KR20230066511A - Single touch contact lens case - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to contact lens cases that allow a lens to be removed from the lens case with a single touch. Lens cases include a lens support that holds the lens in a convex position. When the package is drained, there is less contact area between the support and the wet contact lens than between the user's finger and the contact lens, providing the desired one-touch delivery.

Description

Single touch contact lens case

For many years, a "single touch" case has been introduced to the wearer of contact lenses - that is, whereby the user of contact lenses can remove a lens from a lens storage case with a single touch of one of their fingers and then, with this single touch, accurately place the lens onto the eye. There was a general perception that providing a positionable case - would be ideal. In this design, transfer and manipulation of the lens from one finger to another prior to placement on the eye would not be required (as is now common). Providing such a single touch case not only simplifies the lens preparation and insertion process; This will also reduce the chance of exposing the lens to additional bacteria on the user's other fingers or dropping the lens when the lens is oriented onto the eye and preparing to be inserted, and also to touch the side of the lens that is intended to come into contact with the eye. reduce the possibility

The design of single-touch lens cases faces some distinct challenges. Ideally, the user should be able to consistently position the lens to attach to the finger during removal from the case, and then the lens needs to be consistently released from the finger onto the eye. Contact lenses (both the reusable and daily disposable types) each have their own unique surface, volume, and geometric properties. Also, the finger size and force the contact lens wearer exerts on the lenses during delivery may vary. These factors can affect the process for removing the lens from the case and placing it onto the finger and then onto the surface of the eye. Among other considerations, it would be desirable to allow the user to drain any lens fluid that could affect the ability of the lens to adhere to the finger, since variations in the amount of lens fluid adhered to the lens and case may be present on the finger. This is because it can affect the process of placing the lens. Also, the wearer may be concerned about the possibility of transferring germs or external products, such as cosmetics, to the contact lenses; Of course, the manufacture of the case itself must conform to expected industry standards recognized by the medical and commercial provider community.

Additionally, a single touch case should ideally not cause an excessive increase in product cost compared to current contact lens cases, as this may result in increased cost for the user population. The case should not make it difficult to hold the lens when removed from the case. Additionally, if the construction of the case maintains or even reduces the volume of solution required to contain the lens in the case, this will reduce the ecological impact of the lens case. Similarly, it would be beneficial if all or part of the case could be made from recycled materials and/or if the whole or part was recyclable.

Moreover, it would be advantageous if the case was constructed from materials already approved by various regulatory agencies and ideally would not require changes to solution chemistry or lens composition. Optimally, also, the function of the case preferably does not include any electronics or other electrical components where such components could adversely affect the performance of the case or lens.

There are several desirable properties, which make achieving the functionality of a single touch case difficult, and which are often missing in known attempts to create a single touch case. These properties include, for example:

이상적으로 렌즈 케이스는 렌즈를 보호해야 한다. 이는 렌즈의 무결성을 보장하는 한편, 동시에 렌즈에 대한 파쇄 또는 손상을 방지해야 한다.

Ideally, a lens case should protect the lens. This should ensure the integrity of the lens, while at the same time preventing crushing or damage to the lens.

렌즈 케이스는 보관시 렌즈의 수화를 유지해야 한다. 이는 렌즈의 속성들을 유지시킬 것이다. 렌즈 케이스 내의 렌즈는 원할 때 렌즈 용액 내에 렌즈가 완전히 잠기도록 구성되어야 하지만, 착용자의 손가락으로 전달될 준비가 되었을 때는 이러한 용액이 제거되어야 한다.

The lens case should keep the lens hydrated during storage. This will keep the properties of the lens. The lenses in the lens case must be configured such that the lenses are completely submerged in the lens solution when desired, but this solution must be removed when ready to be transferred to the wearer's fingers.

케이스는 바람직하게는 렌즈를 착용자에 대해 원하는 볼록 배향으로 유지하여야 한다. 렌즈는 사용자에 의해 쉽게 제거될 수 있도록 렌즈 지지체 상에 정확하게 위치되어야 한다.

The case should preferably hold the lenses in a desired convex orientation relative to the wearer. The lens must be accurately positioned on the lens support so that it can be easily removed by the user.

렌즈 케이스는 케이스의 개방 시 그리고 렌즈 제거 전에 렌즈 용액이 렌즈로부터 효과적으로 배수되게 하여 착용자의 손가락으로 그리고 이어서 눈 위로 더 용이한 전달을 가능하게 할 수 있어야 한다.

The lens case should allow the lens solution to drain effectively from the lens upon opening of the case and prior to lens removal, allowing for easier transfer to the wearer's fingers and then onto the eye.

US7,398,877, WO2014/195588, WO2009/069265, JP6339322 disclose cases providing lenses in a convex bowl down configuration. However, the lens support structure substantially conforms to the shape of the contact lens, which provides an undesirable contact area between the lens and the lens support. These references also do not mention a mechanism for effective solution drainage from the lens and lens support.

US20190046353 discloses a contact lens storage container that facilitates increased ease of lens removal. However, the case requires the user to pour out the lens solution and has curved support ribs that do not provide the consistent one-touch removal desired.

US20200229560 is a lens support supporting the concave (anterior or anterior) surface of a contact lens, or having a grid supporting the peripheral edge of a contact lens and allowing the lens solution to drain through the grid to the bottom chamber when the lens case is opened. Initiate cases.

Accordingly, there remains a need for a contact lens case that provides a consistent one-touch lens removal experience.

The case of the present invention provides improved functionality during storage, draining, lens transfer and reusability enabling consistent one-touch transfer of lenses from the lens case to the wearer's fingers. One-touch features include the following features individually and in combination:

The lenses are completely submerged in the lens solution during storage, and the lid and base form a watertight seal when completely closed. To prevent optical distortion, the lens support and lid interior may be designed such that the lens optic zone does not permanently sit on any features/structures to prevent distortion.

The lens support is designed to minimize contact between the lens and the lens support to keep the lens in the desired convex orientation but provide good drainage, such that liquid does not bridge with the lens or pool around the contact area between the lens and support. ), the lens solution is removed from the lens when opened. Since the case is reusable, it is desirable to be easy to use. It should be easy for the lens wearer to place the lens in the case, fill the case with the correct level of solution to ensure lens immersion, and open, close, clean, drain and dry the case.

Lens case structures and features within the case may also be designed to minimize microbial growth.

The present invention relates to a contact lens case, wherein the contact lens case

a support for holding the contact lens in a convex position on the support during storage and upon opening the case;

The lens has a peripheral edge and a lens profile,

The support has a profile that does not substantially match the lens profile, and the wet contact between the support and the lens is less than about 20 mm 2 , 18 mm 2 or less than 15 mm 2 .

The present invention also relates to a contact lens case, the contact lens case comprising:

Base,

lid, and

a support for holding a contact lens having a peripheral edge and a lens profile in a convex position relative to the base;

The base and lid are sealed to form a cavity containing the support, contact lens and packaging solution;

The lens support has a distal end extending at least 1 mm beyond the contact lens peripheral edge, and has at least three, three to fourteen, four to fourteen, three to eight or Wet contact between the support and the lens after the case is opened and the packaging solution is directed away from the lens and the support comprising a plurality of peripheral supports providing 4 to 8, 4 to 6, or 6 contact points. is less than about 20 mm 2 , less than 18 mm 2 or less than 15 mm 2 .

The present invention also relates to a contact lens case, the contact lens case comprising:

a support for holding a contact lens having a convex surface in a convex position relative to the support; and

and a lens facing surface comprising at least one air entry guide, wherein when the case is opened by a user, the at least one air entry guide directs air entering the case to the contact lens convex surface. It is configured to guide over the surface to reduce instances of the lens sticking to the interior surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be better understood from the following accompanying drawings.
1A-1R are diagrams of various lens support configurations.
2A-2C are views of a contact lens case, showing various lens supports and lifting means.
3A-3J are views of a lid, illustrating an embodiment of airflow management features within the present invention.
4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating a contact lens case in the present invention.
5A is an exploded side view of the lens case of the present invention.
FIG. 5B is a side view of the lens case shown in FIG. 5A.
5c to 5f are views of the lens case of the present invention.

The present invention relates to cases for contact lenses, such as hydrogel contact lenses, that allow a user to remove a contact lens from the case with the touch of a fingertip at or near the apex of the contact lens. Once delivered to the fingertip, the lens is in a suitable position for placement on the eye by the wearer, thereby simplifying removal from the case and insertion of the lens onto the eye.

As used herein, the following terms have the meanings set forth above.

An advantage of the lens case of the present invention is that it provides consistent one-touch lens transfer from the case to the wearer's finger and then from the finger to the wearer's eye, without lens inversion, slipping from the finger, or additional manipulation. Consistent lens transmission includes a transmission rate of at least about 70%, at least about 80%, or at least about 90% transmission upon first touch (or “dab”) of a finger. The lens also preferably "sits up" on the finger without collapsing or inverting and then transfers to the eye when placed on the eye. The case of the present invention can provide the desired one-touch delivery across a wide range of finger sizes and light pressing pressures. Environmental conditions, such as temperature and whether the finger is wet or dry, can also affect the transfer rate, with higher temperatures generally improving lens transfer. Lens delivery evaluated in the present invention was performed at room temperature.

A contact lens refers to an ophthalmic device that resides on the eye. It generally has a hemispherical shape and has a therapeutic effect (including wound healing, delivery of drugs or neutraceuticals, diagnostic evaluation or monitoring), or its Any combination may be provided. The term lens includes soft hydrogel contact lenses, which are generally supplied to the consumer in a case in a hydrated state and have a relatively low modulus that allows the lens to conform to the cornea. Contact lenses suitable for use with the case of the present invention include all hydrated contact lenses, including conventional silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Hydrogels are hydrated, crosslinked polymer systems that contain water in equilibrium 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 producing contact lenses.

Conventional hydrogel contact lenses do not contain silicone-containing components and generally have higher water content, lower oxygen permeability, modulus, and shape memory than silicone hydrogels. Conventional hydrogels are made from monomer mixtures that contain predominantly hydrophilic monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate ("HEMA"), N-vinyl pyrrolidone ("NVP"), or polyvinyl alcohol. US Patent Nos. 4,495,313, 4,889,664 and 5,039,459 disclose the formation of conventional hydrogels. Conventional hydrogels may be ionic or nonionic, and include polymacon, etafilcon, nelfilcon, ocufilcon, lenefilcon, and the like. The oxygen permeability of these conventional hydrogel materials is typically less than 20 to 30 barr.

Silicone hydrogel formulations include balafilcon, samfilcon, lotrafilcon A and B, delfilcon, galyfilcon, senofilcon A, B and C, narafilcon, comfilcon, formofilcon, riofilcon, fanfilcon, stenfilcon, somofilcon, kalifilcon Include etc. "Silicone hydrogel" refers to a polymer network made from at least one hydrophilic component and at least one silicone-containing component. The silicone hydrogel can have a modulus ranging from 60 to 200, 60 to 150 or 80 to 130 psi, and a water content ranging from 20 to 60%. Examples of silicone hydrogels include acquafilcon, asmofilcon, balafilcon, comfilcon, delefilcon, enfilcon, panfilcon, formofilcon, gallifilcon, lotrafilcon, and Nara. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,659,782, 4,659,783, 5,244,981, 5,314,960, 5,331,067, 5,331,067, 5,331,067, 5,331,067, 5,331,067, 5,331,067, 5,331,067, 5,331,067, 4,659,783, 5,244,981, 5,331,067, 5,331,067, and 5,371,147, 5,998,498, 6,087,415, 5,760,100, 5,776,999, 5,789,461, 5,849,811, 5,965,631, 6,367,929, 6,822,016, 6 ,867,245, 6,943,203, 7,247,692 , 7,249,848, 7,553,880, 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, No. 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, 9,156,934, 9 ,170,349, 9,244,196, 9,244,197 , 9,260,544, 9,297,928, 9,297,929, as well as in International Patent Publication Nos. WO 03/22321, International Patent Publication WO 2008/061992, and US Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0048847. This is included. These patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Silicone hydrogels may have a higher shape memory than conventional contact lenses.

Hydrogel lenses are viscoelastic materials. Contact lenses can form optical distortions if the lenses interact with the case or any air bubbles within the case. The degree of optical distortion, and the length of time required for the distortion to alleviate, will depend on the chemistry and, to a lesser extent, on the geometry of the lens. Conventional lens materials, such as polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate-based lenses such as etafilcon A or Polymacon, have lower loss modulus and tan delta compared to silicone hydrogels, resulting in fewer and less severe losses as a result of contact with the packaging. Optical distortion can be formed. Incorporation of silicone (which generally increases the bulk elastic response), wetting agents such as PVP (which generally increases the viscous response) or plasma coatings (which can lower the elastic response at the lens interface) or coatings of conventional hydrogel materials It can change the viscoelastic properties of the lens. Conventional hydrogel contact lenses and silicone hydrogel contact lenses with short or rigid crosslinkers and/or stiffeners may have short shape memory and be less susceptible to deformation during storage. As used herein, a high or higher shape memory hydrogel exhibits an optical distortion from contact with a bubble or case of at least about 0.18 after 5 weeks of accelerated aging at 55°C. Viscoelastic properties, including loss modulus and tangent delta, can be measured using dynamic mechanical analysis.

Contact lenses can have any geometry or power, and can have a generally hemispherical shape with a concave posterior face that, when in use, sits against the eye and a convex anterior face that faces away from the eye and contacts the eyelids during blinking. there is.

The center of the lens is the center of the lens optic zone. The optic zone provides optical correction and can be from about 7 mm to about 10 mm in diameter. The lens optic zone provides visual correction. The lens periphery or lens edge is the edge where the anterior and posterior faces meet.

Wet lenses are contact lenses and any residual solution that adheres to them after draining the lens solution. Wet contact is the summed contact area between the wet lens and the lens support.

A contact lens case includes a lens support surrounded by a reversibly sealable chamber. The chamber may have any convenient shape and may include a base which may have one or multiple compartments or base segments, a lens support and at least one cap, each of which is described in detail below. As used herein, the phrases “the lid,” “a lid,” “the base,” “a base” include both the singular and the plural. The lid and case base are sealed together to form a watertight cavity that holds the contact lens, support and lens solution during cleaning and storage. The contact lens case is made of a material that is biologically inert as well as compatible with the contact lens and solution.

A lens cleaning or multipurpose solution ("lens solution") is any physiological solution compatible with the selected lens material and case. The lens solution includes a buffered solution having a physiological pH, such as a buffered saline solution. The lens solution may contain known ingredients including buffers, pH and tonicity adjusting agents, lubricants, wetting agents, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, case coating ingredients, and the like.

The case base forms the bottom of the case. It can be made of any material suitable for packaging medical devices, including plastic. The bottom of the lens support is placed on and supported by the base surface opposite the case cavity. The lens support may also be integral with the base. The lens support may be seated on an inner surface of the case base, which may be horizontal, or may be angled to hold the lens support and lens in an angled position when the bottom of the base is level. When the base is positioned at an angle, the angle is preferably at least about 15°, at least about 20°, about 20° to about 80°, about 20° to about 60° or about 20° relative to equilibrium level. ° to about 40°.

The lid forms the top structure of the case and is sealed against the base to form a cavity containing the lens support, lens, lens solution and any other integrated features. The lid may be made of any material suitable for packaging medical devices including foil or plastic, flat or molded sheet, laminated film, or plastic. Cases comprising plastic for one structure and a foil or laminated film as the other, or cases comprising plastic for the lid and base are known in the art and are examples of suitable combinations.

Lens support and delivery

The lens support holds the lens in a desired convex orientation (bowls down relative to the base) and (centered over the support) position during storage. The lens support has an open structure under the lens bowl that allows lens solution to drain from the lens and support without trapping water between it and the support when opened, and when the lens collapses onto the support, rotates away from it, or , or contact points with a sufficient number of lenses to prevent translation across it. This allows the apex of the lens to be supported by the elastic stiffness of the lens itself, or to minimize sinking of the lens apex while limiting the contact area between the support and the lens. Too much contact between the support and the lens after the solution has drained, and water trapped between the support and the lens can create surface tension between the lens and the water on and around the lens support, which can create surface tension between the wearer's finger and the lens. It is greater than the tension and prevents efficient lens delivery. The sum of the contact between the lens and the lens support when the case is opened and the solution draining from the lens and the lens support is the total contact area, which may be less than about 20 mm 2 , less than 18 mm 2 , or less than 15 mm 2 ; As explained, it is distributed at least around the lens periphery.

For lenses made of polymers with longer shape memory, the lens support may be designed to limit contact between the lens and support during storage. These contacts may be distributed around the lens peripheral edge. Contact between the lens optic zone, the lens support and the lid interior (including any air intake guides) may be transient, or there may be no contact between the optic zone and the support, lid or air intake guide. Lenses such as conventional hydrogels with shorter shape memory are less susceptible to distortion from packaging contact, including the lens center region (about 9 mm, or about 5 mm diameter), around the periphery and throughout the lens profile. may have contact points distributed over

The lens support of the present invention allows both the fingertip and the lens to deform to conform to each other's shape upon light pressing, without causing damage to the lens or lens inversion during removal from too much pressure during light pressing. Thus, an aspect of lens removal from the present case is to control the ratio of the area between the finger and the lens to the area between the lens and the lens support so that the area of contact between the finger and the lens exceeds the contact surface area of the lens support on the underside of the lens. it may be This will ensure that the surface tension between the finger and the lens exceeds the surface tension between the lens and the lens support. Thus, the lens would be attached to the finger for lens delivery and placement onto the eye.

1A-1P illustrate embodiments of lens supports useful in the present invention. Each of these lens supports may be useful in all cases described herein. The lens support can provide some resistance on the lens during lens delivery so that the lens can be attached to the finger. As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1P , the lens support may be designed in various configurations. It should be understood that the configurations shown herein are exemplary embodiments. Configurations not shown, or configurations that combine aspects of the illustrated example configurations, are possible within the scope of the appended claims, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art given the balance of this disclosure.

The lens support has at least 2, at least 3, at least 3, 3-14, 4-14, 3-8, or 4 points of contact with the contact lens edge along the peripheral support 105. to 8, 4 to 6, or 6 servings. When two peripheral supports are used, the peripheral supports can be wider to provide stability without exceeding the desired contact area for consistent lens delivery. The peripheral contact points prevent rotational displacement of the lens from the lens, and can be distributed in multiple configurations as long as the space between furthest adjacent contacts is less than the diameter of the lens. In the case of three contact points, the contacts may be arranged in an acute triangle as shown in Example 16. All of the peripheral supports (Figs. 1B, 1B, 1H, 1K and 1L) or most of the peripheral supports (Figs. 1M-1O) can be uniformly distributed around the lens periphery. As the number of peripheral supports increases, the drainage of the lens solution, the possibility that the residual lens solution will form a film between adjacent peripheral supports, and the possibility that the solution will bridge between the support and the lens can increase. 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 delivery. Supports in the shape of convex domes, whether with ribs, solid or perforated domes, generally provide too much contact area with the lens and inconsistent drainage.

1G shows lens supports comprising six planar peripheral supports 105 connected to the center of the lens support and extending outwardly to the unsupported distal end. Channel member 115 is one structure that can be used to facilitate lens solution drainage and is discussed in detail below.

Peripheral support 105 provides a path for lens solution to drain from the lens when the case is opened. To facilitate drainage of the lens solution, the peripheral support is usually straight across the lens edge, which helps to prevent the lens from wrapping around the support and outward to a distance of at least 1 mm beyond the contact lens peripheral edge. may be extended. If the distal end of the peripheral supports extends less than 2 mm beyond the lens edge, the lens solution can become undesirably trapped under the lens, potentially hindering effective lens delivery. If the central peripheral ends (e.g., the “V” notch of peripheral support 105 in FIG. 1D) are not connected to the central support, they are at least about 3 mm from the point of contact with the lens, as illustrated by the exemplary configuration of FIG. 1D. mm may extend inward toward the center of the support. If the peripheral support extends less than 3 mm inward from the lens contact point toward the lens, the lens may slide off the peripheral support.

Peripheral supports 105 may be disposed radially around the center of the support. They may be attached to each other as shown in FIG. 1G, or attached at an elbow 104 as an end portion of a lens support arm as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Peripheral supports 105 may extend inwardly from at least partial peripheral ring 109 as shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D . Also, the peripheral supports 105 can be connected to the central column or cylinder 107 as shown in FIG. 1E, or any combination of the foregoing. As the peripheral supports extend inwardly, they can meet at a single central point (Fig. 1g), and the column or cylinder 107 (Fig. 1e) meets adjacent peripheral supports as shown in Fig. 1d to form an open center. can form Alternatively or additionally, the one or more peripheral supports 105 may extend medially from the distal end of the at least partial peripheral ring to the unsupported proximal end inside the circumference of the lens or to another point of the peripheral ring, as shown in FIG. 1C. can be extended to The peripheral supports may be planar as in FIGS. 1B-1G or angled as in FIG. 1A . When angled, the angle may be 0° to about 30°, or 0° to about 15° from equilibrium, and may be inclined towards the center of the support or the distal end of the peripheral support.

The distal ends of the adjacent perimeter supports 105 may be connected to each other via end crosspieces forming a partial perimeter ring 109 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1D or a full ring 109 as shown in FIG. 1C. . For example, FIG. 1D shows a lens support comprising a partial peripheral ring 109 with planar peripheral supports 105, in the shape of an open six-armed star, disposed radially around the center of the lens support. shows Since the lens case is used repeatedly for weeks or months, more robust lens supports may be desirable. A lens support with entire peripheral rings, a peripheral column, or a lens support integrally molded to the base may be preferred. Examples of such supports are shown in FIGS. 1H, 1K-1R.

If a full or partial perimeter ring is included, it may be at least 4 mm larger in diameter than the contact lens (at least 2 mm from all contact lens edges) to facilitate drainage of the lens solution from the lens and lens support. For partial periphery rings having complex shapes, such as the partial periphery ring of FIG. 1D , the diameter of at least the partial periphery ring may be centered around the center of the lens support, measured across opposite partial periphery ring sections 109 . do. A peripheral ring diameter of about 16 to about 25 mm, about 18 to about 25 mm or about 18 to about 24 mm will be suitable for commercially available contact lenses.

The perimeter ring, if included, may rest on the base during storage, may be fixedly attached to the base, or may include feet, struts 110, raised base pins (as shown in FIGS. 1K and 1P). It can be attached to a vertical support 147, such as a fin section (FIG. 1H), a central column or cylinder 107 as shown in FIG. 1Q, and held elevated from the base. The vertical support may extend from about 4 to about 5 mm from the base for a horizontally positioned lens support, or about 2 to about 5 mm for a lens support that tilts when the case is closed, such as the tilted lens support shown in FIG. It may extend about 5 mm, about 2.5 to about 5 mm or about 3 to about 4 mm. The vertical supports, if included, may be of the same length or different lengths to hold the lens at an angle to equilibrium. The upper limit of the height of the vertical supports is, if desired, limited by the size of the case, since increasing the length of the vertical supports increases the overall height of the case and the amount of solution required. The peripheral ring may also be attached to a lifting or pivoting structure, such as a lever or elongated channel member described below, to facilitate lifting the lens support from the base and facilitating draining of the lens solution from the lens.

The case base also assumes that the peripheral supports 105 (shown as part of a raised fin in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1H) are level with each other, but the base floor 120 and lens supports 136 are disposed at an angle (FIG. 1H). ) can be designed. The lens support may be a separate structure or may be part of the base as shown in FIG. 1H.

The lens support may further comprise at least one positioning structure (not shown) to prevent horizontal translation of the lens across the lens support upon opening and removal, or particularly for supports disposed at an angle in the case. can Such positioning structures may be located outside the central region of the lens (about 5 mm, about 6 mm or about 7 mm in diameter) may include placement pins or tabs inside the lens near the periphery of the lens where the lens surface is more steeply angled, or a combination thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1E , 1J and 1H , the lens support may further include an open structure central support to provide additional resistance, drainage pathways and/or increase the contact area between the finger and the lens during lens delivery. can The profile of the central support can be designed to hold the lens in a convex position, preferably in the center of the support, without significant contact during transport and storage, and designed to provide the desired lens contact area after drainage and prior to contact by the user's fingers. It can be. The central support may be configured such that a gap is created between the lens support and the lens to create a desired bias in the surface area, for example by having a substantially flat top that allows the top of the lens to be deformed flat with a finger and finger pad. can If present, the central support may be flat or slightly concave, preferably providing at least 0.5 mm between the lens apex and the top of the central support when draining (to minimize contact between the lens apex and the support) and the lens It provides a lens-to-finger contact area ("substantially flat top" or "flat top") that is greater than the contact area between the lens and the rest of the lens support. When slightly curved, the central support may have a slightly concave curve with a radius of curvature of at least about 10 mm or at least about 6 mm, less preferably a slightly convex curvature of about 10 mm or greater. It may be desirable to design the central support so that it does not contact the lens optic zone until the lens is delivered.

The top of the central support may have a diameter of about 1 mm to about 10 mm, about 3 mm to about 9 mm, about 5 to about 9 mm, or about 6 to about 9 mm. For central supports having a flat upper region with a diameter of less than about 5 mm, additional positioning structures may be desirable. The top of the central support may be oriented parallel to the lens periphery to form a column, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1F. The top of the central support also provides resistance to fingers when the user presses down on the apex of the lens to initiate lens delivery.

The central support may be formed of a plurality of arms. The arms may form a flat upper section 101, one or more columns 108 extending upward from the base as shown in FIG. 1J, as shown in FIGS. at least one peripheral support 105 as shown in FIG. 1D, or at least one arm as shown in FIG. 1D, or fin-shaped vertical supports 110 as shown in FIG. 1K or open supports as shown in FIG. 1K s 110 may be supported. When the arms extend beyond the flat top, they include an optional side section 103, a shoulder transition 102 connecting the flat top 101 and the optional side section 103, peripheral supports 105, an optional side ( 103) and an optional elbow transition portion 104 connecting the peripheral support 105. The flat upper section of the arms can be centrally connected at point 106 as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, column 108 as in FIG. It can be connected to a partial cylinder 107, or the arms can be connected to the case base as a solid pin with a void 106a in the middle of a substantially flat top 101 (FIG. 1H). The arms may also be attached to the bottom of a lens support having a flat top section 101 formed by six arms with curved side sections 103 and upward ends of the arms, as shown in FIG. 1K. can The distal end of the peripheral support 105 may also be connected to individual supports from the base as shown in FIGS. 1K and 1P, or to a hollow column as in FIG. 1Q, or as in FIGS. 1L and 1R. can be directly connected to the base.

As shown in Figures 1H and 1M, the pin, base or both may also be hollow to minimize the amount of packaging material used. A hollow or solid pin also displaces the lens solution, reducing the required amount. The arms may be distributed radially around the center of the support structure.

The flat top section may also include an optional center fillet 106a centered on the flat top section as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1O and 1N. The center fillet can be included in lens supports with or without a center column, as in FIGS. 1N and 1A , respectively. When included, the center fillet may have a width over its longest dimension of about 0.1 to about 3 mm, about 0.1 to about 2 mm, or less than 1.5 mm. The center fillet can have any shape including a circle with smooth or scalloped edges, a triangle or a square. Triangular or square points may be located on the arms, offset from the arms and may be rounded or pointed.

When opened, the periphery of the contact lens will seat on the peripheral support 105 and the lens may additionally seat on the central support or part of the central support, such as the shoulder transition 102 . The side sections 103 can be of any shape that provides minimal contact so that the desired contact area difference is achieved during lens transfer, preferably not contacting the contact lens during packaging opening and draining. The side section may be straight (non-curved) as shown in FIGS. 1B-1F. The lens may also have no side supports, as shown in FIG. 1J , with a flat upper section 101 supported by a central column 108 . As the solution drains, the lens may collapse towards the central support. The profile of the lens support of the present invention, including the configuration of the peripheral support and the central support (if present), does not substantially conform to the lens profile and prevents the lens from deforming or interacting with the lens support during drainage, so that the lens conforms to its shape. and prevent sticking to the central support during lens delivery. Preferably, the lens support profile that does not substantially coincide with the lens profile is formed by at least a central support without side sections or straight angled side sections having an outward angle of less than or equal to about 10° from vertical, including concave curves of the side sections. It includes central support profiles that provide a gap between the side supports (if present) of the provided and the lens. It will be appreciated that lenses with higher modulus (eg, silicone hydrogel) may be less deformable and may require less inconsistent central supports.

The height of the flat upper section (if included) is measured from the point of contact between the lens and the peripheral supports to the top of the shoulder and may vary depending on the sagittal depth and curvature of the contact lens. For effective delivery, a deviation of at least about 0.5 mm, about 0.5 to about 2 mm, 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, or about 0.8 to about 1 mm from the unmodified contact lens apex may be desirable. For a contact lens having a sagittal depth of 3.8 mm, a flat top portion having a height of about 2 mm to about 3.3 mm, about 2.5 to about 3.3 mm, or about 3 to about 3.5 mm may be used. Column heights of less than about 2 mm can trap the lens solution in the support base and promote the lens to deform and buckle in the center. If present, these heights measured from the apex of the lens to the top of the flat top, or from the base, provide the desired contact area between the finger and the lens to provide consistent lens delivery without inverting the lens.

Removing the central column and leaving a void in the center can provide the desired lens delivery, especially after draining, to neutralize the lens. The void may have a diameter between about 5 mm and the diameter of the lens (this provides a support only with a peripheral support as in FIGS. 1F and 1M). The void may be transparent to or below the base of the lens. The voids are preferably at least 5 mm overall to provide adequate drainage.

Any structure under the void preferably has a low surface area so as not to impede lens solution drainage. For example, in the case of a void extending to the base of the lens, at least about 50% of the area of the void at the base is transparent. A void extending below the base of the lens may have a structure with a larger surface area as long as the structure does not protrude above the base.

The length of the arm may vary depending on where and to what the arm is attached to in the flat top area and whether or not the arm has support around it. As shown in FIG. 1A , the arms attached to the central support may have a shoulder to midpoint length of about 1.5 to about 4.5 mm, about 2.5 to about 4.5 or about 3 to about 4.5 mm. The length of the arm side section (if present) is determined by the height of the lens support and may be from about 1.5 to about 4.5 mm, from about 1.5 to about 3.5 mm, or from about 2 to about 3.5 mm.

The side section may be perpendicular to the base, or may have a curve less than any angle 103a (FIG. 1A) or curvature of the lens so that the desired contact area is not exceeded. Suitable angles include less than or equal to about 15 degrees outward from vertical, or from about 1 degree to about 10 degrees.

The angle 103b at the elbow transition between the side section and the perimeter support (when connected to the arm) may be between about 60° and about 120°, or between about 80° and about 100°.

The number and shape of the arms can vary as long as it provides the desired balance between effective drainage of the lens solution and area of contact with the lens upon opening. The case of the present invention provides the desired contact area between the lens and the finger, and resistance along the flat top to finger contact, but can be designed to provide only temporary contact with the contact lens at optional side sections and shoulder transitions. , can have one or more, 3 to 8 or 3 to 6 arms forming the central support. The shoulder transitions may be arranged radially around the center of the support. The shoulder transition may be spaced at about the same angle from the center. The arm may be planar, as shown in FIG. 1A, or may be curved, eg, in a U-shape (not shown), or may be straight or curved, eg, in a “Y” shape 101b, as shown in FIG. 1B. , can be branched into a U-shape or a T-shape. The bifurcation of the arm(s) can occur within the flat upper region as shown in FIG. 1B, or it can occur at the perimeter support 105c as shown in FIG. 1C. The support can have all planar arms, all branch arms, or a mixture of planar and branch arms, for example two branch arms and two straight arms as shown in FIG. 1C, or FIG. 1B. It can have three branched arms as shown in , or all planar arms as shown in FIG. 1A. An embodiment of a suitable arm configuration is 3 to 8 or 3 to 6 planar arms, 3 straight or curved Y-shaped arms, 2 to 4 planar arms and 2 branched arms (which are may be straight or curved Y-shaped, U-shaped or T-shaped) and two planar arms and two branched arms (which may be straight or curved Y-shaped, U-shaped or T-shaped). The arm configuration may provide shoulder and peripheral support contact points disposed along the arm plane (FIG. 1A) or shoulder and peripheral support contact points offset from each other (FIG. 1C).

Each arm has a cross-section sufficient to provide the lens support with resistance to prevent lens collapse during drainage, or excessive contact between the lens and lens support during lens transfer. The lens support is preferably formed of a rigid material, and the resistance of the arm can be controlled by the modulus of the selected lens support material and the dimensions of the arm. Rigid plastics suitable for injection molding of small parts such as polypropylene homo- and copolymers, cyclic olefin polymers (COPs), cyclic olefin copolymers (COCs) and mixtures thereof are suitable materials. Depending on additional packages included, polypropylene homo- and copolymers generally have flexural moduli in the range of 1100-1800 MPa, COPs and COCs have flexural moduli in the range of 1800-2900 MPa, and polypropylenes with COPs or COCs have flexural moduli. The blend may have a flexural modulus in the range of 1100-2900 MPa. The polypropylene can be nucleated or controlled flow or both, and both Ziegler-Natta and metallocene catalyzed polypropylenes can be used. The polypropylene polymer may also contain additives including processing aids such as glycerol monostearate, zinc stearate and calcium stearate, fillers that can alter the properties of the polypropylene and the like. An example of a polypropylene suitable for use in the lens case of the Boremed HF840 is a polypropylene homopolymer with an anti-slip agent and has a melt flow index of 19 g/10 min and a flexural modulus of 1,250 MPa.

References throughout this description to conventional injection molding processes and the use of materials commonly employed in injection molding are to be understood as illustrative. One 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.

The width of the arm can vary between the widths required for efficient lens solution drainage upon opening and the limitations of the chosen molding process.

It will be appreciated that suitable arm widths include from about 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, from about 0.5 to about 1, or from about 0.5 to about 0.7 mm, and lens support designs with fewer points of contact may have thicker arms.

The height of the arm can vary from the limits of the injection molding process to the height of the arm from the base, in which case the arm is a pin as shown in FIGS. can If the arm is not a pin, it may have a height of 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, about 0.5 to about 1, or about 0.5 to about 0.7 mm. It will be appreciated that a material with a lower modulus may benefit from an arm having a larger profile in height, width or both.

A suitable material for the lens support should be non-leaching, compatible with various lens cleaning and care solutions, suitable for use with biomedical devices, and inexpensive. Preferably the material is also recyclable. The lens support material may be, but need not be, optically transparent. The lens support material may be non-polar to facilitate drainage of the lens solution. A non-polar material is a material with a contact angle greater than 90° through a sessile drop method using 25° C. deionized water.

As will be appreciated, the lens support of the present invention may have a variety of arm and peripheral support configurations and features and is not limited by the specific combinations shown in the figures and discussed herein.

Additional combinations of arm configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings of this application. The only limitations to the design of the arms are the ability to shape the lens support, and the number and orientation of contact points to balance the lens support at the desired multiple when opened.

lens solution drainage

Cases of the present invention may have additional features such that the lens support allows the lens solution to drain from the lens and lens support. Additional drainage features provide a drainage pathway for the lens solution. When open, the drainage path may be an angled fluid film formed between two solid members such as adjacent perimeter supports, a generally vertical fluid film formed between two solid members such as a central column and a side section, or a side section or Creates a steep or generally vertical path along a smooth solid surface such as a perimeter column wall. The shallower the angle of the drainage path, the easier it is to break the flow path and promote the formation of a lens solution trapped between the lens and the lens support, including reservoirs and residual films. An angled drainage path with an angle between 10° and about 90° is suitable. Lens supports and drainage features with sharp edges and very long pathways can also break the drainage pathways.

As described above and shown in FIGS. 1K, 1L, 1P and 1R, integrally angled, raised, or raised and angled lens supports may provide the desired multiple. As discussed below, lens supports may also be placed horizontally on a base and may include a lifting structure. When present, the drainage channel cooperates with the lifting structure to create a temporary film of lens solution that flows away from the lens and creates a gravity actuated pathway for draining the film. In this way, the drainage channel helps to minimize pooling of lens fluid between the lens backside and the lens support structure when the case is opened and the lens support is raised or tilted out of the lens solution. The drainage channel includes at least one channel member extending outwardly from an arc of the peripheral ring, an arc formed by the distal end of the at least partial peripheral ring or non-extended peripheral support. The drainage channel includes a gap between two adjacent members or, if a single member is used, a division of a single member. For lens supports without a full periphery ring, the drainage channel gap can start anywhere inside the lens periphery. For supports with a full peripheral ring, such as those shown in FIGS. 1C, 1I, and 1M-1O, the drainage channel gap is at the inner edge of the peripheral ring, as shown in FIG. 1C, or anywhere inside the lens periphery. You can start at a branch. The drainage channel may extend at least 2 mm, about 2 to about 4 mm, or about 2.5 to about 3.5 mm in length beyond the peripheral ring or lens periphery if the peripheral ring is not included. The drainage channel gap provides space outside the periphery of the contact lens for airflow so that, when open, air and lens solution from the concave surface of the lens can drain without adsorbing the lens downward onto the lens support. . Thus, in FIG. 1E, the portion of the gap 111 that is inside the periphery of the lens is not substantially involved in drainage.

The upper limit for the length of the drainage channel is defined by the packaging and the final size of the lifting structure if included.

Referring to FIG. 1B , drainage channel member 115 extends adjacent peripheral support section 105 beyond the at least partial arc of peripheral ring 109 and engages the distal end via crosspiece 114 to form drainage channel members. It may be formed by forming a gap or open channel 111 between (115). As shown in FIG. 1C , the channel member 115 may be attached to and planar with the at least partial peripheral ring 109 . As shown in FIG. 1D , the drainage channel 113 may also be formed by extending the ring support structure 105 from a point 112 inside the lens edge to a point at least partially beyond the arc of the peripheral ring and may be formed by a crosspiece ( 114) at the distal end. The drainage channel can also be formed by attaching the channel member 115 to the arm at any point (if the arm is a fin, including attaching to the bottom of the fin, as shown in FIG. 1F). The drainage channel may also be formed by providing a gap in the peripheral ring from which the planar arm extends, such that the peripheral ring and drainage slot 113 form a keyhole shape as shown in FIG. 1C. If present, the perimeter ring/partial perimeter ring may be connected to the elongate arm.

Drainage channel member 115 may be straight as shown in FIGS. 1C-1G , may be curved as shown in FIG. 1B , flared out at a peripheral ring arc, and may flare out at a distal end from the arc. or may taper from at least a partial peripheral ring to the distal end of the drainage channel. Any taper may be straight or curved. When the drain channel tapers, the channel tapers toward the crosspiece 114. The drainage channels can be from about 0.8 to about 3 mm wide and, when tapered, about 1 mm or about 0.8 mm wide at the distal end or crosspiece.

Other drain channel configurations not shown or configurations that combine aspects of the illustrated exemplary configurations are possible and are possible within the scope of the appended claims as will be apparent to those skilled in the art given the balance of this disclosure. Also, in some embodiments, the drain channel may be omitted entirely. For example, as in FIG. 1H, when the lens support is fixedly angled with respect to the bottom of the base, no drainage channels are needed, and the angle of the lens support provides the desired drainage when opening the case.

presenting the lens

The case of the present invention may also include a lifting structure for lifting the lens support from the lens solution. The lifting structure may lift the base and the base by any suitable means, including tilting the lens support up, tilting the base down, raising the lens support up from the base, lowering the base down, or any combination thereof. A lens support and lens can be presented from the lens solution.

The drainage channel may function as a lifting member in concert with other features of the case, or the lifting member may include structures such as springs, hinges, levers, pivot arms, folds, mechanical traps, handles, and combinations thereof. . The lifting member may include a rigid elongate member extending outwardly from a structure disposed along the bottom of the lens support, which may form part of the drainage channel. For example, lens supports having an elongated drainage channel 215 may include a flexible attachment 245 between the lens support 236 and the lid 235, and a lid opening tab as shown in FIG. 2A. It is located on the opposite side of (228). The flexible attachment may have any suitable structure including hinges, flexible folds, pivot arms, mechanical traps, and the like. Pulling up on tab 228 and lid 235 opens the case and also lifts lens support 236 from base 240 to present the lens for removal by the user.

The lifting member may also be an articulating or flexible strip or ring between the lid and the lens support as shown in FIG. 2B, or a flexible attachment between the lid and the lens support opposite the folding arm as a folding arm to lift the base and the lens support. It may include a folding arm that connects. When the lens presentation includes a lens member that rotates the lens upward from the base and lens solution upon opening of the lens case, the lifting member rotates the lens support by about 15° to about 80°, about 20° to about 70°, relative to the equilibrium state. Pivot at an angle of about 30° to about 60° or about 40° to about 60°.

Any means for attaching the lifting member to the lid, base or lens support may be used including any suitable weld or mechanical trap including but not limited to adhesive, glue, thermal, ultrasonic or laser welding. The lifting element can also be molded as part of the lid.

Additional lifting mechanisms include simple loops, tabs or handles that can replace hinge 245 as a lifting mechanism. The user can open the cap and lift the tab or handle to lift the lens support out of the solution.

Other hinge and lever configurations are known in the art, such as those disclosed in US20140027462, DE4415003 and JP6339322. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2C , the lens support side sections may be deformable, or may be replaced with a spring structure, or a spring 237 may be included below the peripheral support or peripheral ring, such that in the closed position The cap may engage the lens support to compress the spring or support without compressing the lens. When the case is opened, the spring is released and the lens support raises the lens above the lens solution. In this configuration, the peripheral supports and the central support upper section (if present) will be made of a rigid material to confine the lens to lens support contact and provide resistance during lens transfer. The spring may have any shape, including flexible arms that may be straight or curved, coiled, and the like. The arms may interact with the lid feature around the peripheral ring of the lens support to compress the spring when the case is closed.

Any deformable structures incorporated under the peripheral supports should be designed so as not to damage any drainage features (including peripheral supports and rings) included in the lens.

It will be appreciated that a lifting mechanism that raises the lens parallel to the base may not require a separate drainage channel.

The lens solution may also be drained from the lens or poured out of the cavity by removing at least one displacement member from the cavity of the lens case or opening a separate seal near the bottom of the cavity. The displacement member may be molded into the base or lid structure, and when the case is closed, it displaces the lens solution in the base cavity to raise the solution level and submerge the lens support and lens. When the displacement member 430 is molded into the base as shown in FIG. 4A, the lens (concave or upward bowl) and solution can be placed in the cap, then the base is closed at the top of the cap, and the case is placed around the lens edge. is inverted to rest on the peripheral supports 405 . The displacement member may also be in the form of a plug as shown in Figures 4b and 4c. A plug can have any configuration. Removal of the plug allows the lens solution to drain into the case base, or into a separate chamber that is blocked by the displacement member when the case is closed. For example, Fig. 4b shows a lens case of the present invention having a displacement member 430 in the form of a plug. The lens case has a two-step lid shown with tabs 428a and 428b. To place the lens in the case for storage and cleaning, the tab 428b is raised to expose the upper base chamber 440a containing the lens solution cavity and lens support. Lens solution is added to the lens solution cavity up to the fill line, and the lens is placed on the lens support with the lens peripheral edge resting on the peripheral support 405 . The solution is preferably added first to allow good transfer from the finger to the lens support. When there is no solution in the cavity, the surface area between the finger and the lens is greater than the surface area between the lens and the lens support. Partially or completely submerging the lens support prior to transferring the lens thereto aids in transferring it back to the lens case. Tab 428b is closed to form a watertight seal with upper base chamber 440a. To retrieve the lens from the case, the tab 428a is lifted to raise the upper base chamber 440a which raises the displacement member 434 to expose the plug hole 431. The lens solution is drained through a plug hole 431 into a reservoir 419 in the form of a drain chamber between the lens support and the bottom of the base. At this point, lens 400 can be removed from the lens support by the wearer with a single touch. The bottom 419 of the base is open to allow solution removal and cleaning through any convenient means such as a hinged base or door 439.

The base itself may also be a displacement member, such as when the lens and solution are loaded into the lid in a "flipped" configuration as in FIG. 4A or in a case-like configuration as in FIG. 5C, which is around the circumference of the raised base section 548. and a raised base section 548 below a lens support 536 attached to a sliding peripheral column 505 at . As the lid 535 is screwed into the base 540, the splines 549 inside the lid 535 engage a ledge 551 on the outside of the sliding perimeter column 505. ) and the lens support 536 are pushed down the lens solution. The air inlet guide 527 includes a flexible wedge 552 connecting the bowl 553 with the peripheral edge of the air inlet guide 527 . As the lid 535 is screwed into the base 540, the flexible wedge 552 keeps the vent 555 open, so it must be closed last, between the bowl 553 and the sliding column 505. Air may be discharged from the chamber formed in the.

The lens support may be disposed parallel to the bottom of the base as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, or it may be angled with respect to the bottom of the lens base as shown in FIG. 4B. The displacement member may take any form including a hollow cylinder, solid cylinder or plug that fits around the lens and lens support.

When the displacement member is included, a fill line may also be included in the base cavity to ensure that the lens wearer adds the correct amount of solution to fill the case cavity.

The base may also include a reservoir 419 for collecting lens solution when the lens is lifted from the base. The reservoir comprises part of the base cavity, such as around the lens support as shown in FIG. 4A, under the lens support in a separate drainage chamber as shown in FIG. 4B, or under and behind the lens support as shown in FIG. 4C. can be located at any position on the base.

Any combination of materials may be used for the base, as long as it meets the performance requirements described.

Lid

The case of the present invention further includes a lid. In a conventional contact lens case, the contact lens is seated in a molded plastic base having a bowl for receiving the contact lens in a concave upward bowl position. As described herein, the case of the present invention holds the lens in a convex position and provides a lens solution-free lens for one-touch delivery to the wearer's finger.

The lid is releasably sealed to the case to form a watertight seal by any suitable means, including but not limited to screws or snap seals.

In addition to sealing the case, the lid can also be designed to control the flow of air into the case when opened. Upon opening, the contact lens preferably does not stick to the cap and remains on the lens support. To achieve this, when opening the case, the air entering the case can be directed to first move over the top of the lens. For cases with two or more lid sections, the top lid may be closed last and opened first.

To exclude air when closing the case, the sealing line of the cavity is at or near the highest point inside the cavity. The sealing line can be designed to ensure that the lens is completely submerged when closing the lens case. When opened, air may flow into the cavity on the lens, or there may be a space in the lid for air to flow over the lens. In the case of a lens case having a plurality of opening tabs, such as the lens case shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, , the top tab 428b may be for loading a lens into the cavity, and the bottom tab 428a opens the case to remove the lens.

Two features have been found to be beneficial for guiding air over the lens when opened: an air inlet guide along the inner lid surface and an air inlet scoop at the designed opening point, such as inside the seal line. Cases of the present invention may or may not include one or both of these features.

The air inlet guides provide space for air to move over the lens without it being trapped or diverted and work in concert with the lens support to prevent the lens from being lifted or slipped off the support structure until some air is drawn into the case over the lens. can do. The contact area between the air inlet guide and the lens is preferably as low as less than about 50 mm 2 or less than about 30 mm 2 .

The air inlet guide may be molded into the lid as a projection from or into the inner surface of the lid, or it may be a separate structure disposed between the lens and the lid when the case is sealed. Upon opening of the case, the air inlet guide directs the air entering the case along a path designed over the top of the lens to ensure that the lens is held on the lens support in the desired convex orientation. The air introduction guide is disposed along the direction in which the case lid moves when the case is opened. The air intake guide may have an orientation other than perpendicular to the desired path of air flow. When the case is designed to be opened from the front, the air intake guide is preferably disposed from the front to the rear of the case, and the intentionally designed path is over the lens from the front to the rear of the case.

A suitable air inlet guide may include prongs 321 protruding from the cap around the periphery of the lens as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B . The prongs may be rigidly mounted to a support ring or molded plastic ring (FIG. 3A), or may be flexibly mounted to a flexible sheet such as lidstock (FIG. 3B). The prongs may be placed radially around the periphery of the contact lens, generally within 1 mm of the lens edge. The air inlet guide may include prongs that wrap around the entire periphery or are located primarily along the front, side, or front and side surfaces. The prongs can be adjacent to each other as shown in FIG. 3B or spaced apart as shown in FIG. 3A. If radial prongs are used, the optic zone of the lens may be free of prongs to facilitate air movement over the top of the lens, while the prongs prevent the edge of the lens from sticking to the cap.

The air inlet guide may also be in the form of continuous or discontinuous (broken) ribs. The ribs can be attached to the inner surface of the molded lid (FIG. 3c) or can be included via a separate molded structure (FIG. 3d). The ribs are aligned parallel to the path air entering when the case is open. The ribs may be spaced at least about 2 mm, about 2 to about 5 mm, or 2 to about 4.5 mm apart. The ribs can extend straight from the anterior to the posterior (Figs. 3c and 3d), or the optic zone (Fig. 3e) to avoid interactions between the ribs and the contact lens that can cause optical distortions in high shape memory hydrogels. ) can be curved around The ribs may extend “edge to edge” across the inner lid surface, or the start or finish may be offset from the edge, as shown in FIG. 3G.

The ribs may also extend away from the lens forming recess(s) 337 projecting up from the lid surface as shown in FIG. 3H. These recesses may serve as air intake guides while open as well as air trapping spaces as described below.

The ribs may have straight walls, may be wedge-shaped as in FIG. 3G, may include arcs, or may have one straight wall and one angled or arcuate wall. The angled or arcuate wall may slope to follow the curvature of the contact lens.

The rib height may be the same from the front to the back of the rib (outer ribs in FIG. 3B) or may be greater in the front than in the back (FIGS. 3C, 3F and 3G). The rib may have a shorter profile across the optic zone, as shown by the center rib in FIG. 3C and the wedge in FIG. 3G , or within the ribs (“broken ribs” 322b) as shown in FIG. 3F. There may be gaps. An air inlet guide comprising a central rib with a downward stepped rib height across the optic zone is effective in directing air in a desired direction while minimizing contact with the optic zone of the contact lens. As shown in the figure, profiles and shapes of different heights may be incorporated into a single air inlet guide structure.

The ribs may have a height of at least about 2 mm, and may extend from the interior of the lid towards the contact lens, or may extend away from the contact lens, and may define a separate air inlet channel. The rib height is the highest, such as those at 522 (the air inlet guide outside the optic zone), e.g., the back of the ribs in FIGS. 3C and 3G, e.g., the middle section of the center rib in FIGS. At least about 2 mm or more at the highest point and from 0 to about 0.5 mm at the lowest point. In embodiments that include a rib, below a peak rib height of 0.5 mm of at least a portion of the rib, air bubbles may not propagate across the entire top of the lens and the lens may stick to the bowl. Rib heights of about 4 mm or more may undesirably increase the size of the case and the volume of required packaging material and lens solution.

When a straight rib with a shorter profile is used in center rib 322a (FIG. 3D), the maximum length of the downward stepped profile along the rib is about 8.5 mm. When a curved rib with a shorter profile is used in the center rib 322a (FIG. 3D), the maximum length of the downward stepped profile along the rib is about 9 mm.

In addition to minimizing the height profile of the portion of any rib 322a that crosses the optic zone of the contact lens, the adjacent rib 322b may be curved outside the optic zone. When a curved rib is included, the diameter of the curved rib region may be up to 11 mm or from about 7 to about 11 mm or from about 8 to about 11 mm.

If the rib is part of a separately molded plastic frame, it may include cross supports on the back side of the rib. However, the height of the rib should ideally maintain a clearance of at least about 2 mm between the lens and the cross supports to provide the desired airflow. Preferably, when cross supports are used, they are positioned on the back side of the rib and do not protrude or extend in the path defined by the air inlet guide. Preferably, the air inlet guide structure has no transverse structures such as cross supports, or less than three or less than one cross supports, or no cross supports.

As shown in FIGS. 3D-3F , when the air inlet guide is a separate structure from the lid, the air inlet guide is a full or partial ring around the air inlet guide, shown at 327a in FIG. 3e and 327b in FIG. 3b , respectively. may also include When used, this air inlet guide can be attached to the lens support by a hinge (not shown) on the front opposite side of the air inlet guide to form a clamshell structure around the lens.

In addition to forming a sealed cavity to contain the lens and lens solution, the lid of the present invention also cooperates with the lens support to keep the lens centered around the support while minimizing contact between the lens' optic zone and the support and lid. can do. For lenses with high shape memory, the ribs can be designed such that any contact between the lens and the cap or lens support is transient while the case is sealed.

A case with a flip top may also have an air inlet scoop 324 shown in FIGS. 3G and 3H and as 224 in FIG. 2B . If included, the air inlet scoop is located at the designed open point inside the retortable seal, the front of the case in FIG. 3G. The scoop can be aligned with the open tabs as shown in FIGS. 3G and 3H , or offset but aligned with the open tabs 228 as shown in FIG. 2B . In this embodiment, the scoop 324 protrudes at least about 1 mm or at least about 2 mm from the periphery of the edge of the contact lens and is positioned within the seal. The length of the protrusion is limited only by the desired size of the case. The air inlet scoop has a width between the inside diameter of the sealing arc 325 and about 2 mm. As shown in Figure 3g, the air inlet scoop can be shallower than the lid and tipped into the lid cavity. In addition to the dimensions above the scoop, it may have any shape including but not limited to round, oval, triangular, square rectangular or irregular. The case of the present invention provides a gap of at least about 2 mm between the inner lid wall and the lens support at the open tab, thereby eliminating the extra air inlet scoop.

Figure 3g is an inside view of the case lid and skirt area. The lid will be sealed to the membrane base along seal line 326 . The air inlet scoop 324 is at the front of the lid and consists of three broken air inlet guide ribs 322a (crossing the middle of the optic zone but having a shallow height therein) and 322b (curving around the optic zone of the lens). The case is opened by pulling up the tab 328, which separates the lid from the base starting at the distal end of the air inlet tab. The tabs can be foil or plastic tabs, grips, ring pulls ( ring pull), handles, and the like.

The case may also include a burp or air admittance valve to allow air to be expelled over the lens case and lens to retain the lens on the lens support during opening of the case.

bubble management

For some lenses, it may be desirable to minimize contact between the air bubbles in the case and the lens while sealed. This can preferably be achieved by designing the lens case cavity to accommodate the volume of solution covering the lens in all storage orientations. The lens cap may also include one or more air outlet channels to allow air trapped in the case to escape during closure and to minimize the amount of air in the closed lens case.

For cases such as travel cases that can be stored in multiple orientations, it may be desirable to include a feature within the case to trap air bubbles from the lenses. As discussed above, this may be more desirable for lenses with longer shape memory.

The lid of the present invention may further include at least one air trapping space remote from the lens optic zone to allow air within the sealed case to occupy. The air trapping space is designed such that air remains in the at least one air trapping space away from the lens regardless of case orientation. The air trapping space may have a volume equal to or slightly greater than the volume of air to be sealed within the case and any air that may diffuse into the case during storage, to ensure that any air present is sealed. Any air that may be present is kept away from the optic zone of the lens.

The air trapping space can be designed in a number of ways. For example, as shown in FIG. 3G , the cap further includes a recess or dimple 329 over the center of the lens support to direct any trapped air around the periphery 330 of the dimple 329 and not shown. It can be forced away from the lens apex that has not been set. The depth of the dimple is selected so that the bottom of the dimple inside the lid or the air inlet guide does not touch the apex of the lens when sealing the case. The gap between the optic zone and any air inlet guides or dimples is about 0.25 to about 2 mm. Figure 4a is an external view of a case including a lid of the present invention. Dimple 430 is surrounded by an air collection channel 431 . The recesses formed by the dimples displace any trapped air into the air collection channels. The dimple may have a diameter of at least about the optic zone diameter of the lens. The combination of dimples and air collection channels hold the trapped air in a position ranging from vertical (base down) to 90°. If the case is inverted, this is not a problem as the bubble is over the edge of the lens.

Channel 431 may have the shape of a ring as shown in FIG. 4A, or may have any other connected shape providing a section higher than the center of the lid. For example, the air trapping space may take the form of a continuous channel around the inner sealing edge with sections above and below the apex of the lid with three raised channel portions 431a as shown in FIG. 4B. . The dimensions of the air collection channels can be determined based on the volume of air to be contained in the case and the amount of air to diffuse during storage, which can be easily calculated. The channel can have any cross-sectional shape including rounded edges, semi-circular or semi-elliptical, rectangular or square. In some embodiments, the channel can have an internal width between about 1.5 and about 3 mm, or between about 2 and about 3 mm.

Instead of, or integral to, the channel, the air trapping space may include at least two air pods protruding from the lid along the inner sealing edge. The raised channel portion 431a of FIG. 4B is an embodiment of three air pods connected in a continuous channel. Air pods 331a may be linear or arcuate (as shown in FIG. 3H ), may be parallel or transverse to the air inlet direction, and may be separated by dimples or connected by connecting channels 337. . The air trapping space may include at least one, two, three or more air pods with or without connecting channels. The air pods may be wider, taller, or wider and taller than the connecting channels.

The air pods and connecting channels can have any cross-sectional shape that can be shaped including rounded edges, semi-circular or semi-elliptical, rectangular or square. The connecting channels may have an internal width of about 1.5 to about 3 mm when it is desired for air bubbles to pass between the pods, or an internal width of about 0.5 to about 2 mm in designs intended to prevent air bubbles from leaving the pods. can have a width.

Air collection channels and air pods may be included in the lid with or without dimples.

The lens support and cap may be designed to cooperate to center the lens around the support structure without resting on either the support structure or the cap when in the sealed orientation. This is even more important for lenses with longer shape memory, such as silicone hydrogel lenses, where the optics of the lens can be distorted by prolonged contact with any packaging features or any air bubbles trapped in the case. Because existing hydrogel contact lenses have a shorter shape memory, contact between the support, lid and contact lens during storage and shipping may be acceptable.

Lens supports can be designed in a number of configurations to provide the desired drainage and support, as long as the basic functions of providing sufficient drainage and sufficient contact with the lens to allow the lens to be transferred in a consistent "one touch" to the finger are met. there is. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art of packaging that the packaging features described herein can be used in various combinations to achieve a desired one-touch case. For example, when the lens solution is trapped between the lens and the support, the efficiency of the drainage path increases, for example, by increasing the open area under the lens support, reducing the contact area between the lens and the support, sharp edges and shallow It may be increased by reducing the drainage path, or by adding drainage channels with or without tilting or lifting means, or combinations thereof. An air inlet guide and/or an air inlet scoop may be added if the lens sticks to the cap when opened.

The advantages of the case of the present invention are evident in use. 2a, 4a-4c and 5a-5f include embodiments of cases of the present invention with different combinations of features. The drawings and description are illustrative only and should not be regarded as limiting the case design of the present invention.

5A shows an exploded side view of a lens case including a base 540, a base collar 541, a lens support 536, an air inlet guide structure 533 and a lid 535. The base and base collar can be snap-fit together, glued or welded together, or molded as one integral piece. When removably attached, the base may be opened or removed, and the lens, lens case cavity, or both may be rinsed with fresh lens solution.

The base collar is a cylinder that forms a cavity to receive the lens and lens support 536 . The interior of the base collar may include a shelf 542 for receiving a lens support. The shelf may support a portion of the lens support, such as peripheral ring 509 or a portion of the peripheral ring, or may be shaped to follow the profile of the underside of the lens support, as long as the shelf shape and structure do not reduce drainage performance. .

The lens support 536 is seated inside the base collar 541 . The lens support peripheral ring 509 can be widened, or a second ring can be added below the peripheral ring to provide a better fit into the collar and mechanical durability. Any of the lens supports described above may be used in the lens case of FIG. 5A. The outer wall of the base collar includes threads 543, with threads 543 on the inside of lid 535, allowing the case to be screwed closed to form a watertight seal.

The wall of the air inlet guide ring 527 is a displacement structure that protrudes into the base collar cavity and displaces the lens solution when the case is closed, ensuring that the lens is fully submerged when the case is closed. When the cap and air inlet guide structure are removed, the lens fluid level is reduced below the peripheral ring, allowing the lens fluid to drain from the lens and lens support.

The lens case of FIG. 5A also includes an optional sliding seal formed by the inner wall of the base collar 541 and the outer vertical wall of the inlet guide ring 527 . As the cap is unscrewed from the base, the outer wall of the air inlet guide ring 527 slides up with the cap, which allows air to enter the top of the collar cavity and pass over the lens to bias the lens onto the lens support. let it be

In the sealed state shown in FIG. 5B, the lens 550 is held in the space (lens cavity) formed between the case lid 535 and the lens support 536. The lens cavity may be designed such that the lens 550 (particularly in the optic zone) is not compressed during shipping, has minimal contact with internal features of the case, and maintains its integrity until the case is opened. Additionally, the lens cavity should not provide too great a gap between the lens and the inner case features, so that the lens remains in the desired convex orientation relative to the case base during storage.

5C shows another lens case of the present invention. The base 540 and the lid 535 have a conventional lens case structure, but have a lens support 536 and an air inlet guide ring 527 according to the present invention. In FIG. 5C , the lens support has six hollow arms surrounded by a vertical support 547 in the form of a perimeter column that holds the lens support raised from the inside of the base 540 . The lid and base are sealed via thread 543.

5D and 5F, the lens and solution are placed in a lid 535 on an air inlet rib 522, and the case is closed by snapping the base to the lid along a releasable seal 525. In Fig. 5d the lens supports are connected to the cap by means of a lever 546, and in Fig. 5f the lens supports have vertical supports 547 in the form of compressible spring arm sections. Contact lens 550 is seated under cap 535 on lens support 536 . A lens support arm section connects the distal end of each peripheral support to the lens base. Not all peripheral supports require compressible arms for a lens support to function as described herein. 5d and 5f respectively disclose a lever and a spring, the lifting structure may have a variety of configurations as detailed above. The lens case of FIG. 5E is similar to FIG. 5D except that the base cavity accommodates a lens support 536 for both lenses, rather than just one lens.

Generally, the lens support 536 holds the lens in a desired convex position with minimal contact area when the case is opened to ensure efficient transfer of the lens to the user's finger. Internal chamber 544 (designated in FIG. 5C ) holds the correct volume of lens solution to keep the lens completely submerged during storage, and allows the lens, lens support 536, and lid 535 to work together properly. designed to allow

The case can be opened by pulling tab 528 upward to break seal 526 ( FIGS. 5D and 5F ) or by screwing lid 535 from base 540 or base collar 541 ( FIGS. 5A-5C ). It is opened by any convenient means such as disengaging. Air is introduced into the case in a controlled manner and guided into the case by an air inlet guide 522 so that the lens is deflected from the case lid 535 and retained on the lens support 536 . This gentle force works in conjunction with the drainage of the solution from the lens 550 and lens support 536 to maintain the lens in a generally "ready to use" position on the lens support 536 . As the cap 535 is separated from the base, the lens solution drains from the lens and support.

Referring to FIG. 5D , lid 535 is upwardly from base through lever arm 546 to provide the lens for draining and transferring lens solution from lens 550 and lens support 536 to the wearer's fingers. The pivot lens support 536 is raised. The central optic zone of lens 550 generally has no contact with the arm except for peripheral supports 505 . The flat upper region 501 provides resistance that enhances the ability to transfer the lens 550 to a finger with a “one touch”.

Lid 535 and reservoir 519 can be polypropylene or any other material that can be used in medical device packaging, and base 540 can be formed of plastic.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5F , the features of the case, including the lens support, lid, and air inlet guides, regardless of how they are created, interact with the lens outside the optic zone to prevent damage to the lens optic zone. can be designed to work.

Since the contact area between the lens 550 and the lens support 536 is minimized and the lens solution is effectively discharged, the wearer can remove the lens 550 from the case with one touch of a finger and place the convex surface of the lens 550 on the finger. can be attached Thus, the lens 550 can be applied directly to the eye such that the apex is positioned on the finger and the concave portion is positioned directly on the eye. As is common in currently designed contact lens cases, there is no need for the wearer to transfer the lens from the fingers of one hand to the fingers of the other hand. This improved series of steps not only makes it easier and more convenient for the user, but also reduces contamination from bacteria carried on the user's fingers.

Therefore, the present invention effectively moves the lens solution away from the lens and the lens support and controls the ratio of the contact area between the finger and the lens compared to the area between the lens and the lens support so that the surface tension between the finger and the lens is reduced. A case is provided which ensures that the surface tension between the supports is exceeded. The lenses thus presented adhere consistently to the finger, providing the wearer with a “one touch” lens delivery experience.

Cases of the present invention can be made using known materials and processes. Packaging materials may be virgin materials, recycled materials, or combinations thereof.

As noted above, not every feature described herein need be incorporated in every case, and one skilled in the art, using the teachings herein, can combine features to provide a wide variety of one-touch cases. For example, a lens support with a central lens support may be desirable for lenses with a modulus less than about 25 psi, for new wearers who are not accustomed to one-touch lens removal, or for wearers with a stronger touch. Experienced wearers and light touch wearers may need a case with only peripheral support. It is understood that the case of the present invention offers numerous opportunities to incorporate decorative designs and features into the overall case shape and profile, as well as the design of, for example, peripheral supports and rings, arms, fins, air management pods and channels. It will be.

In summary, the contact lens case of the present invention includes several novel features that can be combined in various combinations as described herein to provide the desired one-touch packaging, including:

Prevention of rotational displacement of the lens from the support, which can be achieved by including at least three contact points, which can be arranged in an acute triangle at the lens periphery.

Horizontal or near-horizontal contact near the lens periphery where the lens surface is more steeply angled (outside the central region with a diameter of at least about 5 mm, about 6 mm, or about 7 mm, or the contact may be just outside the lens periphery) Prevention of horizontal translation of the lens across the support, which can be achieved by

Maintaining lenses in a neutral or near-neutral configuration for presentation for lens delivery after drainage.

This can be achieved by minimizing contact between the lens apex and the support, which is a gap of about 0.5 to about 2 mm, about 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, or about 0.8 to about 1 mm between the top of the flat upper section and the lens apex. or by leaving a void of at least about 6 mm in diameter that is transparent to the equilibrium of the base of the lens from the lens apex.

Resistance to the finger when pressing lightly

For light pressing, it is beneficial to increase the finger surface area and control the pressing force and contact time.

For lenses with low modulus, this requires a reinforced structure under the apex of the lens, which can also improve the consistency of delivery for lenses with higher modulus, including silicone hydrogels. If present, the height of the structure is no lower than the base of the lens. The support structure may also be less than 2 mm below the lens apex.

표면의 형상은 편평하거나 (예컨대, 약 10 mm의 곡률 반경까지 아래로) 약간 오목할 수 있지만, 덜 바람직하게는 (예를 들어, 약 10 mm의 곡률 반경까지 아래로) 약간 볼록할 수 있거나, (예를 들어, 약 6 mm의 곡률 반경까지) 더 오목할 수 있다.

The shape of the surface can be flat or slightly concave (eg, down to a radius of curvature of about 10 mm), but less preferably slightly convex (eg, down to a radius of curvature of about 10 mm); It may be more concave (eg, up to a radius of curvature of about 6 mm).

표면의 직경은 (손가락 끝 크기와 일치하도록) 약 1 내지 10 mm, 바람직하게는 6 내지 9 mm이어야 한다.

The diameter of the surface should be about 1 to 10 mm (to match the size of a fingertip), preferably 6 to 9 mm.

표면은 연속적일 필요가 없고, 일련의 점들 또는 라인들로 이루어질 수 있다.

The surface need not be continuous, but may consist of a series of dots or lines.

The optic zone floats freely, and contact with the lens support during storage is transient or non-existent. This can be achieved by making the central support slightly lower than the lens profile (so that the lens only contacts the peripheral support).

Example

The following were used in the following examples.

Buffer solution: 1000 g deionized water, 13.55 gm NaCl, 27 gm boric acid, 5 gm sodium borate, 0.3 gm EDTA, and a pH of about 7.4.

Packaging solution: RevitaLens Complete (Alexidine 0.00016%; Polyquaternium-1 0.0003% (PQ-1); EDTA.

Polypropylene: Isotactic polypropylene homopolymer (Lumicene M3766) with a total MFR of 24 g/10 min.

Lidstock: multi-layer film composed of oriented polypropylene (12 μm), aluminum foil (50 μm) and polyester film (12 μm).

Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2

Several lens support structures were evaluated to determine the desired lens support, lens solution drainage, and support features that could provide lens delivery. Each of the evaluated lens supports was 3D printed on Form 2 using Formlabs Formlabs clear resin. A lens support was printed with a drainage channel terminating in a 90° lever to allow the support and lens to be lowered and raised from the packaging solution chamber with dimensions of 30 mm x 45 mm x 25 mm.

1-Day ACUVUE MOIST contact lenses were removed from their packages and placed on respective lens supports, immersed in the packaging solution so that the supports were completely wet, and the lenses were mounted centrally on the supports. The lens support and lens were immersed in the packaging solution chamber for at least 5 seconds to completely submerge no air bubbles under the lens. Using an eye dropper, the packaging solution was expelled and the surrounding support was exposed. The support was then slowly pivoted away from the rest of the packaging solution using a lever and allowed to drain until the solution appeared to drain from the lens and support, or after about 10 seconds, whichever was sooner. The lenses were evaluated for permanent fluid membrane, solution reservoir, and internal cross-linking between the lens and scaffold. Photographs were taken and evaluated for lens centering, the area of fluid trapped between the lens support arm and the lens, and lens deformation.

To ensure a consistent light-press surface and to simulate low-adhesive fingers, rubber nitrile gloves were worn on the hands used for light-press tests. The test was repeated a minimum of 5 times for each scaffold design and lenses were changed after 2 repetitions.

The results are shown in Table 1 along with representative photographs and CAD drawings showing the lens support configuration.

[Table 1]

Multiples of each lens were classified according to the following properties:

A permanent fluid film (“permanent film”) is a film that forms between the lens support structure and the (outer) surface of the lens and is a film that does not break after drainage. The following rating scale was used:

심함(렌즈 주변 덮힘이 50% 초과)

Severe (>50% coverage around the lens)

보통(렌즈 주변 덮힘이 50% 미만)

Fair (less than 50% lens periphery coverage)

없음

doesn't exist

The solution reservoir ("reservoir") is the larger volume of solution that is retained inside the lens after it has been drained. The following rating scale was used:

대량(많은 유체가 보임, 총 부피는 50 μl 초과로 추정)

Large volume (lots of fluid visible, total volume estimated to be >50 μl)

중간량(일부 액체가 보임, 총 부피는 20 내지 50μl로 추정)

Medium volume (some liquid visible, total volume estimated at 20-50 μl)

소량(유체가 거의 보이지 않거나 전혀 없음, 총 부피는 20μl 미만으로 추정)

Small amount (little or no fluid visible, estimated total volume less than 20 μl)

An internal fluid bridge (“bridge”) is the region where there is a fluid meniscus bridge between the support structure and the lens. The following rating scale was used:

심함(선형 가교의 15 mm 초과)

Severe (greater than 15 mm of linear bridge)

보통(선형 가교의 5 내지 15 mm)

Moderate (5 to 15 mm of linear bridge)

가벼움(선형 가교의 5 mm 미만)

Light (less than 5 mm of linear bridge)

Drainage rate is the time between lifting the lens out of solution and when no further change in drainage is observed. The following rating scale was used:

느림(5초 초과)

Slow (greater than 5 seconds)

보통(2 내지 5초)

Medium (2 to 5 seconds)

빠름(2초 미만)

Fast (less than 2 seconds)

As the packaging solution drains from the contact lens, a film of packaging solution may form between the lens edge and the peripheral ring. The film formed at the beginning of drainage is good, and in the case of a lens support with good drainage, the film is broken before the drainage is completed. Residual film that remains after drainage has stabilized can interfere with lens delivery. The membranes shown in the table are the residual membranes remaining once the drainage has stabilized.

Embodiments in which the lens is deformed and wrapped onto the support structure tend to retain more solution in the lens. This may interfere with light pressing (Comparative Example 1), or slow drainage (Example 4). The arrangement of both the peripheral supports and the central supports is important to reduce and prevent entrapment. Lens wrapping is significantly reduced with 6 peripheral supports (Example 3) compared to 4 peripheral supports (Example 4). The poorly distributed central scaffold (Comparative Example 1) showed significantly more wrapping than the well distributed central scaffold (Example 3).

Also, the peripheral ring can reduce lens wrapping due to the surface tension of the film formed around the lens periphery. Example 1 showed less lens wrapping than Example 2 (no ring).

Example 5 is the same lens support as Example 3, but with a peripheral ring added around the peripheral supports. Both Example 5 and Example 3 exhibited good drainage rates (mid-fast and fast, respectively) and good drainage efficiencies as evidenced by no permanent fluid film, small solution reservoir and only light internal fluid bridges.

Example 6 is a lens support designed the same as Example 2, but solid pins with arms connected to peripheral supports. Although filling the arm structure slows down the drainage rate, the drainage efficiency was the same as in Example 2, confirming that the lens supports of the present invention with open arms or solid fins can provide good drainage and consistent lens delivery. . A comparison between Example 2 and Example 6 also shows that the drainage rate can be reduced by removing the structure (eg solid fin) under the lens support.

The lens support of Comparative Example 2 has a structure similar to that of Example 1, but has a curved lateral section, which causes the lenses to stick to the lens support, resulting in severe internal fluids that create an undesirably high lens to support the contact area. bridges were formed. Increased contact resulted in 0% transmittance upon light finger pressing. Thus, support structures that form more solution bridges are less likely to have successful light pressing. The lens support of Comparative Example 3 has a fully curved lens support with a smaller radius than the lens support of Comparative Example 2, but still exhibits undesirable solution reservoirs and internal fluid bridges. Comparative Example 3 also had a fully curved upper section, which provided insufficient contact area between the lens and the finger on light presses (0% successful first round light presses).

Comparative Example 3 and Comparative Example 4 and Example 7 and Example 8

The lens support test was repeated as described in Example 1 using the lens supports shown in Table 2.

[Table 2]

The lens support of Example 7 had the same structure as Example 1 except that four of the side sections were removed, which resulted in faster and more efficient drainage. The lens supports of Examples 1, 5 and 7 show that a lens support having a substantially flat upper region and a multi-sided peripheral or central column support provides both good drainage and lens transfer. Examples 8 and 9 show that drainage can be improved by removing some or all of the lateral sections from the lens support. Comparative Example 3, Comparative Example 4 and Example 8 show that the arms of the flat top section can be eliminated and the top of the side section can provide the functionality of a flat top. Comparing Example 8 with Comparative Example 4, it can be seen that drainage and lens transfer can be improved by widening the width of the central void in the base. The lens support of Comparative Example 4 provided slightly worse drainage than Example 8 because the packaging solution could pool in the cone base of Comparative Example 4. This was easily improved by widening the central void in the base (Example 8). A comparison of Example 8 with Comparative Example 3 shows that increasing the angle of the side arms away from the lens reduces solution cross-linking and improves drainage rate.

Comparative Example 5

Example 2 was repeated except that the drainage gap between the elongated perimeter supports was filled. The results (data from Example 2 copied for ease of reference) are shown in Table 3 below.

[Table 3]

Example 9 and Example 10 and Comparative Example 6 and Comparative Example 7

The procedure of Example 1 was repeated, but lens supports were evaluated, including peripheral supports without any central support. The results are shown in Table 4 below.

[Table 4]

Example 9, Example 10 and Comparative Example 6 exhibited significant lens movement during opening, which can be improved by providing one or more positioning guides along the top of one or more peripheral supports. Examples 9 and 10 show that a lens support with only a peripheral support and no central column can provide good drainage and lens delivery. Example 10 had an 8 mm gap between opposing peripheral supports with one side of the drainage channel extending to the center of the supports. The lens support of Comparative Example 6 is similar to that of Example 10, but without the peripheral support arms extending below the center of the lens. The lack of structure in the center of the lens caused the lens to collapse in the center during drainage or upon attempted lens delivery, and also provided insufficient resistance during lens delivery. The Acuvue Moist lenses used have a very low modulus, and lenses with higher modulus, such as silicone hydrogels, will not collapse easily. As can be seen in Examples 9 and 10, extending at least one peripheral support arm below the center of the lens reduces collapse of the lens at the center and provides good lens delivery. A flat dome can be designed to have enough surface area to adsorb the lens into the dome to prevent lens movement, but this also prevents light pressing (Comparative Example 10).

Examples 11 to 14

Example 7 was repeated varying the diameter of the peripheral ring as shown in Table 5. A scaffold with a 16 mm peripheral ring trapped the solution between the lens and the scaffold. Supports with 18 mm and 25 mm perimeter rings both provided good drainage with little reservoir of packaged trapped solution. The 16 mm diameter used for the support in Example 14 was too small for a 14.2 mm diameter lens, but would be suitable for lenses with smaller diameters.

[Table 5]

Examples 15 and 16, Comparative Examples 8 to 10

Several lens support structures were evaluated to determine the desired lens support, lens solution drainage, and support features that could provide lens delivery. Each of the evaluated lens supports was 3D printed on Form 2 using Formlabs Formlabs white resin. A lens support was printed with an "L" shaped grip on the opposite side of the lens support to enable loading and unloading of the support and lens from the packaging solution chamber having dimensions of 30 mm x 45 mm x 25 mm.

1-Day ACUVUE MOIST contact lenses were removed from their packages and placed on respective lens supports, immersed in the packaging solution so that the supports were completely wet, and the lenses were mounted centrally on the supports. The lens support and lens were immersed in the packaging solution chamber for at least 5 seconds to completely submerge no air bubbles under the lens. The lens holder was slowly lifted from the chamber and set on a support similar in size to the solution chamber, except that only two sides were used to support the grip. The lens holder was allowed to drain for 10 seconds (until drainage changes stopped) before assessing drainage and lens delivery. Photographs were taken and evaluated for lens centering, the area of fluid trapped between the lens support arm and the lens, and lens deformation.

To ensure a consistent light-press surface and to simulate low-adhesive fingers, rubber nitrile gloves were worn on the hands used for light-press tests. The test was repeated a minimum of 5 times for each scaffold design and lenses were changed after 2 repetitions.

The results are shown in Table 6 along with representative photographs and CAD drawings showing the lens support configuration.

[Table 6]

Drainage and thus light pressing is better when a vertical or highly angled fluid film is formed between the lens and the drainage reservoir (base of the pack or test setup) and breaks before light pressing. Example 15 formed a fluid film between the lens periphery and the lower periphery ring and drained well. Comparative Example 10 and Comparative Example 9 did not form a vertical film and both had poor drainage despite having very similar geometries to Example 15. The lens support of Example 15 had a straight side section and a flat top section with a width at the elbow of 7 mm and provided good drainage with minimal lens to lens support contact, which provided consistent first time transfer at the touch of a finger. (80%).

When the membrane prematurely broke in Example 15, the lens also did not drain.

Horizontal membranes are not sufficient for drainage. In Comparative Example 8, a film was formed between the lens and the outer ring, but the lens was still not drained. Horizontal membranes also tend to be much more difficult to break, thus impeding lens removal.

The invention includes the following embodiments/elements/features in any order and in any combination.

One. As a contact lens case,

a support for holding the contact lens in a convex position on the support during storage and upon opening the case;

The lens has a peripheral edge and a lens profile,

The contact lens case of claim 1 , wherein the support has a profile that does not substantially match the lens profile, and wherein wet contact between the support and the lens is less than about 20 mm 2 , 18 mm 2 or less than 15 mm 2 .

2. As a contact lens case,

case base,

a case lid; and

a support for holding a contact lens having a peripheral edge and a lens profile in a convex position relative to the case base;

The base and lid are sealed to form a cavity containing the support, contact lens and packaging solution;

The lens support has a distal end extending at least 1 mm beyond the contact lens peripheral edge, and has at least three, three to fourteen, four to fourteen, three to eight or Wet contact between the support and the lens after the case is opened and the packaging solution is directed away from the lens and the support comprising a plurality of peripheral supports providing 4 to 8, 4 to 6, or 6 contact points. is less than about 20 mm2, less than 18 mm2 or less than 15 mm2.

3. 3. The contact lens case of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the support allows the lens solution to drain from the lens and support when removed from the lens solution without trapping the packaging solution between the lens and the lens support. .

4. 3. The contact lens case of claim 1 or 2, wherein the lens further comprises an optic zone and the lens support further comprises a substantially flat upper section having an open structure under at least a portion of the contact lens optic zone. .

5. 3. The contact lens case of claim 1 or 2, wherein the support further comprises a void below at least a portion of the contact lens optic zone.

6. 3. The contact lens case of claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact lens remains uncompressed when the case is sealed.

7. The contact lens case of claim 1 , wherein the support includes at least two peripheral supports.

8. 8. A contact lens case according to claim 2 or 7, wherein the peripheral supports are distributed around the lens periphery.

9. 9. The lens of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the lens comprises an apex centered in the optic zone, and the support further comprises a central support whose height, measured from the lens periphery, is no greater than 0.5 mm below the contact lens apex. Including, a contact lens case.

10. 10. The contact lens of claim 9, wherein the central lens support further comprises a diameter of about 1 to about 10 mm, about 3 mm to about 9 mm, about 5 mm to about 9 mm, or about 6 mm to about 9 mm. case.

11. 11. The contact lens case of claim 9 or 10, wherein the central lens support has an open structure.

12. 12. The contact lens case of claim 11, wherein the central lens support comprises a central column below the lens apex.

13. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the central lens support,

A contact comprising a plurality of arms comprising a flat top section, an optional side section and an optional peripheral support, a shoulder transition connecting the top section and optional side section, and an optional elbow transition connecting the optional side section and optional peripheral support. lens case.

14. 14. The contact lens case of claim 13, wherein the arms in the flat top section are connected to each other at a central point below the lens apex, or to an open full or partial ring centered below the lens apex.

15. 14. The contact lens case of claim 13, wherein the plurality of arms are in the form of pins connected to the case base.

16. 14. The contact lens case of claim 13, wherein one end of at least some of the plurality of arms is attached to the peripheral lens supports and protrudes upward, the distal ends of the arms forming a flat upper section.

17. 17. The contact lens case of any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the peripheral supports distal ends are connected to vertical supports that elevate the peripheral supports from the lens base.

18. 18. The case of claims 2-17, further comprising at least a partial ring around the distal ends of the peripheral supports at least 2 mm beyond the contact lens peripheral edge.

19. 19. Case according to claims 13 to 18, further comprising 3 to 8 arms.

20. 19. Case according to any one of claims 13 to 18, further comprising 3 to 6 arms.

21. 21. The case of claims 13-20, wherein at least two of the arms have a Y shape.

22. 21. Case according to claims 13 to 20, having three Y-shaped arms.

23. 21. Case according to claims 13 to 20, comprising two straight arms and two Y-shaped arms.

24. 24. The case of claims 21-23, wherein the Y-shaped arms comprise a curve crossing the upper portion of the Y.

25. 21. Case according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein the arms are straight.

26. 19. The case of claim 18, wherein the at least partial ring has a diameter of about 16 to about 25 mm, about 18 to about 25 mm, or about 18 to about 24 mm.

27. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the substantially flat upper portion has a height of deflection from the contact lens apex of 0.5 mm, from about 0.5 to about 2 mm, from 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, or from about 0.8 to about 1 mm in the undeformed state. case.

28. 28. The method of any one of claims 9-27, wherein the support is centered on a flat top section having a width across its longest dimension of about 0.1 to about 3 mm, about 0.1 to about 2 mm, or less than 1.5 mm. A case further comprising a central fillet with a .

29. 29. The case of claims 13-28, wherein each of the arms and peripheral supports has a width of about 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, or about 0.5 mm to about 0.7 mm.

30. 30. The case of claims 13-29, wherein the arms have a width that provides part formability and efficient packaging solution drainage upon opening.

31. 31. The case of claims 13-30, wherein each arm has a height of about 0.5 to about 5 mm in the flat top section.

32. 30. The case of any one of claims 9 to 29, wherein the flat top has a center point at the center of the lens support and the shoulders are radially disposed around the center of the flat top.

33. 33. The case of claim 32, wherein the arms are attached to the midpoint, each arm having a length from about 1.5 to about 4 mm from the shoulder to the midpoint.

34. 34. The case of any one of claims 9-33, wherein the angle from vertical in the flat top and side sections of the arm is at most about 15°, or about 1° to about 10°.

35. 35. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the angle between the side section and the perimeter support is between about 60° and about 120°, or between about 80° and about 100°.

36. 36. Case according to any one of claims 1 to 35, wherein the arms are connected at the center of the flat upper part.

37. 37. Case according to any preceding claim, wherein the arms are distributed radially around the center of the support structure.

38. 38. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the base is substantially flat.

39. 39. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the lens does not contact the arm side section.

40. 40. Case according to any preceding claim, wherein the arm side sections are straight.

41. 41. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the support is made of a polymer having a contact angle greater than 100°.

42. 42. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the lens support is disposed at an angle of at least about 20° from the case base.

43. 43. The case of any one of claims 2-42, wherein the peripheral supports are parallel to the case base and are at least about 4 mm or at least about 5 mm from the case base.

44. 44. The case of any preceding claim, further comprising means for lifting the lens support from the lens solution.

45. 45. The case of claim 44, wherein the lifting means is selected from levers, springs, hinges, pivot arms, folds, mechanical traps, handles and combinations thereof.

46. 55. The method of claim 54 wherein the lifting means moves the lens support away from the base about 15 to about 80°, about 20° to about 70°, about 30° to about 60° or about 40° to level. to raise the lens from the packaging solution by tilting it at an angle of about 60°.

47. 47. The case of any preceding claim, further comprising a reservoir for capturing the packaging solution when the lens and support are separated from the case base.

48. As a contact lens case,

a support for holding a contact lens having a convex surface in a convex position relative to the support; and

and a lens facing surface comprising at least one air entry guide, wherein when the case is opened by a user, the at least one air entry guide directs air entering the case to the contact lens convex surface. A contact lens case configured to guide over a surface to reduce instances of a convex lens surface sticking to a lens-facing surface.

49. 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the interior of the case defines a cavity containing the support, at least one air entry guide, a contact lens and a packaging solution;

Upon opening the case and draining the packaging solution from the lens, but before contact by the user's finger, the lens maintains a convex shape on the lens support, and the support contacts the lens and the lens at at least two points distributed around the lens periphery. contact, contact lens case.

50. 50. The case of claims 48 or 49, wherein the lens has a profile and the support has a profile that does not substantially match the lens profile.

51. 51. The case of claims 48-50, wherein the contact area between the support and the lens after the case is less than about 20 mm2, less than 18 mm2, or less than 15 mm2.

52. 51. The case of claims 48-50, wherein the contact area between the at least one air entry guide and the lens is less than about 50 mm2, or less than about 30 mm2.

53. 53. The case of claims 48-52, wherein the air entry guides are integral with the lens facing surface as protrusions from the lens facing surface or as recesses in the lens facing surface.

54. 53. The case of claims 48-52, wherein the air entry guides are part of a separate structure disposed between the convex lens surface and the lid lens facing surface.

55. 55. The case according to claims 48 to 54, wherein the air inlet guides are aligned parallel to the path through which the air enters when the case is opened.

56. 56. The case of claims 48-55, wherein the air entry guides are spaced at least about 2 mm, about 2 to about 5 mm, or 2 to about 4.5 mm apart.

57. 57. The method of claims 48-56, wherein the contact lens comprises an optic zone and a curved lens side section between the optic zone and the peripheral edge, the air entry guides running straight from the case front to rear, or around the optic zone. A case that is curved with , or a combination thereof.

58. 58. The case of claims 48-57, wherein the air entry guides across the optic zone have a shorter profile across the optic zone.

59. 59. The case of claims 48-58, wherein the air entry guides include continuous ribs, discontinuous ribs and combinations thereof.

60. 60. The case of claims 48-59, wherein the air entry guides have a maximum height of at least about 2 mm, or between about 2 mm and about 4 mm.

61 61. The case of claim 60, wherein the air entry guide profile over the optic zone has a height of about 0.5 mm or less.

62. 49. The method of claims 1 and 48, further comprising at least one base section and at least one lid facing surface, which together form a reversibly sealed cavity, the cavity containing the support, contact lens and lens solution therein. Inclusive case.

63. 63. The method of claims 2-62, wherein the lid facing surface is an inner surface of a case lid, the case further comprising at least one base section defining a cavity with the lid containing the lens support, the lens and the packaging solution;

wherein the case further comprises at least one release tab for initiating separation of the lid from the base along the sealing line defining the cavity.

64. 64. The lens support of any one of claims 1 to 63, comprising a release tab for initiating separation of the cap from the base along a seal line defining a sealed cavity, wherein at the aperture tab there is at least a gap between the seal line and the lens support. A case with a gap of about 2 mm.

65. 65. The case of claims 48-61 and 63-64, wherein the air entry tab further comprises at least one air entry guide.

66. 66. The lens support of claims 48-61 and 63-65, wherein the lens support, the lens facing surface and the at least one air entry guide are provided with minimal contact between the lens, the support and the at least one air entry guide. A case that is centered around and cooperates to hold the lens.

67. 67. The case of claim 66, wherein the contact between the lens, the at least one air entry guide and the support is transient.

68. 68. The case of claims 48-61 and 63-67, further comprising an air entrapment space remote from the lens optic zone for the air in the cavity to occupy.

69. 69. The case of claim 68, wherein air is kept away from the lens within the air entrapment space regardless of case orientation.

70. 70. The case of claims 69-69, wherein the air entrapment space has a volume equal to or slightly greater than the volume of air to be sealed within the case.

71. 71. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the base and lid are a single integral part.

72. 72. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the base and lens support are a single integral part.

73. 73. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the base, lens support and lid are a single integral part.

74. 74. The case of claims 2-47 and 62-73, wherein the lid and base form a watertight seal when closed.

75. 76. The case of claim 75, wherein the seal is selected from a screw top seal or a snap seal.

76. 76. The case of claims 74 and 75, further comprising a buff valve.

77. 77. The case of claims 74-76, wherein the base comprises two sections, a lens support section and a lens solution holding section.

78. 78. The case of claims 2-47 and 74-77, further comprising a spring under the lens support that lifts the lens support from the lens solution when the lens case is opened.

79. 78. The case of claim 77, wherein the lens solution retaining section forms a seal about and against the lens support, the lens solution is introduced into the lens retaining section, and the contact lens is disposed on the lens support.

80. 80. The method of claim 79, comprising two caps, one sealed against the solution retaining section and when opened to engage with the solution retaining section to expose the lens support section and the other open to expose the solution retaining section. , case.

81. 81. A case according to any one of claims 1 to 80, further comprising at least one displacement means.

82. 74. The method of claims 2-47 and 62-73, wherein the lens is placed on the cap in a concave orientation with the lens solution and the case is placed with the base on the cap with the lens support facing against the concave lens surface. and closed by placing and sealing the base and lid to form a watertight seal, and for storage and opening, the lens case is inverted and the lens is placed on the lens support in the convex position.

It is to be understood that this invention is determined from the appended claims and equivalents thereto.

Claims (83)

As a contact lens case,
a. a support for holding a contact lens in a convex position on the support during storage and upon opening the case;
b. the lens has a peripheral edge and a lens profile;
c. wherein the support has a profile that does not substantially match the lens profile, and wherein wet contact between the support and the lens is less than about 20 mm2, less than 18 mm2, or less than 15 mm2. As a contact lens case,
a. case base;
b. case lid; and
c. a support for holding a contact lens having a peripheral edge and a lens profile in a convex position relative to the case base;
d. the base and lid are sealed to form a cavity containing the support, contact lens and packaging solution;
e. The lens support has a distal end extending at least 1 mm past the contact lens peripheral edge, and has a contact lens edge along the peripheral supports and at least 3, 3 to 14, 4 to 14, 3 to 8 a plurality of peripheral supports providing 10 or 4 to 8, 4 to 6, or 6 contact points, wherein the case is opened and the packaging solution is directed away from the lens and the support; wherein the wet contact between the support and the lens is less than about 20 mm2, less than 18 mm2, or less than 15 mm2. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the support allows the lens solution to drain from the lens and support when removed from the lens solution without trapping the packaging solution between the lens and the lens support. , contact lens case. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the lens further comprises an optic zone and the lens support further comprises a substantially flat upper section having an open structure under at least a portion of the contact lens optic zone. contact lens case. 3. The contact lens case of claim 1 or 2, wherein the support further comprises a void below at least a portion of the contact lens optic zone. 3. The contact lens case of claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact lens remains uncompressed when the case is sealed. The contact lens case of claim 1 , wherein the support body comprises at least two peripheral supports. 8. The contact lens case according to claim 2 or 7, wherein the peripheral supports are distributed around the lens periphery. 9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the lens comprises an apex centered on the optic zone, and wherein the support has a height measured from the lens periphery that is greater than 0.5 mm below the apex of the contact lens. A contact lens case further comprising a central support. 10. The contact of claim 9, wherein the central lens support further comprises a diameter of about 1 to about 10 mm, about 3 mm to about 9 mm, about 5 mm to about 9 mm, or about 6 mm to about 9 mm. lens case. 11. The contact lens case of claim 9 or 10, wherein the central lens support has an open structure. 12. The contact lens case of claim 11, wherein the central lens support includes a central column below the lens apex. The method of claim 11, wherein the central lens support, A plurality of arms including a flat top section, an optional side section and an optional peripheral support, a shoulder transition connecting the top section and an optional side section, and an optional elbow transition connecting the optional side section and an optional peripheral support. A contact lens case comprising: 14. The contact lens case of claim 13, wherein the arms in the flat top section are connected to each other at a central point below the lens apex, or to an open full or partial ring centered below the lens apex. 14. The contact lens case of claim 13, wherein the plurality of arms are in the form of fins connected to the case base. 14. The contact lens case of claim 13, wherein one end of at least some of the plurality of arms is attached to the peripheral lens supports and protrudes upward, distal ends of the arms forming the flattened upper section. 18. The contact lens case of any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the distal ends of the peripheral supports are connected to vertical supports that elevate the peripheral supports from the lens base. 18. The case of claims 2-17, further comprising at least a partial ring around the distal ends of the peripheral supports at least 2 mm beyond the contact lens peripheral edge. 19. Case according to claims 13 to 18, further comprising 3 to 8 arms. 19. Case according to any one of claims 13 to 18, further comprising 3 to 6 arms. 21. The case of claims 13-20, wherein at least two of the arms have a Y shape. 21. Case according to claims 13 to 20, having three Y-shaped arms. 21. Case according to claims 13 to 20, comprising two straight arms and two Y-shaped arms. 24. The case of claims 21-23, wherein the Y-shaped arms comprise a curve crossing an upper portion of the Y. 21. Case according to any one of claims 13 to 20, wherein the arms are straight. 19. The case of claim 18, wherein the at least partial ring has a diameter of about 16 to about 25 mm, about 18 to about 25 mm, or about 18 to about 24 mm. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the substantially flat upper portion has a height of deflection of 0.5 mm, about 0.5 to about 2 mm, 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, or about 0.8 to about 1 mm from the contact lens apex in the undeformed state. having, case. 28. The flat top section of any one of claims 9-27, wherein the support has a width across its longest dimension of from about 0.1 to about 3 mm, from about 0.1 to about 2 mm, or less than 1.5 mm. Case further comprising a center fillet centered on . 29. The case of claims 13-28, wherein each of the arms and peripheral supports has a width of about 0.5 to about 1.5 mm, about 0.5 mm to about 1 mm, or about 0.5 mm to about 0.7 mm. 30. The case of claims 13-29, wherein the arms have a width that provides efficient packaging solution drainage upon opening and part moldability. 31. The case of claims 13-30, wherein each arm has a height of about 0.5 to about 5 mm in the flat top section. 30. A case according to any one of claims 9 to 29, wherein the flat top has a center point at the center of the lens support and the shoulders are disposed radially around the center of the flat top. 33. The case of claim 32, wherein the arms are attached to the midpoint, each arm having a length from about 1.5 to about 4 mm from the shoulder to the midpoint. 34. The case of any one of claims 9-33, wherein the angle from vertical in the flat top and side sections of the arm is at most about 15°, or about 1° to about 10°. 36. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the angle between the side section and the peripheral support is between about 60° and about 120°, or between about 80° and about 100°. 37. Case according to any one of claims 1 to 36, wherein the arms are connected at the center of the flat upper part. 38. Case according to any preceding claim, wherein the arms are distributed radially around the center of the support structure. 39. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the base is substantially flat. 40. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the lens does not contact the arm side section. 41. Case according to any preceding claim, wherein the arm side sections are straight. 42. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the support is made of a polymer having a contact angle greater than 100°. 43. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the lens support is disposed at an angle of at least about 20° from the case base. 43. The case of any one of claims 2-42, wherein the peripheral supports are parallel to the case base and are at least about 4 mm or at least about 5 mm from the case base. 45. The case of any preceding claim, further comprising means for lifting the lens support from the lens solution. 45. The case of claim 44, wherein the lifting means is selected from levers, springs, hinges, pivot arms, folds, mechanical traps, handles and combinations thereof. 55. The method of claim 54, wherein the lifting means moves the lens support away from the base about 15 to about 80°, about 20° to about 70°, about 30° to about 60°, or lifting the lens from the packaging solution by tilting it at an angle of about 40° to about 60°. 48. The case of any one of claims 1 to 47, further comprising a reservoir for capturing the packaging solution when the lens and support are separated from the case base. As a contact lens case,
a. a support for holding a contact lens having a convex surface in a convex position relative to the support; and
b. and a lens facing surface comprising at least one air entry guide, the at least one air entry guide allowing air to enter the case when the case is opened by a user. over the contact lens convex surface to reduce instances of the convex lens surface sticking to the lens facing surface. 49. The method of claim 48, wherein the interior of the case defines a cavity containing the support, at least one air entry guide, a contact lens and a packaging solution;
a. Upon opening the case and draining the packaging solution from the lens, but prior to contact by a user's finger, the lens maintains a convex shape on the lens support, and the support is distributed around the lens periphery at least A contact lens case that contacts the lens at two points. 50. The case of claims 48 or 49, wherein the lens has a profile and the support has a profile that does not substantially match the lens profile. 51. The case of claims 48-50, wherein the contact area between the support and the lens after the case is less than about 20 mm2, less than 18 mm2, or less than 15 mm2. 51. The case of claims 48-50, wherein the contact area between the at least one air entry guide and the lens is less than about 50 mm2, or less than about 30 mm2. 53. The case of claims 48-52, wherein the air entry guides are integral with the lens facing surface as protrusions from the lens facing surface, or as recesses in the lens facing surface. 53. The case of claims 48-52, wherein the air entry guides are part of a separate structure disposed between the convex lens surface and the lid lens facing surface. 55. The case according to claims 48 to 54, wherein the air inlet guides are aligned parallel to a path through which air enters when the case is opened. 56. The case of claims 48-55, wherein the air entry guides are spaced at least about 2 mm, about 2 to about 5 mm, or 2 to about 4.5 mm apart. 57. The method of claims 48-56, wherein the contact lens includes an optic zone and a curved lens side section between the optic zone and the peripheral edge, wherein the air entry guides run in a straight line from front to back of the case. A case that is curved, curved around the optic zone, or a combination thereof. 58. The case of claims 48-57, wherein the air entry guides across the optic zone have a shorter profile across the optic zone. 59. The case of claims 48-58, wherein the air entry guides include continuous ribs, discontinuous ribs and combinations thereof. 60. The case of claims 48-59, wherein the air entry guides have a maximum height of at least about 2 mm, or between about 2 mm and about 4 mm. 61. The case of claim 60, wherein the air entry guide profile over the optic zone has a height of less than or equal to about 0.5 mm. 49. The method of claims 1 and 48, further comprising at least one base section and at least one lid facing surface, which together form a reversibly sealed cavity within which the support, contact lens and A case containing a lens solution. 63. The apparatus of claims 2-62, wherein the lid facing surface is an inner surface of a case lid, the case at least one base section defining the cavity with the lid to contain the lens support, lens and packaging solution. Including more,
a. wherein the case further comprises at least one release tab for initiating separation of the lid from the base along a sealing line defining the cavity. 65. The method of claim 1 including a release tab for initiating separation of the lid from the base along a sealing line defining the sealed cavity, wherein the opening tab connects the sealing line and wherein there is a gap of at least about 2 mm between the lens supports. 65. The case of claims 48-61 and 63-64, wherein the air entry tab further comprises at least one air entry guide. 66. The lens support of claims 48-61 and 63-65, wherein the lens support, lens facing surface and at least one air entry guide have a minimum distance between the lens, the support and the at least one air entry guide. A case that cooperates to hold the lens centered around the support in contact. 67. The case of claim 66, wherein contact between the lens, the at least one air entry guide, and the support is temporary. 68. The case of claims 48-61 and 63-67, further comprising an air entrapment space remote from the lens optic zone for occupancy by air within the cavity. 69. The case of claim 68, wherein the air is kept away from the lens within the air entrapment space regardless of case orientation. 70. The case of claims 69-69, wherein the air entrapment space has a volume equal to or slightly greater than the volume of air to be sealed within the case. 72. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the base and lid are a single integral part. 73. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the base and lens support are a single integral part. 74. The case of any preceding claim, wherein the base, lens support and lid are a single integral part. 74. The case of claims 2-47 and 62-73, wherein the lid and the base form a watertight seal when closed. 76. The case of claim 75, wherein the seal is selected from a screw top seal or a snap seal. 76. The case of claims 74 and 75, further comprising a burp valve. 77. The case of claims 74-76, wherein the base comprises two sections, a lens support section and a lens solution holding section. 78. The case of claims 2-47 and 74-77, further comprising a spring below the lens support that lifts the lens support from the lens solution when the lens case is opened. 78. The case of claim 77, wherein the lens solution retaining section forms a seal about and against the lens support, lens solution is introduced into the lens retaining section, and the contact lens is disposed on the lens support. 80. The lens support section of claim 79 comprising two lids, one sealed against the solution retaining section and engaging with the solution retaining section when opened to expose the lens support section and the other exposing the solution retaining section. A case that is open for. 82. The case of any preceding claim, further comprising at least one displacement means. 74. The method of claims 2-47 and 62-73, wherein the lens is disposed on the cap in a concave orientation together with the lens solution, the case with the lens support facing the concave lens surface. closed by placing the base over the lid and sealing the base and lid to form a watertight seal, and for storage and opening, the lens case is inverted and the lens is placed on the lens support in a convex position. .

Images