distal to the user. 11. The contact lens package of claim 10, comprising a distal finger engagement feature positioned at the . 2. The contact lens package of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a lens-facing surface that extends downwardly into the cavity above the contact lens when the package is in an unopened state. The lens-facing surface and the lens support are in the packaging solution between the lens-facing surface and the lens support when the package is in an unopened state. 16. The contact lens package of claim 15, wherein the contact lens package is configured within the cavity to float on. 2. The contact lens package of Claim 1, wherein the cavity accommodates the contact lens in a raised position when the package is in an unopened or opened state. 2. The contact lens package of Claim 1, wherein the lens support has a profile that does not substantially match the profile of the contact lens. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wet contact area between the lens support and the contact lens is less than about 30 ^mm2 , less than about 25 ^mm2 , or less than about 20 ^mm2 when the package is in an opened state. contact lens packaging. at least one lens-facing surface within the cavity on the convex side of the contact lens, wherein when the package is in an unopened state, the at least one lens-facing surface holds the contact lens to the contact lens; 2. The contact lens package of claim 1, configured to align on a lens support or to protect the contact lens from significant optical damage due to gravity, mechanical forces, or air-induced forces. 21. The contact lens package of claim 20, wherein the at least one lens-facing surface is provided on a lid insert, the lid insert attached to an inner surface of the lid. 22. The contact lens package of Claim 21, wherein the lid insert includes at least one alignment feature. 22. The contact lens package of Claim 21, wherein the lid insert includes at least one lockout feature. A contact lens package containing a contact lens and a packaging solution, the contact lens package being configured to lift the contact lens from the packaging solution when the package is being squeezed by a user. wherein the package is a lever configured to hinge along a pivot line of the base of the package when a force is applied to the lever; and a lens support. 25. The contact lens package of claim 24, comprising: a lens support configured such that the force applied to the lever causes the lens support to lift the contact lens out of the packaging solution. The package is configured such that the force applied to the lever causes the lens support to lift the contact lens from the packaging solution to a position on the lens support for one-touch transfer by the user. 26. The contact lens package of claim 25, comprising: 26. A contact lens package according to Claim 25, wherein the lever is a separate component coupled to the base by attachment means. 26. The contact lens package of Claim 25, wherein the pivot line is defined by at least one void in the base. 26. The contact lens package of Claim 25, wherein the pivot line is imparted to the base by one or more of creases, cuts, filaments, and etching. 26. A contact lens package according to Claim 25, wherein the base is constructed of a relatively rigid material. 26. A contact lens package according to Claim 25, wherein the base and the lens support are a single unitary component. 26. A contact lens package according to Claim 25, wherein the lever and the lens support are a single unitary component. 26. The contact lens package of claim 25, wherein the lens support is bonded to the base by at least one of i) laser welding, ii) heating, iii) ultrasonic welding, and iv) adhesive. . The base has at least one finger engagement feature configured to i) assist a user in gripping the package, or i) direct the application of force such that the lever hinges downward. 26. The contact lens package of Claim 25, comprising a portion. 26. A contact lens package according to claim 25, wherein said at least one finger engagement feature comprises a projection of said base at a distal end of said package. 36. A contact lens package according to claim 35, wherein said at least one finger engagement feature comprises an overhang along at least a portion of the circumference of said package. The at least one finger engaging feature includes a dimple sized to correspond to a finger or thumb of the user, the dimple positioned at an end of the base proximal to the user. 36. The contact lens package of claim 35, comprising: a proximal finger engaging feature, wherein the at least one finger engaging feature is located at an end of the base proximal to the user; and an end of the base distal to the user. 36. A contact lens package according to claim 35, comprising a distal finger engagement feature positioned at a. 26. A contact lens package according to claim 25, wherein the package lid comprises a lens-facing surface that extends downward into the cavity above the contact lens when the package is in an unopened state. The lens-facing surface and the lens support are in the packaging solution between the lens-facing surface and the lens support when the package is in an unopened state. 40. The contact lens package of claim 39, configured within the cavity to float on. 25. A contact lens package according to Claim 24, wherein the package accommodates the contact lens in a raised position when the package is in an unopened or opened state. 26. The contact lens package of Claim 25, wherein the lens support has a profile that does not substantially match the profile of the contact lens. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the wet contact area between the lens support and the contact lens is less than about 30 ^mm2 , less than about 25 ^mm2 , or less than about 20 ^mm2 when the package is in an opened state. contact lens packaging. at least one lens-facing surface within the cavity on the convex side of the contact lens, wherein when the package is in an unopened state, the at least one lens-facing surface holds the contact lens to the contact lens; 26. The contact lens package of claim 25, configured to align over a lens support or protect the contact lens from significant optical damage due to gravity, mechanical forces, or air-induced forces. 26. The contact lens package of claim 25, comprising a lid insert, said lid insert attached to the inner surface of said lid. 46. The contact lens package of Claim 45, wherein the lid insert includes at least one alignment feature. 46. The contact lens package of Claim 45, wherein the lid insert includes at least one lockout feature. A method of handling a package containing a contact lens in a packaging solution, comprising:
opening the lid of the package;
squeezing the package, wherein squeezing the package causes a lens support to lift the contact lens from the package solution;
transferring the contact lens from the lens support to a user's eye;
A method, including 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the squeezing includes the user's hands applying force to opposite ends of the package. 50. The method of claim 49, wherein said opposite ends of said package are distal and proximal ends of said package with respect to said user. 50. The method of claim 49, wherein said opposite ends of said package are left and right sides of said package with respect to said user. 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the lid comprises foil and the opening comprises peeling the foil from at least a portion of the package. 49. The method of claim 48, wherein causing the lens support to lift the contact lens produces a lift angle of about 15° to 60° with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the top of the package. further comprising transferring the contact lens from the lens support to the user's hand, wherein transferring the lens includes tapping a convex surface of the contact lens to remove the contact lens from the lens by tapping; 49. The method of claim 48, comprising releasing from a support to adhere to the user's finger. A method of manufacturing a package containing a contact lens in a packaging solution, comprising:
placing a contact lens on a lens support;
inserting the lens support into a cavity in the base of the package;
placing an insert with a lens-facing surface over the contact lens;
injecting a packaging solution into the cavity;
sealing the lid on the base, wherein the sealing seals the contact lens and the packaging solution within the cavity in a sterile environment;
A method, including 56. The method of claim 55, wherein placing the contact lens on the lens support occurs after inserting the lens support into the cavity of the base. 56. The method of claim 55, wherein placing the contact lens on the lens support comprises placing a concave side of the contact lens on the lens support. 56. The method of claim 55, further comprising dosing the lens support with a packaging solution prior to placing the contact lens on the lens support. A method of manufacturing a package containing a contact lens in a packaging solution, comprising:
providing a package base, the package base comprising a cavity to which a lens support is coupled;
placing a contact lens on the lens-facing surface of the lid insert;
inserting the lens-facing surface, with the contact lens resting on the lens-facing surface, onto the lens support within the cavity of the base;
injecting a packaging solution into the cavity;
sealing the lid on the base, wherein the sealing seals the contact lens and the packaging solution within the cavity in a sterile environment;
A method, including 60. The method of claim 59, wherein placing the contact lens on the lens-facing surface of the lid insert comprises placing the convex side of the contact lens on the lens-facing surface. . further comprising aligning the lid insert within the cavity of the base, wherein the aligning comprises translating the lid insert over an alignment feature within the cavity of the base; 56. The method of claim 55. further comprising aligning the lid insert within the cavity of the base, wherein the aligning comprises translating the lid insert over an alignment feature within the cavity of the base; 56. The method of claim 55. locking the lid insert within the cavity of the base, wherein locking exerts sufficient pressure to cause protrusions on the sides of the lid insert to frictionally secure to the sidewalls of the cavity; 56. The method of claim 55, comprising adding to a lid insert.

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