Abstract: A method of modifying the surface characteristics of a polymeric hydrogel, and a polymer article formed therefrom, without causing substantial swelling or distortion or the hydrogel. A preferred method includes photoinitating of the surface of the article with a benzophenone and grafting a macromer having a number-average molecular weight greater than 1000 in the presence of UV irradiation. The preferred article is a siloxane-containing hydrogel, especially a soft contact lens.

Abstract: In an inspection module for inspecting optical parts (12) for defects, especially contact lenses manufactured as injection-moulded parts, the optical parts (12) are illuminated from one side and are observed from the opposite side by means of an image-resolving sensor (34). The image data of the sensor (34) are forwarded to image-processing means for identification of defects. To obtain a high throughput with a simple construction, a chain (52) of liquid-filled vessels (10) circulating in an endless line is provided. The endless line is passed in an inspection station (72) between an illumination device (32) and the image-resolving sensor (34). Handling means in the form of grippers (56, 58) revolve with the vessels (10), by means of which optical parts (12) to be inspected can be introduced into the vessels (10) at a position of the line upstream of the inspection station (72) and the inspected parts can be taken out of the vessels (10) at another position of the line.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel composite materials comprising (a) an inorganic or organic bulk material having attached to its surface at least one polyionic material that comprises covalently bound initiator moieties for radical polymerization; and (b) a hydrophilic surface coating obtainable by applying one or more different ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomers or macromonomers to the bulk material surface provided with the initiator radicals and polymerizing said monomers or 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. The process comprises the steps of: (a) covalently binding polymerization initiator radicals to the surface; (b) graft polymerizing a vinyl monomer carrying a reactive group onto the initiator-modified material surface and thereby providing a primary polymer coating comprising reactive groups; and (c) reacting the reactive groups of the primary polymer coating with a hydrophilic telomer having a functional group that is coreactive with the reactive groups of the primary polymer coating. The coated articles that are obtainable by the process 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) covalently binding a compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated double bond to the material surface; (b) polymerizing a monomer comprising a reactive or crosslinkable group on the surface and thereby providing a primary polymer coating comprising reactive or crosslinkable groups, (c) in case of a monomer comprising a reactive group in step (b) reacting the reactive groups of the primary coating with a further compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated double bond and graft-polymerizing a hydrophilic monomer and optionally a co-monomer having a crosslinkable group onto the primary coating obtained according to step (b) and (d) in case of crosslinkable groups being present in step (b) or (c) initiating crosslinking of said groups.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating a material surface, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrophilic telomer of formula (oligomer)-T  (1), wherein the variables are as defined in the claims, and (b) covalently binding the hydrophilic telomer to the material surface. The coated articles that are obtainable by the process 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 present invention describes a carrier set for carrying ophthalmic lens molds. The carrier set has a front curve carrier, a back curve carrier, at least one spring in the front curve carrier or the back curve carrier, at least one stabilizing hole formed in one of the front curve and back curve carriers, at least one elongated stabilizing member attached to the carrier that does not have the stabilizing hole, and at least one locking bar in the carrier that has the stabilizing hole.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for cleaning ophthalmic devices. The apparatus has a conveying system for transporting lens mold carriers to a cleaning station. The cleaning station has at least one movable cleaning assembly which is situated above the lens mold carrier and has a recess. When the cleaning assembly is lowered to the lens mold carrier, a substantially enclosed or enclosed cavity containing the lens mold is created by the carrier and the recess of the cleaning assembly. Compressed gas is injected into the cavity to dislodge any debris that may be present on the lens molds, and a vacuum is employed to remove gas and debris from the cavity.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel crosslinkable prepolymers comprising structural units of the formula wherein the variables are as defined in the claims, to crosslinked polymers, to either homo-polymers or copolymers prepared from those novel prepolymers, to mouldings produced from the said homo- or co-polymers, and especially to contact lenses produced from those homo- or co-polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel crosslinkable prepolymers of formula (1), wherein the variables have the meanings given in the claims, to homo- or co-polymers obtainable therefrom by crosslinking and to mouldings, such as, especially, contact lenses, made from those homo- or co-polymers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blister package for an optical lens and is concerned with the problem of improving the blister package in such a way that the base parts can be stacked and the work involved in sorting can be substantially reduced. This is achieved by perfecting spacing elements and joining several base parts to one unit (FIG. 2).

Abstract: The invention relates to novel polyallyl amine polymers having a weight average molecular weight of at least 2000 that, based on the number of amino groups of the polyallyl amine, comprises from approximately 1 to 99% of units of formula wherein R is as defined in the claims. The novel polyallyl amine polymers are useful, for example, for the surface-modification of different substrates or may be used for the manufacture of biomedical mouldings.

Abstract: A method of automatic manufacture of an astigmatic contact lens having a toric portion and a ballast portion such that said ballast portion causes the toric portion of the contact lens to properly orient in the eye of the wearer. The toric lenses are manufactured by moving a pallet containing at least half of a casting cup assembly and an information tag under a filling assembly and filling half of a casting cup assembly with liquid monomer, then moving the pallet to a closing assembly and, based on information obtained from the information tag, rotating one or both halves of the casting cup assembly and closing the casting cup assembly. The liquid monomer is then cured thereby creating a toric contact lens.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for registering the presence of an ophthalmic moulding consisting of a biocompatible polymeric material, especially an ophthalmic lens, particularly a contact lens, in a package. The invention solves the problem through the use of an IR camera. Packages containing a moulding, especially a contact lens, have a change in their temperature distribution compared with a package without a contact lens. By evaluating the temperature difference, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a contact lens in a package. In particular, by using the detecting method according to the invention, one can determine whether there is a contact lens in the package directly after the filling procedure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ophthalmic molding such as a contact lens or any kind of ocular prostheses comprising an organic bulk material having covalently bonded to its surface an acceptor saccharide to which is enzymatically attached one or more further carbohydrates. The ophthalmic moldings of the invention have desirable characteristics regarding, for example, adherence to the substrate, durability, hydrophilicity, wettability or biocompatibility.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the photo-initiated chemical cross-linking of material (28). To form one or more mouldings the material is enclosed in an optically transparent mould (26). The apparatus has at least one light source (12), for example a pulsed UV light source by which the material (28) can be acted upon by a light that triggers the cross-linking. The region to be cross-linked in the mould (26) is determined at least partially by beam-delimiting elements (20, 22) between the light source (12) and the mould (26). That can be achieved by arranging between the light source (12) and the mould (26) a mask (20) having transparent and non-transparent surface portions. The mask (20) is then projected onto the material (28) that is enclosed in the mould (26) by projection optics (24). The projection of the mask (20) onto the material is effected in a telecentric beam path.

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 present invention relates to novel crosslinkable amphiphilic block copolymers of formula wherein the variables are as defined in the claims, a process for their preparation and their use for the manufacture of mouldings. The block copolymers of the invention are especially useful for the manufacture of ophthalmic mouldings such as in particular contact lenses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an ophthalmic product comprising, as a colouring agent, the extract of an alga. A preferred class of alga the extract of which is useful in the present invention is blue alga (Spirulina type), more preferred it is Japanese blue alga (Spirulina platensis). The ophthalmic product is preferably a contact lens care product.

Abstract: The present invention describes coated articles and methods for preparing such articles, wherein the primary coating comprises a plasma-induced polymer carrying reactive groups. The invention further relates to the reaction of said primary coatings carrying reactive groups with monomeric, oligomeric or macromolecular compounds of synthetic, semisynthetic or biological origin to provide hybrid-type coated articles (secondary coatings).