Abstract: A measured amount of a material that is crosslinkable by impingement of a suitable form of energy, especially UV light, is introduced into a two-part mould of which cavity determines the shape of a moulding to be produced. The two mould halves are held a small distance from one another so that a thin annular gap is formed between them, which gap is in communication with the mould cavity and through which gap excess material can escape. The crosslinking is triggered by impingement of the selected form of energy, the impingement being spatially restricted to the cavity by suitable masking so that material disposed outside the mould cavity is not crosslinked. In that manner mouldings are obtained that do not require subsequent mechanical processing, and the mould is reusable. The process is especially, but not, however, exclusively, suitable for the manufacture of contact lenses.

Abstract: A method of forming a coating of polyionic materials in a layer-by-layer-like manner onto a polymeric material is provided. A polymeric material, such as a contact lens, can be dipped once into a solution of polyionic materials such that layers of polyionic material can be formed thereon. A single dip solution of the present invention typically contains a polyanionic material and a polycationic material in a non-stoichiometric amount and maintained within a certain pH range.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for cleaning contact lens molds. The method comprises the steps of placing a contact lens mold within an enclosed or substantially enclosed area, directing an inflow of gas under pressure into the enclosed area against the contact lens mold, and providing an outflow of gas from the enclosed area, thereby dislodging and removing debris.

Abstract: The invention is based on the problem of providing an inspection device and an inspection method, which recognise the defective lenses, which are difficult to detect with conventional optical methods, with a high degree of reliability. According to the invention, the contact lenses are exposed to an ultrasonic field, which leads to destruction of defective lenses, while perfect lenses are as a rule not destroyed. In particular, the method is capable of detecting cracks which are often overlooked by optical methods, since this type of defect reacts especially sensitively to the soundwaves being received.

Abstract: The invention relates to ophthalmic molding formulations and to tinted, high Dk ophthalmic moldings. This invention also relates to a method for making a tinted ophthalmic molding. The method comprises: (a) providing a polymer precursor having cross-linkable or polymerizable groups; (b) providing a pigment dispersion comprising an inorganic or organic pigment and a dispersing agent; (c) mixing the pigment dispersion with the polymer precursor to form a tinted prepolymer mixture; (d) dispensing the tinted prepolymer mixture into a mold; and (e) forming a tinted ophthalmic molding from the tinted prepolymer mixture, the molding comprising a polymer matrix having the pigment entrapped therein. With this method, tinted ophthalmic moldings, particularly edge-to-edge soft, tinted contact lenses having improved properties, are prepared with an improved efficiency.

Abstract: A contact lens has top, a bottom, a rotational axis, an inner surface and an opposite outer surface having a plurality of zones. The plurality of zones include an optical zone, a ridge zone and a transition zone. The optical zone has a lower edge and includes a distance vision zone and a near vision zone. The distance vision zone has a first radius of curvature that provides distance vision correction. The distance vision zone also has a first area that is sufficient to overlay a substantial portion of a pupil of a user and is disposed in a first position within the optical zone so that the user's pupil is substantially subtended by the distance vision zone when the user is gazing at a substantially horizontal point. The near vision zone is substantially concentric with the rotational axis and extends radially outward from the distance vision zone.

Abstract: The invention enables more objective defect evaluation of ophthalmic lenses, especially contact lenses, to take place through the combination of the schlieren method with the transmitted light method, with the result that the advantages of these two different systems are combined. The schlieren method is in a position to illustrate the edge of a contact lens and its ruptures, in high contrast, for the CCD camera. Likewise, tears and surface defects can be made visible. Using the transmitted light method, the bubbles may be suitably prepared for the camera.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of providing an automatic inspection device, with which it is possible to determine, with little effort and without contact, whether packages, particularly sealed blister packages consisting of a blister container and a cover film, are free of defects. This problem is solved by the use of at least two light sources, which are arranged at a certain distance from one another and each emit a light bundle at a predetermined wavelength range, whereby the emission maxima of the two light sources are offset in relation to one another. The light sources are arranged such that the packages are vertically illuminated. The light reflected by the packages is recorded by a CCD camera and the digital images are stored in a computer, so that they are available in a computer-supported image-processing and documentation system.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel composite materials comprising (a) an inorganic or organic bulk material having covalently bound to its surface initiator moieties for radical polymerization; and (b) a hydrophilic surface coating obtainable by applying one or more different ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic macromonomers of formula (1) as outlined in the claims to the bulk material surface provided with the initiator radicals and polymerizing said macromonomers. The composite materials of the invention have desirable characteristics regarding adherence to the substrate, durability, hydrophilicity, wettability, biocompatibility and permeability and are thus useful for the manufacture of biomedical articles such as ophthalmic devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating a material surface comprising the steps of: (a) applying to the material surface one or more different comb-type polymers comprising a polymer backbone and side chains pendently attached thereto, wherein at least a part of the side chains carry a triggerable precursor for carbene or nitrene formation; and (b) fixing the polymer(s) onto the material surface using heat or radiation, in particular radiation such as UV or visible light. The polymers of the invention are useful for the modification of material surfaces and are particularly suitable for providing biomedical articles such as contact lenses with a hydrophilic coating.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact lens within a mold is provided. A coating of a polyionic material(s) is applied to the mold before forming a lens therein. The coating can be applied by spraying or dipping the mold within a solution(s) of polyionic materials. Various other additives can also be applied to the mold. The coating can then be transferred to a contact lens formed within the mold such that the resulting lens has altered surface properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel crosslinkable copolymers of formula wherein the variables are as defined in the claims. The copolymers of the invention are especially useful for the manufacture of biomedical moldings, for example ophthalmic moldings such as in particular contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel reactive polymers of formula wherein the variables are as defined in the claims. The polymers of the invention are useful for the modification of material surfaces and are particularly suitable for providing biomedical articles such as contact lenses with a hydrophilic coating.

Abstract: A contact lens includes a central zone and a peripheral zone. The central zone extends radially from a center to a central intermediate edge and has a radius corresponding to a radius of a contracted pupil of a user when subjected to a high ambient light condition. The central zone also has a constant first refractive power across the central zone. The peripheral zone extends radially from the central intermediate edge to an outer edge and has a radius corresponding to a dilated pupil of the user. The peripheral zone has a refractive power that is equal to the first refractive power at the intermediate edge and that increases radially to a second refractive power, different from the first refractive power, at the outer edge. The contact lens also includes a non-optical zone that extends radially from the outer edge to an outermost radius corresponding to a radius of a user's cornea.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem of ensuring optimum drying of contact lenses on a gripper, while at the same time minimizing interruptions in operations. This is achieved by a convex shape of the end face of the blast nozzle.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens comprising a receptor moiety can be used to determine the amount of an analyte in an ocular fluid. The receptor moiety can bind either a specific analyte or a detectably labeled competitor moiety. The amount of detectably labeled competitor moiety which is displaced from the receptor moiety by the analyte is measured and provides a means of determining analyte concentration in an ocular fluid, such as tears, aqueous humor, or interstitial fluid. The concentration of the analyte in the ocular fluid, in turn, indicates the concentration of the analyte in a fluid or tissue sample of the body, such as blood or intracellular fluid.

Abstract: This invention is directed to ophthalmic materials and ophthalmic lenses that are a co-polymerization product of a (a) hydrophilic monomer with (b) a tris(siloxy)silyl group-containing monomer, (c) a wide variety of hydrophobic monomers (both aliphatic and aromatic) and usually a (d) polyfluorinated monomer, as well as optional monomers or monomer mixtures that can include a cationic monomer, a non-aromatic hydrophobic monomer and a poly(dimethylsiloxy)silyl group-containing monomer. A contact lens prepared from such a co-polymer exhibits enhanced water content, while maintaining exceptional oxygen permeability, thereby providing a lens that can be worn comfortably for prolonged periods of time. A process for the preparation of such lenses is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with the problem that with known plastic casting molds, especially those of polypropylene, the lenses produced with these molds have a slippery surface. The invention solves this problem through the use of polymers which are notable for their very low oxygen permeability.

Abstract: The invention tackles the problem of improving the production process for contact lenses further, so that the production costs for contact lenses can be reduced further and the production capacities can be increased. To this end, provision is made for the two mould halves, which together form the mould for producing a contact lens, to be fixed to each other and/or detachably connected to each other by means of individual half-mould guide. In conjunction with a cyclic production process, a high degree of automation can be achieved in this way.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a composite material, especially a biomedical device, e.g. an ophthalmic device, preferably a contact lens, with one or more wettable surfaces capable of holding a continous layer of aqueous fluid thereon which composite material comprises a bulk material and a hydrophilic coating characterized in that the hydrophilic coating consists of a carbohydrate attached covalently to reactive groups at the surface of the bulk material, either directly or via functional groups of an oligofunctional compound, said oligofunctional compound in turn having functional groups being capable of reacting with said reactive groups at the surface of the bulk material and with the carbohydrate, wherein said reactive groups are either inherently (a priori) present in the bulk material or wherein said reactive groups have been attached to the surface of the bulk material by a plasma surface preparation, as well as to a process of manufacture of such a composite material.