Abstract: A container, composition and method for preserving treatment solutions, in which the composition includes weak and strong preservatives. The dispensing container includes media within a dispensing tip which media removes or alters the strong preservative, while allowing the weak preservative to inhibit microbial growth in the tip media. The dispensing container is especially useful in delivering to the ocular environment ophthalmic solutions which are essentially free of strong preservative which may cause patient discomfort. A dispensing container including a pH-preserved pilocarpine solution is disclosed in one embodiment.

Abstract: The sorting system provides a high degree of sorting accuracy even in high throughput sorting applications such as high speed wood chip sorting. In one embodiment, a sorting apparatus (10) includes a shaker (12) for distributing stock material, a spectrographic analyzer (14) for identifying unacceptable material in a product stream, an ejector (16) for diverting unacceptable material from the product stream, a three-zone sorting receptacle (18) and a recirculating system (20) for returning a selected portion of the sorter output for an additional pass by the analyzer (14) and ejector (16). The three-zone sorting receptacle (18) divides the product stream into an accept portion, a rejection portion, and an ambiguous portion including both acceptable product and unacceptable material. The ambiguous portion is re-sorted for improved accuracy at high throughput levels.

Abstract: As extensible mirror apparatus for a vehicle including an elongate arm having a rack gear thereon, a mirror housing mounted for moving longitudinally along the arm, and a driving motor and spur gear enclosed within the mirror housing operable to drive such along the arm for extending and retracting the mirror. An extensible and retractable flexible boot provides a cover between the vehicle and mirror housing for portions of apparatus which otherwise would be exposed upon extension of the mirror.

Abstract: An IOL compression chamber for folding an IOL includes a hollow chamber having a loading area, a staging area and a distal tip. The loading area has a distally extending slot in the wall, which allows for easy removal of a forceps holding the IOL from the chamber following insertion of the IOL into the chamber with the forceps. The staging area holds the IOL in a folded state until the chamber is placed into an IOL insertion instrument having a plunger which forces the IOL distally out of the staging area and into the eye through the distal tip.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing complex optical surfaces in soft contact lenses includes a first step of defining the complex optical surfaces with a computer assisted drafting program using a mix of patient determined parameters and selected manufacturing process determined parameters to define a mathematical "meta lens". A machine code data set is then generated to machine a plurality of contact lens mold inserts to define a complex optical surface on each of the inserts. The machining step is conducted with a single point diamond lathe having submicron precision and repeatability. A first and second plurality of intermediate contact lens mold halves are then molded with said contact lens mold inserts to define said complex optical surfaces on said mold halves having micron range transitions between optical surfaces. The complex geometric forms and optical surfaces include bifocal lenses, aspheric lenses, and toric lenses wherein the lenses may include parabolic or elliptical geometry.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for reducing the decomposition rate of polymeric bioadhesives and viscosity enhancers, such as poly(acrylic acids). The compositions include at least one strong, stable chelating agent, preferably an organophosphorous compound such as diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid). These biocompatible compositions are especially useful in the ophthalmic field.

Abstract: A system is provided that simultaneously gathers three-dimensional and two-dimensional data for use in inspecting objects such as chip carriers for defects. Specifically, a source laser beam is directed to an object and forms a spot at the point of impingement at a known X-Y position on the object. The laser beam is reflected at the spot and light reflected off-axially with respect to the source laser beam is detected by two position sensing detectors (PSDs). Simultaneous to detecting off-axially reflected light, retro-reflected light (i.e., the light reflected approximately co-axial with the source laser) is detected by a photo diode array.

Abstract: A multi-focal lens with both a power portion and a functional portion, where the power portion imparts a majority of the optical power and magnification characteristics to the multi-focal lens and has a front side with both a main focal surface and a secondary focal surface that is discontinuous relative to the main focal surface and where the functional portion has a rear side that is shaped like the front side of the power portion with the rear side of the functional portion being affixed to the front side of the power portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymerizable derivatives of carbohydrates comprising a compound of formula (I)R.sup.1 --(COO--Alk).sub.m --(OCONH--R).sub.n --(NHCO).sub.p --Y--Z (I)whereinR.sup.1 is a radically polymerizable hydrocarbon group;m, n and p are 0 or 1;Alk is alkylene having up to 10 carbon atoms;R is a diradical, having up to 20 carbon atoms, of an organic diisocyanate;Z is a monovalent radical, minus a single hydroxy group, of a mono-, di- or tri-saccharide, of an oligosaccharide, of a cyclodextrin (CD) or of an anhydrosaccharide; andY is --O-- or --NH--;with the proviso that when p is zero, m and n are also zero and Y is --NH--; to homopolymers, copolymers, block copolymers, graft copolymers and polymeric networks thereof, to molded articles, for example contact lenses or biomedicinal articles, comprising the mentioned polymers, as well as to processes for the preparation of the mentioned polymers and articles.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for controlling the automatic packaging of contact lenses in a contact lens fabrication facility includes: a first robotic transfer device for periodically transferring a first predetermined amount of individual packages from an inspection station to an intermediate consolidation buffer and depositing the packages on the consolidation buffer; a control device for tracking and identifying each individual contact lens conveyed from the inspection station to the consolidation buffer and including memory and logic circuits for storing the identity of individual packages containing contact lenses that have been previously determined at the inspection station as being out of specification, and, generating a signal to enable the first robotic device to discard any individual package identified as out of specification; and; a second robotic assembly for periodically transferring a second predetermined amount of individual packages from the consolidation buffer to a second processing station, th

Abstract: An apparatus for separating individual contact lens mold assemblies, the assemblies each being a front curve mold half and a back curve mold half, each mold half having annular circumferential flanges, is included. The apparatus includes a device for applying steam to the back curve mold half to form a temperature gradient from the front mold half to the back mold half. The apparatus also includes a second device to pry the mold halves apart.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a composition of polystyrene or polypropylene with at least 0.5% (w/w)of an additive or wetting agent, the article of manufacture comprised thereof, such as a mold for making contact lenses and the mold assembly containing said mold, and the use of such mold so to minimize defects, such as holes, puddles, chips and tears in the lens.

Abstract: Improved homogeneity and uniformity of surface energy characteristics in a mold surface for hydrophilic contact lens production is achieved with the temporal application of a surface active agent such as Tween 80, to facilitate wetting of the optical surface of the mold, especially the convex mold, with the reactive monomer mix.

Abstract: A microelectronic light-emitting device (10) is made with dual lateral thin-film emitters (35 and 40) substantially parallel to a substrate (20). Emitter electrodes (35 and 40) have a thickness of not more than several hundred angstroms. Each emitter has an emitting blade edge (110 or 115) having a small radius of curvature. Thus, opposed emitters for two opposite-sign carriers are provided, shaped to provide very high electric field intensity at their emitting tips. A region containing phosphor (50) extends between the two emitters and contacts them. When a suitable bias voltage is applied, electrons are injected into the phosphor from the blade edge of one emitter and holes are injected from the other emitter. The sum of diffusion lengths of the carriers (including secondary carriers) is equal to or greater than the shortest distance between the emitters. DC, AC, pulsed, or other voltage waveforms can be applied. Light emission is excited from the phosphor by carrier recombination.

Abstract: A packaging arrangement for packaging products such as contact lenses in packages such as blister packs. The packaging arrangement includes an intermittently indexed, linearly driven endless conveyor which includes a plurality of identical support pallets, equally spaced apart along the endless conveyor. Each support pallet is designed to support and align an array of individual package bases. The arrangement is such that each support pallet with an array of individual package bases thereon is sequentially stopped at a plurality of spaced work stations along the endless conveyor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the manufacture of mouldings, especially contact lenses, in which a soluble prepolymer comprising crosslinkable groups is crosslinked in solution, and also to mouldings, especially contact lenses, obtainable in accordance with that process. The present invention relates also to novel prepolymers that can be used in the process according to the invention, especially derivatives of a polyvinyl alcohol having a molecular weight of at least about 2000 that, based on the number of hydroxy groups of the polyvinyl alcohol, comprise from approximately 0.5 to approximately 80% of units of formula I ##STR1## wherein R is lower alkylene having up to 8 carbon atoms,R.sup.1 is hydrogen or lower alkyl andR.sup.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear for periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the production of mouldings, in particular contact lenses, in which a water-soluble, crosslinkable polymer is crosslinked in solution, and to mouldings, in particular contact lenses, obtainable by this process. The present invention likewise relates to novel water-soluble, crosslinkable polymers, in particular those comprising units of formula (III or IIIa), in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, independently of one another, are hydrogen, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl group, an aryl group or a cyclohexyl group, where these groups can be monosubstituted or polysubstituted, R.sub.3 is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl group, and R.sub.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a polarization altering substance, such as ice, on a surface includes a polarizing filter on the surface between the surface and the polarization altering substance. When the polarizing filter includes alternating regions having orthogonal polarizing properties, only one viewing of the surface through a blocking filter is required. When light, either polarized or unpolarized, reflects off the surface, it passes through the polarizing filter and becomes polarized. Reflected light that additionally passes through ice after leaving the polarizer becomes unpolarized. When viewed through a blocking polarizer filter, polarized light passing through ice appears bright due to the unpolarizing effect of ice. On the other hand, polarized light not passing through ice retains its polarization and appears dark when viewed through a blocking filter.