WO2023229478A1

WO2023229478A1 - Advanced digital contact lenses inserter and remover (colsia)

Info

Publication number: WO2023229478A1
Application number: PCT/RS2022/050001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivica DJORDJEVIC
Original assignee: Colsia Doo Beograd-Zvezdara
Priority date: 2022-05-26
Filing date: 2022-05-26
Publication date: 2023-11-30

Abstract

Colsia is a battery powered device for safe, easy and clean contact lenses insertion and removal. It uses battery, to power vacuum pump, which creates vacuum to pick up, hold, and manipulate the lenses with the suction cup made of medical grade silicone. It's ergonomically shaped and is mimicking natural movements of insertion and removal. In this way, it eliminates the need to touch the lenses or the eyes with the fingers and provides better user experience.

Description

ADVANCED DIGITAL CONTACT LENSES INSERTER AND REMOVER (COLSIA)

TECHNICAL FIELD

The presented invention relates to advanced handheld, battery powered product for easy, comfortable and, most importantly, clean and safe contact lenses insertion into eye and removal from the eye, in everyday contact lens usage.

BACKGROUND ART

Contact lenses are used by more than 130 million people around the world, and 41 million of them live in the United States.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), users of the contact lenses do not follow manufacturers instruction for contact lenses insertion and removal in 9 out of 10 cases, and do not wash their hands prior to contact lenses insertion and removal in 13,3% of usage, leading to the following consequences.

1. One out of three contact lenses users get infection during life, as a consequence of improper lenses usage.

2. One out of 500 contact lenses users are diagnosed with Keratitis, a serious eye infection which can easily lead to blindness.

3. Annual costs to the US healthcare system linked to improper contact lens usage is 175 million USD at the time of CDC report.

Improper usage (e.g. dirty hands) is not always the case of user negligence, but often the need to remove or replace contact lenses in situations where proper usage is not possible (e.g. bus stations, outdoors...).

In order to insert contact lenses into the eyes, users need to insert it while it is on the tip of one of their fingers, holding the eyelid up with the other hand so they do not blink.

In order to remove contact lenses from the eyes, users need to use two fingers, to find and hold the lenses from two sides, often touching their eyes with the fingers, and squeeze the lenses so it pops out of the eye.

Besides being dangerous in the means of possible infection, the procedures (especially removal) cause discomfort, and for some users even so great discomfort they are unable to use contact lenses.

Therefore, a need exists for a device which is capable of providing easy and comfortable contact lens insertion and removal, while keeping users’ eyes clean and safe all the time during the insertion and removal.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Presented invention: “Advanced Digital Contact Lenses Inserter and Remover - Colsia” (COLSIA in the rest of the text) is an ergonomically designed device, which is battery powered, and uses vacuum to hold contact lenses in place while inserting them, and also uses vacuum to pick up contact lenses from the eyes for removal purpose.

Suction cup is made of medical grade silicone and is in a protected environment while not in use, so even touching the eye with the tip causes no discomfort, and no danger of infection. Suction cup has a unique tip design which protects contact lenses from vacuum damage during usage by using multiple small suction holes instead of one large central hole.

Devices’ battery is rechargeable through USB and/ or wall plug. Device uses internet connection (Internet of Things) to communicate with Colsia mobile application in order to track usage of the device and contact lenses, with options for the user to let the Colsia mobile application to notify the user to purchase new contact lenses, or even the do the purchase (purchase online from selected manufacturer) automatically when new contact lenses are needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 - Figure 1 shows an illustrated side view of the ergonomic shape of the COLSIA with the position of users’ hand during usage added as an illustration.

FIG. 2 - Figure 2 depicts an exploded perspective view of a COLSIA device and its elements.

FIG. 3 - Figure 3 shows design of COLSIA suction cup which is a part of this innovation.

FIG. 4 - Figure 4 shows ergonomic unique design of COLSIA, side view

BEST MODE FOR CARRING OUT OF INVENTION

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence of addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefits and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.

Embodiment

List of elements as shown on FIG.2

001. Suction cup

Medical grade silicone suction cup for the purpose of holding the lenses without damaging them.

002. Air flow cylinders Cylinder pipes connecting the suction cup with the vacuum pump. Consists of two-cylinder pumps, Primary cylinder pipe used for vacuum generating air flow, and secondary cylinder pipe for drainage if any liquid (e.g., contact lenses cleaning liquid) is sucked into the device.

002.1 Holder of the air flow cylinders

The purpose of the holder is to keep the cylinder pipes in place.

003. Capacitive touch sensor switch

Capacitive touch sensor switch is used as an on/ off button for the vacuum pump. It is highly sensitive providing the user easy and safe operation of the device, where the device keeps still while the user clicks the button.

004. Vacuum pump

Vacuum pump creates air flow through the cylinder pipes, creating the vacuum needed for the suction cup to hold the lenses.

005. Battery

Battery is used to power up the vacuum pump, the capacitive touch sensor and loT processor if one is installed. Battery will turn on the red light when charging to indicate insufficient charge, and green light on when charged.

006. Battery charger connector with controller

Battery charger connector with standard micro-USB connector, used to connect the battery to the power supply in order to charge it.

007. L (left) and R (right) device shells

Plastic shells are ergonomically designed to house all the parts of the device, and at the same time with its design made specially for the best grip and simple hold, as shown in FIG.1 where the user mimics movements similar to those when lenses are handled by hand. Usage explained later in the document.

008 On/ Off switch of the device.

009 Lid cover that protects the suction cup when the device is not in use.

Suction cup for contact lenses hold, as shown on FIG.3 (variants 3. a and 3.b)

Medical grade, silicone made suction cup, is a uniquely designed suction cup which is used to hold the lens in place, using vacuum created by the vacuum pump. In order to generate a firm hold, and keep the lenses intact at the same time. Suction cups’ unique design with multiple, instead of one single hole, provides the same vacuum hold on the lens, but distributed over the entire surface, providing better grip, and eliminating the danger of the lens being sucked in or damaged.

The suction cup is protected when not being used, by the plastic lid, which can have different shapes and sizes.

Usage

Being ergonomically designed as shown in FIG 4, COSLIA can be manufactured in different sizes to accommodate users with different hand sizes. Two main usage cases of COLSIA are contact lenses insertion into eye and contact lenses removal from the eye. Detailed explanation of both is meant as follows, but users may choose to use the device in a different way.

The usage described below concentrates on device usage only, where all other recommendations for contact lenses usage, insertion and removal, given by contact lenses manufacturers, doctors, or other persons or institutions which are responsible for contact lenses usage, are considered best practice and do apply.

Each and every device usage will occur only after making sure the device is clean and the battery is charged. If needed, the user will apply contact lenses cleaning liquid on the lenses and/ or the suction cap of the device.

Contact lenses insertion

To insert contact lenses into eyes, users are required to turn the vacuum pump on by pressing the on/ off capacitive button.

Once the vacuum pump is activated, air flow starts through the suction cup.

Use will gently place the suction cup on to the contact lens they want to place into the eye.

Contact lenses will be held by the suction cup as a consequence of a vacuum created by the vacuum pump.

User will hold the device as shown in the FIG 1, with the finger pointing in the direction of the eye and gently touch their eye with the contact lens.

Once the lens is in the correct place, the user will gently touch the on/ off button, which will turn off the vacuum and release the lens.

User will remove the device leaving the lens in the eye.

The same procedure stands for the other eye.

Contact lenses removal

To remove contact lenses from the eyes, the user will gently place the suction cup on to the contact lens in their eye.

Once the suction cup is placed in the center of the contact lens the user wants to remove, the user will gently touch the on/ off button. This will turn the vacuum pump on, create the vacuum, and pick up the lens from the eye.

User will remove the device and place the contact lens in the contact lenses container, or other placeholder user uses for the lenses.

User will touch the on/ off button in order to turn the vacuum pump off, and release the lens.

The same procedure stands for the other eye.

Claims

Claim 1: Contact lenses insertion - The COLSIA, is a hand-held ergonomic device, which uses battery powered vacuum pump, to create vacuum to pick up contact lenses with suction cup so that device user can use it to insert contact lenses into the eyes.

Claim 2: Contact lenses removal - The COLSIA, is hand held device, which uses battery powered vacuum pump, to create vacuum to pick up contact lenses from the user eye, with suction cup so that device user can use it to remove contact lenses form the eyes.

Claim 3 : Suction cup - The COLSIA suction cup uses vacuum to hold the lenses in place utilizing a variable number of small diameter holes for air flow, which provide safety and non-damaging hold of the lens, compared to a single hole which can damage or even suck the lenses in. Claim 4: The COLSIA, is shaped in unique way, providing natural ergonomic hold of the device, mimicking manual procedure for inserting and removing the lenses from the eyes.