Abstract: The invention relates to a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system capable of control the temperature, viscosity and colorant concentration of an ink in an ink cup. Such controls are achieved by continuously adding and mixing a cold ink having a composition identical to the ink in the ink cup but having a lower temperature. The continuous addition of a small amount of a cold ink into the ink cup could compensate heat generated by the friction between the ink cup and a cliché and could minimize the evaporation of a diluent in the ink and change in the concentration of colorants in the ink and ink viscosity. The invention also relates to use of a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system of the invention for producing colored hydrogel or silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system capable of control the temperature, viscosity and colorant concentration of an ink in an ink cup. Such controls are achieved by continuously adding and mixing a cold ink having a composition identical to the ink in the ink cup but having a lower temperature. The continuous addition of a small amount of a cold ink into the ink cup could compensate heat generated by the friction between the ink cup and a cliché and could minimize the evaporation of a diluent in the ink and change in the concentration of colorants in the ink and ink viscosity. The invention also relates to use of a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system of the invention for producing colored hydrogel or silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system capable of control the temperature, viscosity and colorant concentration of an ink in an ink cup. Such controls are achieved by continuously adding and mixing a cold ink having a composition identical to the ink in the ink cup but having a lower temperature. The continuous addition of a small amount of a cold ink into the ink cup could compensate heat generated by the friction between the ink cup and a cliché and could minimize the evaporation of a diluent in the ink and change in the concentration of colorants in the ink and ink viscosity. The invention also relates to use of a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system of the invention for producing colored hydrogel or silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal cast-molding method for producing colored silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method of the invention comprises: (1) forming, on a molding surface of a mold, a transferable colored polymeric composite film which comprises or consists essentially of a first polymeric film, a second polymeric film and a cured colored image encapsulated therewithin; (2) dispensing a silicone hydrogel lens formulation into the lens-forming cavity of the mold; and (4) thermally curing the third polymerizable composition within the lens-forming cavity for at least about 40 minutes to form the colored silicone hydrogel contact lens, whereby the transferable, colored, and polymeric composite film detaches from the first or second molding surface and becomes integral with the body of the silicone hydrogel contact lens.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system capable of control the temperature, viscosity and colorant concentration of an ink in an ink cup. Such controls are achieved by continuously adding and mixing a cold ink having a composition identical to the ink in the ink cup but having a lower temperature. The continuous addition of a small amount of a cold ink into the ink cup could compensate heat generated by the friction between the ink cup and a cliché and could minimize the evaporation of a diluent in the ink and change in the concentration of colorants in the ink and ink viscosity. The invention also relates to use of a pad printing instrument comprising an ink supply system of the invention for producing colored hydrogel or silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermal cast-molding method for producing colored silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method of the invention comprises: (1) forming, on a molding surface of a mold, a transferable colored polymeric composite film which comprises or consists essentially of a first polymeric film, a second polymeric film and a cured colored image encapsulated therewithin; (2) dispensing a silicone hydrogel lens formulation into the lens-forming cavity of the mold; and (4) thermally curing the third polymerizable composition within the lens-forming cavity for at least about 40 minutes to form the colored silicone hydrogel contact lens, whereby the transferable, colored, and polymeric composite film detaches from the first or second molding surface and becomes integral with the body of the silicone hydrogel contact lens.

Abstract: Disclosed in this specification is a method for treating a contact lens mold surface with ultraviolet light to increase the surface's wettability. Such molds are useful in manufacturing contact lenses by disposing a reaction mixture between a concave frontcurve mold and a convex basecurve mold prior to polymerization. By adjusting the wettability of the convex and concave surfaces, as well as the wettability of the surrounding flange, the demolding of the resulting contact lens better controlled and defects are reduced.

Abstract: This invention describes molds made from alicyclic co-polymers that are useful in the production of contact lenses and methods for their use.

Abstract: This invention describes molds made from alicyclic co-polymers that are useful in the production of contact lenses and methods for their use.

Abstract: The present invention includes molds for forming ophtalmic lenses, such as contact lens. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus, molds and methods for fashioning an ophthalmic lens with a mold assembly that includes two or more mold parts with at least one of the mold parts including a flange surface and a static charge differential between each mold part, including the flange surface.

Abstract: The present invention includes molds for forming ophtalmic lenses, such as contact lens. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus, molds and methods for fashioning an ophthalmic lens with a mold assembly that includes two or more mold parts with at least one of the mold parts including a flange surface and a static charge differential between each mold part, including the flange surface.

Abstract: This invention describes molds made from alicyclic co-polymers that are useful in the production of contact lenses and methods for their use.

Abstract: This invention discloses improved mold parts for ophthalmic lenses fashioned from a thermal plastic resin compounded with a siloxane wax resulting in a thermal plastic compound with a deionized water contact angle that is greater than the deionized water contact angle of the pure thermal plastic resin. The mold parts can be used in manufacturing processes, such as, for example: continuous, in-line or batched processes.

Abstract: This invention discloses improved mold parts for ophthalmic lenses fashioned from a first thermal plastic resin compounded with a second thermal plastic resin resulting in a thermal plastic compound with a deionized water contact angle that is greater than the deionized water contact angle of either the first thermal plastic resin or the second thermal plastic resin. The mold parts can be used in manufacturing processes, such as, for example: continuous, in-line or batched processes.

Abstract: This invention describes molds made from alicyclic co-polymers that are useful in the production of contact lenses and methods for their use.

Abstract: This invention describes molds made from alicyclic co-polymers that are useful in the production of contact lenses and methods for their use.

Abstract: This invention discloses improved mold parts fashioned from a thermoplastic resin compounded with an additive to reduce the surface energy of the mold part. The mold parts can be used in manufacturing processes, such as, for example: continuous, in-line or batched processes of ophthalmic lens molds.

Abstract: This invention discloses methods and apparatus for facilitating release of an ophthalmic lens from a mold part used to form the lens. According to the present invention, the ophthalmic lens and a mold part used to form the ophthalmic lens are exposed first to an environment of reduced thermal energy and then exposed to an environment of increased thermal energy.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and apparatus for forming a biomedical device, such as an ophthalmic lens, in a area defined by a first mold part and a second mold part wherein during the formation of the biomedical device a HEMA is formed and the HEMA ring and a greater adhesive force is generated on the HEMA ring by the second mold part than the first mold part.

Abstract: The present invention includes molds for forming ophthalmic lenses, such as contact lens. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus, molds and methods for fashioning mold parts used to fashion an ophthalmic lens which includes cooling a mold structure used to fashion a mold part prior to depositing a molten material into the mold structure.