Patents Represented by Attorney William G. Hervey
  • Patent number: 5298033
    Abstract: An ultraviolet radiation absorbing agent for bonding to an ocular lens. The agent has the formulaA--NH--Bwherein A is an ultraviolet absorbing compound and B is a specific reactive group or a moiety containing reactive group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Hung, Kai C. Su
  • Patent number: 5264878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polymers, to processes for the preparation thereof, to contact lenses consisting substantially of those polymers and to processes for the manufacture thereof and to the use of the novel polymers for the manufacture of contact lenses. The polymers according to the invention are especially the copolymerisation products of monomer mixtures comprising the following monomers:______________________________________ a) 20-60% siloxane monovinyl component b) 1-25% siloxane oligovinyl component c) 10-55% fluorine-containing vinyl component d) 3-30% hydrophobic vinyl component having a bulky hydrocarbon radical, e) 0-10% hydrophilic vinyl component f) 0-15% additional cross-linking vinyl component. ______________________________________The novel polymers and the contact lenses made therefrom are distinguished by a high degree of hardness while at the same time being highly permeable to oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Erich Gruber, Horst Schafer, Bernhard Seiferling, Harro M. von der Haegen
  • Patent number: 5256420
    Abstract: A method of imparting antimicrobial activity to an ophthalmic composition includes the step of adding a polyquaternary ammonium salt to the composition. The method may be employed, for example, for disinfecting a contact lens or preserving a solution, ointment or suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Fu-Pao Tsao, Paul C. Nicolson, Susan A. Littlefield
  • Patent number: 5252056
    Abstract: A contact lens casting mould includes two casting mould halves. A concave shaping surface (11) is constructed on a female part (1) and a convex shaping surface (21) on a male part (2). When joined together, the two casting mould halves (1 and 2) adhere by frictional connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Wilhelm Horner, Peter Hofer, Peter Hagmann
  • Patent number: 5214452
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrogel which is a copolymer of a polymerizable monomer mixture which containsa) 2-85 mol-% of a hydrophobic vinyl monomer with at least three fluorine atoms,b) 2-80 mol-% of a hydrophobic polyhydroxy vinyl monomer whose hydroxyl groups are in protected form,c) 2-70 mol-% of a hydrophilic vinyl monomer and,d) based on the total amount of monomers a)-c), 0-5 mol-% of a crosslinker, in which hydrogel the hydroxyl groups of the segments formed by the monomers b) are in protected or in free form.These hydrogels can be used, for example, as contact lenses, intraocular lenses or in other areas of application where biologically tolerated materials are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Kossmehl, Horst Schafer, Norbert Klaus, Jurgen Volkheimer, Madjid Rezaii-Djafari
  • Patent number: 5210111
    Abstract: The crosslinked polymerization product of the reaction product of a polymeric backbone containing pendant hydroxyl groups with an unsaturated monoisocyanate or of said reaction product with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer gives a hydrogel material suitable for making contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Merrill S. Goldenberg, Ellen Rennwantz
  • Patent number: 5200121
    Abstract: In the process described, a limited number of shaping tools (T.sub.1, T.sub.2, . . . , T.sub.N) having standardized parameters (for the production of the following contact lens parameters: contact lens diameter, radius of curvature of the rear face of the contact lens, vertex refraction) is used for the manufacture of standardized moulds (M.sub.1, M.sub.2, . . . , M.sub.N). Preferably by material-removing machining of the moulds, moulds are produced that have additional altered parameters. The multiplicity of moulds produced in that manner is used for the one-step manufacture (F) of contact lenses (L) having different parameters that largely do not have to be finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hagmann, Peter Hofer
  • Patent number: 5198477
    Abstract: The invention relates to contact lenses made from a polymer comprising macrocycles that are made up of units of formula I--(--CR.sup.1 .dbd.CR.sup.2 --A--)-- (I)wherein A is alkylene or alkenylene each having from 3 to 10 carbon atoms and each of which may be substituted by one or more R.sup.3 radicals, each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, independently of the other, is hydrogen or lower alkyl, and R.sup.3 is lower alkyl, fluorinated lower alkyl or a siloxane radical.They exhibit a combination of a high degree of hardness and oxygen permeability. They can be produced in an especially advantageous manner, that is to say by hot compression moulding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Harro M. von der Haegen, Bernhard Seiferling
  • Patent number: 5196493
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel polymers, to processes for the preparation thereof, to contact lenses consisting substantially of those polymers and to processes for the manufacture thereof and to the use of the novel polymers for the manufacture of contact lenses. The polymers according to the invention are especially the copolymerisation products of monomer mixtures comprising the following monomers:a) 20-60% siloxane monovinyl componentb) 1-25% siloxane oligovinyl componentc) 10-55% fluorine-containing vinyl componentd) 3-30% hydrophobic vinyl component having a bulky hydrocarbon radical,e) 0-10% hydrophilic vinyl componentf) 0-15% additional cross-linking vinyl component.The novel polymers and the contact lenses made therefrom are distinguished by a high degree of hardness while at the same time being highly permeable to oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Erich Gruber, Horst Schafer, Bernhard Seiferling, Harro M. von der Haegen
  • Patent number: 5194556
    Abstract: Hard polymers with extremely high oxygen permeability are described, which consist of the copolymerization product of 1-15% by weight of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) bearing multiple polymerizable vinyl groups and having a number-average molecular weight M.sub.n of 1000-7000, 20-50% of an oligosiloxanylalkyl (meth)acrylate, 25-50% of an at least three fluorine atoms containing vinyl-monomer, 0-30% of copolymerizable monomers, which by themselves as homo- or copolymers have a Shore-D hardness of at least 85, 1-25% of polyvinyl-crosslinking monomer of 200-1000 molecular weight, and 0-15% of a watersoluble, copolymerizable monomer. The novel polymers combine a Shore-D hardness of 70-85 with an oxygen permeability of 40-90 barrers, making them outstanding materials for the manufacture and use as rigid, gas-permeable contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Karl F. Mueller, Bernhard Seiferling, Michael C. Bochnik
  • Patent number: 5174929
    Abstract: A dimensionally stable hydrogel contact lens of polyvinyl alcohol having an equilibrium water content of between about 70 to about 80 weight percent, based upon the total swollen lens weight, said lens having been annealed in a mold essentially conforming to the contact lens dimensions under substantially ambient non-drying setting conditions in the presence of an aqueous-organic annealing promoter solvent, for a period of time substantially sufficient to reach annealing equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Janssen, Ping I. Lee, Ellen M. Ajello
  • Patent number: 5166710
    Abstract: A contact lens that consists of gas-permeable, especially oxygen-permeable, lens material and has a supporting edge which rests on the sclera and is covered at least partially by both eyelids and absorbs the forces acting on the lens as the lid closes, the rear face of the lens in the region of the cornea being spaced from the surface of the cornea. By ensuring the exchange of lachrymal fluid between the contact lens and the surface of the eye, metabolic products are transported away and the supply of oxygen to the cornea is assisted. For that purpose, channels may be provided on the lens or the lens may be caused to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hofer, Peter Hagmann, Martin Reichner, Peter Herbrechtsmeier
  • Patent number: 5162530
    Abstract: Hydrophilic modifier monomers of the formula [X-T].sub.z' H' are disclosed wherein X is a reactive group, H' is a hydrophilic group and T is a divalent linking group, z' being a number up to the available valence of H', excess H' valences being taken up by hydrogen. The monomers of the invention can be used to boost the hydrophilic nature of a wide variety of polymeric materials or be polymerized themselves with varying degrees of copolymerizable monomers. They are particularly suited for making hydrophilic contact lens materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Frank Molock, J. Richard Robertson, Jr., Kai C. Su
  • Patent number: 5157093
    Abstract: The instant invention relates to methacrylate functionalized hydroxyethyl cellulose which is crosslinked with conventional vinylic monomers to form soft hydrogel contact lenses possessing high oxygen permeability, wettability, and mechanical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Harisiades, Ellen Rennwant
  • Patent number: 5155194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrogel which is a copolymer of a polymerizable monomer mixture which containsa) 2-85 mol-% of a hydrophobic vinyl monomer with at least three fluorine atoms,b) 2-80 mol-% of a hydrophobic polyhydroxy vinyl monomer whose hydroxyl groups are in protected form,c) 2-70 mol-% of a hydrophilic vinyl monomer and,d) based on the total amount of monomers a)-c), 0-5 mol-% of a crosslinker, in which hydrogel the hydroxyl groups of the segments formed by the monomers b) are in protected or in free form.These hydrogels can be used, for example, as contact lenses, intraocular lenses or in other areas of application where biologically tolerated materials are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Kossmehl, Horst Schafer, Norbert Klaus, Jurgen Volkheimer, Madjid Rezaii-Djafari
  • Patent number: 5115056
    Abstract: Fluorine and/or silicone containing block copolymers are described which are the copolymerization product of mono; di- or trivinyl substituted poly(alkylene oxide) prepolymers (A) and fluoroalkyl-alkylene acrylates or methacrylates (B1), oligosiloxy-silyl alkyl-acrylates or methacrylates (B2), and optionally other copolymerizable comonomers (C). The novel block copolymers are prepared in solution or bulk and are characterized by high oxygen permeability, flexibility and wettability and are therefore well suited as biocompatible polymers, especially as contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Karl F. Mueller, Walter L. Plankl
  • Patent number: 5114628
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of contact lenses, especially individually fitted contact lenses, and a contact lens production system therefor is described, wherein the topography of the surface of the eye is measured three-dimensionally, the geometry of the rear face of the lens is determined so as to fit the topography measured, the optical effect of a lachrymal lens which is formed between the rear face of the lens and the surface of the eye is determined, the geometry of the front face of the lens is determined taking into account the optical effect of the lachrymal lens and the sight correction to be achieved, and the data so obtained for the lens geometry of the front and rear faces of the lens are stored and transferred to a control arrangement for the manufacture of the lens in a machine tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Hofer, Peter Hagmann, Gunther Krieg, Eberhard Vaas
  • Patent number: 5079319
    Abstract: Vinyl unsaturated copolymers are described which are obtained in a two-step process and which consist of monomeric units A, B, C, D and E, copolymerized in a first step, and in a second step reacted with a reactive vinyl monomer M.sub.v, and in which A is a siloxane or fluorine containing vinyl monomer, 30-70% by weight; B is NN-dimethylacrylamide or N-vinylpyrrolidone, 30-70% by weight; C is an active hydrogen containing vinyl monomer, 0.5-25% by weight; D are other copolymerizable comonomers, 0-30% by weight, and E is a chain transfer agent, 0-10 mol percent. M.sub.v is a vinyl unsaturated isocyanate.These vinyl unsaturated polymers are useful, either by themselves or in combination with other copolymerizable vinyl monomers, as heat or UV-curable coatings or glass, plastic, wood, paper, textiles, metal or ceramics, said coatings possessing low surface energies and low refractive indices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventor: Karl F. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5070170
    Abstract: Contact lenses which are optically clear, wettable, of high oxygen permeability and substantially non-swellable in the aqueous ocular envionment of use, of a block copolymer containing polysiloxane and polyoxyalkylene oxide units are disclosed, as well as the preparation thereof and methods of treating vision defects therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: J. Richard Robertson, Kai C. Su
  • Patent number: 5070169
    Abstract: Contact lenses which are optically clear, wettable, flexible, and of high oxygen permeability in the aqueous ocular environment of use, of a block copolymer containing polysiloxane and polyoxyalkylene oxide units are disclosed, as well as the preparation thereof and methods of treating vision defects therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: J. Richard Robertson, Kai C. Su, Merrill S. Goldenberg, Karl F. Mueller