KR20090042904A - Systems and methods for providing contact lenses to consumers - Google Patents

Abstract

The system for providing the contact lens 325 to the consumer 907 prior to delivery of the right and left contact lens 325 prescriptions into the secondary package 600 containing the prescription information 640, 906 before delivery to the consumer 907. Packing together.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDEING CONTACT LENS TO CONSUMER {SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING CONTACT LENSES TO CONSUMERS}

This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 820,432, filed Jul. 26, 2006, entitled "Contact Lens Package," which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a contact lens to a user.

Contact lenses are compact lenses that are worn directly on the eyes and are widely used to correct deformed vision. Contact lenses are usually either hard lenses (hard lenses) or soft lenses. One important consideration when wearing contact lenses is eye health and the other is comfort. Contact lenses are mounted directly to the eye. It is therefore important that contact lenses and their packaging should not cause undesirable contamination in the eye.

Soft contact lenses, which are more widely used, should be used for specific number of days and indicate when they should be replaced. For example, many contact lenses should only be used for one day and then discarded. Frequent replacement of such soft contact lenses is highly desirable because it is difficult for a patient to sterilize the contact lenses or otherwise otherwise properly clean the inevitable contamination that accumulates in the lens over time.

Another consideration in the use and manufacture of contact lenses is convenience. Contact lenses that need to be replaced more often may not be convenient for the user because they need to be purchased frequently or else they need to be replaced frequently. In addition, secondary packaging of contact lenses is often difficult to understand. Contact lenses are typically provided in a box that may include a "blister package" of multiple contact lenses. Although some contact lens wearers only need one level or one strength of the contact lens, many users require different intensities for each eye, which would require ordering two different contact lens boxes. There may be a need.

Additionally, when purchasing contact lenses online or over the phone, the secondary packaging of the contact lenses does not contain the patient's prescription information. This can be a problem, especially when the patient needs contact lenses with different intensities for each eye, because the patient cannot always remember which contact lens intensity corresponds to each eye. This problem can be compounded when the user does not remember opening the new contact lens box before discarding the previously used set of contact lenses. This can make it difficult for the user to determine which of the two contact lens boxes is for a particular eye, especially when the user is significantly visually vulnerable.

This disclosure describes systems and methods for providing contact lenses to a user. According to one exemplary embodiment, the secondary contact lens package provided by the manufacturer may include the name of the patient, the name and phone number of the doctor prescribed, the usage information, and other information specifically related to the patient's prescription. It includes the patient's prescription information (prescription information). In addition, the present systems and methods include contact lens business methods in which contact lenses can be stored by a contact lens provider and supplied to consumers in an efficient and economical on-demand manner.

Further details of the present systems and methods will be provided below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation and in order to closely understand the present systems and methods, numerous specific details are set forth. It will be evident, however, that the devices, systems and methods of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. References herein to “an embodiment”, “an example” or similar terms are specific aspects, configurations or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or examples at least one of the embodiments. It is meant to be included in but not necessarily included in the other embodiments. The context herein “in one embodiment” or elsewhere in various instances of similar contexts does not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the terms "primary package", "primary packaging" or "primary case" refer to packaging contact lenses arranged during the manufacturing process. Will be used to refer to that. This package is usually a "blister package", but other primary packages are also used. Similarly, "secondary case", "secondary contact lens case" and "secondary package" can be used interchangeably and can be used interchangeably with lenses or supply of lenses. Should be construed broadly to include any container or package that is sequentially arranged in a primary package. Secondary packaging includes any box or package in which contact lens supplies can be arranged by the manufacturer for delivery to the lens wearer, distributor, or other destination.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the terms "manufacturer" or "distributor" refer to a third-party contact lens provider that provides contact lenses to individuals based on prescriptions. Will be used. The term "manufacturer" or "distributor" refers to any business, individual, or company that sells or distributes contact lenses, but does not include optometrists, ophthalmologists, or any other person who directly faces the patient.

1A and 1B are front and side perspective views, respectively, of a prior art secondary contact lens package. Similarly, FIGS. 2A and 2B are front and rear perspective views, respectively, illustrating an alternative secondary contact lens package according to the prior art.

As mentioned above, conventional secondary contact lens packages 100 provided by manufacturers such as those illustrated in FIGS. 1A-2B do not provide prescription information or otherwise. In the case, no prescription information is provided to the user. Accordingly, the user may have difficulty identifying which box of contact lenses or which strength of the lens is for a particular eye. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that contact lenses are usually packaged according to the power or strength of the lens. In practice, a user who does not easily remember a prescription accepts two lens boxes that do not contain any information indicating which box contains the lens for the right eye and which lens contains the lens for the left eye. Will leave the patient to decide.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-1B, typical secondary contact lens packages 100 provided by manufacturers often include an intensity or indicator 110. The secondary contact lens packages may also include a brand-name 105 and a bar-code 115. Secondary packages may be composed of any number of materials including, but not limited to, cardboard, plastic, or paper. In addition, according to various exemplary embodiments, the secondary packages include a mating fastener 120 that can be opened and closed again, such as a tab and slot fastener, Velcro, and / or resealable adhesive. Typically, secondary packages include 100 to 200 contact lenses based on the type of contact lens and the size of the package.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the system includes one or more primary contact lens packages contained within a secondary package. According to this exemplary embodiment, the secondary package includes specific prescription information for a particular patient. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “prescription information” refers to contact lenses, such as the information of the prescribing physician, the telephone number of the prescribing physician, or patient personal information not normally included in the secondary contact lens package. It should be understood to include specific information about the patient receiving the patient. Various components of the present system will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9.

In FIG. 3, a typical primary contact lens package 300 according to the prior art formed of two parts is shown. As illustrated, the primary contact lens package 300 is sealed by a thin film 320 that forms a lid on the package 300 and removes the shell to release the contact lens 325 contained therein. A blister pack member 310 that can be peeled off is included. The primary contact lens package 300 illustrated in FIG. 3 is shown with a peeled thin film 320 to expose the contact lens 325. Typically, the blister pack member 310 includes a preformed blister pack having a profiled recess 315, which provides a recess in which the lens 325 can be placed. do. According to conventional molding methods, the blister pack member 310 is typically injection molded and the contact lens package 300 is completed by joining the sealing thin film 320 paired with the flange 330 to sterile seal. During packaging, the contact lens 325 is deposited in a solution 335 that keeps the lens 325 hydrated until removed from the pack 300.

4 is a top perspective view showing an alternative primary packaging for contact lenses that may be included in the example system. As illustrated in FIG. 4, an exemplary contact lens package 400 includes a central substrate 425, which is a top sheet member coupled to a top surface of the substrate 425. 430). The top sheet member 430 may be coupled to the top surface of the substrate 425 by a fixed but detachable connection so that the top sheet member 430 may have a uniform and relatively small traction force Can be separated from. Additionally, the top sheet member 430 is coupled to the top surface of the substrate 425 enough to allow the exemplary contact lens package 400 to be autoclaved. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the top sheet member 430 may include, but is not limited to, a brand name 415, a design 420 and / or contact lenses (eg, for the left or right eye). It may include various letters and / or images, including information 410 about the method 410 and a method of use. According to one exemplary embodiment, contact lenses in the primary package may be pre-mounted in one or more contact lens dispensers prior to being packaged in the secondary package, as shown in FIG. 5.

5 illustrates a contact lens dispenser 500 that may be included in a secondary packaging, such as provided by a manufacturer, in accordance with one exemplary embodiment. As illustrated, the contact lens dispenser 500 may include a base member 510 and a hinged lead 515 coupled to the base member. When mounted in the dispenser 500 of this example embodiment, the primary contact lens package 520 is appropriately flat so that each primary contact lens package can slide out of the container independently. And contact lenses. According to one exemplary embodiment, when the uppermost primary contact lens package 520 is removed, the dispenser may be configured to raise the level of remaining packages and thus access the next package. The dispenser 500 may also include a retention device 525 configured to secure the primary contact lens package 520 to the dispenser. In particular, according to one example embodiment, the retention device 525 may be configured to hold the primary packages 520 in place when the example contact lens dispenser 500 is shaken or upside down.

The dispenser may also be configured to individually receive each primary contact lens package 520 and contact lenses for use in the left and right eyes of the patient. In some embodiments, the primary package 520 may include a label such as "L" or "R" to allow the user to easily identify the lenses. In other embodiments, the primary contact lens package 520 may be one color for lenses intended for use with the left eye and another color for lenses intended for use with the right eye. In another exemplary embodiment, the primary contact lens package 520 comprising contact lenses to be worn on the patient's first eye is of a primary color, such as blue, and includes a contact lens to be worn on the second eye. The contact lens package 520 becomes a second color such as white.

As mentioned above, any type of primary contact lens packages including the contact lens packages illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 may be included in this example secondary contact lens package including prescription information. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a secondary contact lens package 600, according to one exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the secondary contact lens package 600 of this example includes specific prescription information 640 for the patient. As discussed above, the prescription information 640 may include information such as the patient's name, the prescribing doctor, the doctor's phone number, the method of use, the prescription number, or other specific information about the patient's prescription. . In this example embodiment, the prescription information 640 may be printed directly on the secondary packaging. Alternatively, the prescription information 640 may be attached to the secondary contact lens package 600 by any number of methods, which number of methods prints the prescription information on an adhesive label, although not limited thereto. And attaching the label to the secondary contact lens package 600 before the secondary contact lens package 600 is delivered to the patient.

According to this example system and method, the inclusion of prescription information 640 in the secondary contact lens package 600 increases the level of safety that a patient experiences when using contact lenses. First, by including personal prescription information 640, the patient can be assured that the secondary contact lens package 600 including the contact lens is specifically his and includes contact lenses with appropriate details. Second, by including the patient's personal prescription information 640, including the prescribing doctor's name and / or contact information, the patient will easily provide questions to the patient.

According to one exemplary embodiment, in FIG. 6, the secondary contact lens package 600 of the present example includes a left contact lens power indicator 625 and a right contact lens power indicator 630. It may also include brand name 650, bar-code 635 and other information regarding contact lenses, manufacturers, and the like. According to an exemplary embodiment, the primary contact lens package 400 may be disposed in the secondary contact lens package 600 of the present embodiment. The primary contact lens package 400 may be independently included in the secondary contact lens package 600 or may be disposed inside the contact lens dispenser 500 before being inserted into the secondary package. In addition, the primary contact lens package 400 is an individual bin or portion of the secondary contact lens package 600 that indicates which eye of the patient the contact lenses included in the primary contact lens package 400 are for. It may be included in these.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the secondary contact lens package 600 of the exemplary embodiment includes a bottom member 610. Preferably, the bottom member is made substantially elastic and, by way of example only, forms a conserving material such as cardboard or plastic. The bottom member may be formed to secure any number of contact lenses contained within the primary contact lens package. According to one exemplary embodiment, the bottom member 610 may be surrounded by a plastic cover 645, such as a heat shrink wrap, vacuum seal plastic, or the like. The plastic cover 645 may be formed to be substantially transparent and to view the contents of the secondary contact lens package 600.

7 is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a secondary contact lens package. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the secondary contact lens package 600 includes prescription information 640. As discussed above, prescription information 640 includes information such as the patient's name, the name of the prescribing doctor, the phone number of the prescribing doctor, how to use, the prescription number, or other information about the prescription. can do. Prescription information 640 may be printed directly on the secondary contact lens package 600. Alternatively, prescription information may be printed on the adhesive label by the manufacturer or distributor and attached to the secondary contact lens package 600 before the package is delivered to the patient.

An example embodiment of the secondary contact lens package 600 illustrated in FIG. 7 also includes a left contact lens power indication 625 and a right contact lens power indication 630. Additionally, markings placed on the outer surface of the secondary contact lens package 600 include, but are not limited to, brand name 650, bar-code 635 and / or other related to contact lenses and manufacturers. Include other information. In addition, similar to the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the primary contact lens package 400 disposed in the secondary contact lens package 600 may be located inside the contact lens dispensers 500. Alternatively, the primary contact lens package 400 may be disposed directly in the secondary contact lens package 600 without the dispenser 500.

Secondary contact lens package 600 of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 includes, but is not limited to, cardboard, plastic, structural paper, or other substantially elastic materials suitable for making containers. It can be made of any number of structural materials. According to one exemplary embodiment, the secondary contact lens package 600 illustrated in FIG. 7 is a box structure made of a single sheet of cardboard formed to include one to several hundred primary contact lens packages. The secondary contact lens package of this example embodiment also includes a mating fastener, such as a tab and slot fastener 615, such that the user may use unused contact lenses after the package 600 is first opened. The package 600 may be sealed again for storage.

The accompanying drawings are part of this specification and illustrate various embodiments of the present system and method. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of the system and method and do not limit the scope of the invention.

1A is a front perspective view of a typical secondary contact lens package according to the prior art.

1B is a side perspective view of a typical secondary contact lens package according to the prior art.

2A is a front perspective view of a typical secondary contact lens package according to the prior art.

2B is a side perspective view of a typical secondary contact lens package according to the prior art.

3 is a perspective view illustrating a primary contact lens blister package according to one embodiment.

4 is a perspective view of another primary contact lens package according to one embodiment.

5 is a perspective view illustrating a contact lens dispensing unit according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a secondary contact lens package including a six-month contact lens pre-mounted in a contact lens dispensing unit, according to one example embodiment. FIG.

7 is a perspective view of another secondary contact lens package according to an exemplary embodiment.

8 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method.

9 illustrates contact lens packaging and flow in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of a contact lens packaging system.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals refer to similar, but not necessarily identical elements.

Excuse

In FIG. 8, a flowchart illustrating an example method of providing a contact lens to a consumer is shown. According to the example method, the secondary contact lens case provided to the consumer includes personal prescription information. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the exemplary method 800 includes a step 801 of manufacturing a contact lens having different powers and geometry. The contact lenses are then packaged in the primary package (step 802). Once packaged, the contact lenses may be classified according to the statistically most common combinations of prescribed power and geometry (step 803). The most common combinations may then be packaged together in a secondary package (step 804). Once packaged, the various combinations can be stored (step 805) until the combinations are printed and delivered to the consumer. Further details of the method of this example will be provided below.

As mentioned above, the initial step in the exemplary method includes manufacturing contact lenses having different frequencies and geometric arrangements (step 801). According to one exemplary embodiment, contact lens fabrication steps include, but are not limited to, known lens fabrication methods including spin-casting, lathe cutting, or cast molding. Can be performed according to. According to this exemplary embodiment, a lens manufacturing step with various frequencies and geometries may be performed in a batch for each frequency and geometries for efficiency.

Once the contact lenses have been manufactured (step 801), the contact lenses are packaged in the primary package (step 802). Although the manufactured contact lenses can be stored in any number of primary contact lens packages, according to one exemplary embodiment, the contact lenses are packaged in one of the exemplary primary contact lens packages illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. .

Once packaged in the primary contact lens package (step 802), the primary contact lens packages are classified according to the statistically most common combination of power and geometry prescribed by optometrists. In particular, according to an exemplary embodiment, it is possible to collect combinations of frequency and geometry that are most frequently prescribed and thus have sufficient combinations to meet the needs of more than 98% of the population. . This allows the provider to easily place and store left and right contact lens supplies for prescribed contact lens combinations. According to research, at least a thousand combinations may be suitable for providing 98% of the contact lens wear population. For example, a population of more than 95,000 may have a prescription of -3.75 for the right eye and -3.25 for the left eye. The manufacturing step may require storing and manufacturing a relatively small proportion of the total possible combinations only to meet a very high proportion of contact lens orders.

Once the target lens combinations have been manufactured, packaged in the primary contact lens package and sorted according to the target combinations, the combinations can be packaged in the secondary contact lens case (step 804). As mentioned above, the primary contact lens package groups may be packaged in any number of secondary contact lens cases including the packages illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The contact lens groups included in the secondary contact lens package may be kept and maintained by the manufacturer or distributor (step 805) until a combination request is received. According to one exemplary embodiment, after receiving a request for a specific combination, the secondary contact lens package including the patient's prescription information may be displayed and delivered. The display of the secondary contact lens case may display specific patient prescription information using any number of display methods, which are not limited but may be secondary contact lens boxes such as laser printing or dot-matrix printing. A printing method for printing information directly to the method, a method for providing a label or other adhesive substrate containing prescription information, or other similar display means. Alternatively, if a specific lens combination is made for the patient, prescription information may be displayed on the secondary contact lens case during the manufacturing step.

In this example system and methods, manufacturers / distributors of contact lenses make it easier for patients to purchase and wear contact lenses. According to this example system and method, when ordering contact lens supplies for both eyes, patients no longer purchase or receive two separate packages. This example method can also reduce manufacturing costs. In particular, delivery of both sets of contact lenses in a single box can significantly reduce delivery costs. So far, manufacturers have not used this method because they have thought it is too difficult to maintain the thousands of different combinations needed to serve the entire purchasing population.

Thus, an example factor of the method of this example is to store only some of the possible contact lens combinations instead of storing the full range of possible contact lens combinations. In some exemplary embodiments, a manufacturer may only store contact lens combinations needed to be provided to approximately 98% of the population. According to research, at least a thousand combinations may be suitable for providing 98% of the contact lens wearing population.

An example system

In FIG. 9, an example system for providing a contact lens to a consumer in accordance with the example systems and methods is shown. The example system illustrated in FIG. 9 can reduce manufacturing costs and increase convenience in ordering and using contact lenses for users. As shown, first, contact lenses are manufactured and packaged in primary packaging 901, 902. According to one exemplary embodiment, the primary packaging may be provided with a label indicating the eye to which the contact lens should be mounted. The contact lenses 901 and 902 may then be pre-mounted in the dispensing unit 903 as needed. According to one exemplary embodiment, the dispensing unit 903 may be formed to stably include 15 left contact lenses 901 and 15 right contact lenses 902 in independent compartments. By separating the contact lenses as described above, the overall convenience of the present system can be increased. The dispensing unit 903 may then be packaged in six groups within the secondary contact lens package 904, for example.

Although the secondary package 906 shown includes six dispensers 903, any number of dispensers 903, including, but not limited to, one, three, six, or twelve, may be packaged together. Can be. The secondary package 906 of this embodiment also includes a label containing prescription information. The label 906 indicates that the contact lens is a medical device and should therefore be handled accordingly. The label 906 may also be provided to the user with usage information and information about the prescribing physician. In addition, labels 905 indicating the frequency of contact lenses included in the package 904 may be located in the secondary package 904.

After being labeled, the secondary package can be delivered to user 907 or otherwise to user 907. As an effect that a user is provided with a single package including a contact lens having two frequencies pre-mounted in the dispensing unit, the purchase and use of the contact lens can be made more convenient.

In conclusion, the systems, methods, and devices of this example provide a more convenient and cost effective method of providing contact lenses to consumers. By including prescription information in the secondary packaging, contact lenses for both eyes pre-mounted in the dispenser will simplify the purchase and use of contact lenses. In addition, the delivery cost of contact lenses will be reduced.

The foregoing is only intended to illustrate and describe embodiments of the systems, methods, and devices of this example. It is not intended, however, to limit the systems and methods to the precise form described above. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above theory.

Claims (20)

In secondary packaging 600 for contact lenses 325 supplied by a distributor, Secondary packaging 600, characterized in that it includes prescription information (640, 906). 2. The secondary packaging 600 of claim 1, wherein the prescribing information 640,906 includes at least one of a prescribing physician's information, a prescriber's phone number, or patient 907 personal information. ). 3. The secondary packaging (600) of claim 2, wherein the patient personal information includes a patient's name. The method of claim 2, further comprising lens information, wherein the lens information includes at least one of a base curve of the lens 325, power 625, 630 of the lens 325, or materials of the lens 325. Secondary packaging 600, characterized in that it comprises one. 2. The secondary packaging (600) of claim 1, wherein the patient prescription information (640, 906) is printed directly on the secondary package (600) at the center of the contact lens distribution. The secondary packaging (600) of claim 1, wherein some or all of the prescription information (640, 906) is printed on an adhesive substrate formed to be attached to the secondary package (600). In a contact lens packaging system, the contact lens packaging system A primary package 300, 400, 520, 901, 902 including a contact lens 325, The secondary package 600 is configured to receive the primary package 300, 400, 520, 901, 902, the secondary package 600 including the patient 907 prescription information 640, 906. A contact lens packaging system. 8. The contact lens package of claim 7, wherein the patient prescription information 640,906 includes at least one of a prescriber's information, a prescriber's phone number, or patient 907 personal information. system. 8. The contact lens packaging system of claim 7, wherein the patient (907) prescription information (640, 906) is printed on the secondary package (600) at the center of the contact lens dispenser. 10. The contact lens packaging system of claim 8, wherein the patient personal information includes a patient's name. The method of claim 8, further comprising lens information, wherein the lens information comprises at least one of a base curve of the lens 325, frequencies 625, 630 of the lens 325, or materials of the lens 325. A contact lens packaging system, characterized in that. 9. The contact lens packaging system of claim 8, wherein the patient information is printed on an adhesive substrate formed to be attached to the secondary package (600). 8. A contact lens packaging system according to claim 7, wherein the secondary package (600) is additionally configured to receive contact lenses having two different powers (625, 630). 8. The secondary package 600 of claim 7, wherein the secondary package 600 is further configured to receive a primary package 300, 400, 520, 901, 902 pre-mounted in a contact lens 325 dispensing unit. A contact lens packaging system, characterized in that. A method of providing a contact lens 325 to a consumer 907, the method of providing a contact lens Manufacturing a contact lens 325 having a geometric arrangement with different powers 625, 630, Packing the contact lenses 325 with two different powers 625, 630 together, Storing some of the most common contact lens combinations packed together in a secondary package 600, -Delivering the package (600) to the consumer (907). 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising labeling the prescription information (640, 906) on a package (600) label prior to delivery. The method of claim 16, wherein the prescribing information 640, 906 includes at least one of a prescribing doctor's information, a prescriber's phone number, or patient 907 personal information. . 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the patient (907) personal information includes a name of the patient. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising lens 325 information, wherein the lens information includes at least one of a base curve of the lens 325, frequencies 625, 630 of the lens 325, or materials of the lens 325. Contact lens providing method comprising a. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising pre-mounting the contact lens in a contact lens dispenser prior to wrapping the contact lens (325) in the secondary packaging (600).

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