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 recessed 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: A method for determining the position of a laser projector relative to a large tool includes the use of posts having several reference points. The rotating tool is preferably also provided with a plurality of reference points. At least two of the reference points are spaced by a known distance. By identifying the location of the reference points, a control for the system is able to calibrate where the reference points are relative to the laser projectors. In this way, the laser projector is able to calibrate itself relative to the reference points on the large tool. The invention improves upon the prior art in that the location of the reference points need not be fixed relative to the workpiece. Instead, the system will initially determine the position of the reference points based upon known distances between the reference points.

Abstract: A process for providing degassed complementary concave and convex lens molds to filling and mold assembly stations in a continuous or semicontinuous automated soft contact lens manufacturing system. The process includes injection molding the lens molds, immediately transferring the lens molds to an inert gas atmosphere, degassing the lens molds, and filling the lens molds with a polymerizable monomer under the inert gas prior to mold assembly.

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 staring 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 rf surface coil for MRI is described. The surface coil is made of a trace of a high conductivity material having a length, width and thickness and having a surface defined by the length and the width. The coil has a radius and a longitudinal axis at the center of the coil. The trace is arranged in a loop with one end in proximity to the other end with the surface facing the inside of the loop, wherein the surface is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the coil. The ratio of the width of the coil to the radius of the coil is 0.3 or greater and the thickness of the trace is sufficient to provide an rf skin effect. Circuit designs for inductively coupling the decoupling the surface coil from a volume coil during rf excitation are also described.

Abstract: A modular display apparatus for displaying indicia at a front thereof has an inner frame with horizontal support beams, the inner frame supporting a plurality of grid modules, at least one grid module being located above another. A plurality of pixels rotationally mounted to the grid modules each include first and second display faces joined along respective adjacent edges. The pixels have a center of gravity located on each pixel so as to interact with an external force applied to the pixel and provide a complete rotation, with a minimum of bounce, to display a desired display face. A triggering mechanism has a plurality of solenoids adapted for selective actuation to rotate selected ones of the pixels for changing the pattern of the desired display indicia controlled by an electronic signal transmitted from an electronics system.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically inspecting an ophthalmic lens. The method includes the steps of directing a light beam through the lens and onto an array of pixels, and assigning to each pixel a data value representing the intensity of the light beam on the pixel. The data values are then processed according to a predetermined program to determine if the lens contains any one of a group of predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A contact lens production line pallet system transports contact lens mold materials throughout a facility for producing ophthalmic lenses. Specifically, the contact lens production line pallet system includes a pallet for carrying one or more contact lens mold assemblies throughout a contact lens production line, the pallet having one or more first recesses formed in a surface thereof for receiving either a first mold half or a complementary second mold half, the first and second mold halves when placed together constitute an individual contact lens mold assembly. A conveyor device for transporting the pallet from station to station throughout the production line facility is provided, as is a locating device formed in the pallet surface for enabling precise positioning of the pallet at one or more manufacturing stations in the production line facility.

Abstract: A lens inspection method and apparatus comprising a pallet having wells for receiving one or more lens containers at the receiving point. A conveyor achieves uniformity of pallet motion when transporting the lens. The pallet wells includes holes that pass through the pallet. These holes, along with a side driven transport system, make possible an arrangement of a lamp and camera on opposite sides of the lens for capturing an image of a lens. A computer implemented algorithm processes the digitized image to determine the acceptability of the lenses. A lens disposition mechanism uses a signal generated by the computer and indicates lens acceptability to disposition the lens by physically separating a container with an acceptable lens from an unacceptable lens. After disposition of containers, the pallet is returned by conveyor to the lens receiving point.

Abstract: The present invention takes advantage of the efficiency of high-brightness red, infra-red, or other color LEDs arranged in a single row, the properties inherent to a focusing element such as a cylindrical lens, as well as the advantages of having a straight-edged diaphragm and a light-absorbing enclosure to produce an illumination source for machine-vision systems. The illumination source exhibits multi-directional properties on one side of an imaginary plane defined by the positions of the row of LEDs, the straight-edged diaphragm, and the focusing element, and minimize light cast on the other side of the plane. The present invention provides a compact light line generator which has no shadowing or secondary lines. The present invention also provides a method for measuring the height of a raised surface.

Abstract: A punctum dilating and plug inserting instrument includes a cylindrical body with a first end being a plug inserting tip, and a second end being a punctum dilating tip. An elongated button is arranged longitudinally along the body. The button includes a fixed end and a slidable end; the fixed end being positioned between the slidable end and the plug inserting tip. The button also includes an outwardly bowing inner surface spaced from the body. A wire is slidably positioned longitudinally within the body. The wire includes an outer end protruding from the plug inserting tip, and an inner end attached to the slidable end of the button. A conventional punctum plug is attached to the outer end of the wire, and can be inserted into a punctum after the punctum is dilated by the dilating tip.

Abstract: Method of testing inert displaceable diluents used in forming shaped hydrogel articles such as soft contact lenses prepared by the steps of:(1) molding or casting a polymerization mixture including:(a) a monomer mixture having a major proportion of one or more hydrophilic monomers such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, and one or more cross-linking monomers; and(b) an inert, displaceable diluent chosen from:(i) ethoxylated alkyl glucoside;(ii) ethoxylated bisphenol A;(iii) polyethylene glycol;(iv) mixture of propoxylated and ethoxylated alkyl glucoside;(v) single phase mixture of ethoxylated or propoxylated alkyl gtucoside and C.sub.2-12 dihydric alcohol;(vi) adduct of .epsilon.-caprolactone and C.sub.2-6 alkanediols and triols;(vii) ethoxylated C.sub.3-6 alkanetriol; and(viii) mixtures of one or more of (i) through (vii),under conditions to polymerize the monomer mixture to produce a shaped gel of a copolymer of the monomers and the diluent; and(2) thereafter replacing the diluent with water.

Abstract: A method and a device for evaluating a printing process, which can be used for determining a measurement to be exercised for controlling the printing process. The method comprising the steps of calculating a multidimensional data representation of a reference image, and clustering the multidimensional data representation into at least one cluster of data according to at least one multidimensional clustering algorithm. The device comprising calculating means for calculating a multidimensional data representation of a reference image and clustering means for clustering the multidimensional data representation into at least one cluster of data according to at least one multidimensional clustering algorithm. Each of the clusters of data serves for determining at least one feature of measurement of the reference image. The features of measurement serve for selecting at least one type of physical measurement to be performed on a printed image.

Abstract: A magnifying device for magnifying an object and displaying the object on a monitor is disclosed. The magnifying device includes a hand held unit or scanner and a base unit. The scanner includes a solid state camera which is mounted in a housing. The scanner includes a focusing control and a zoom control. The focusing and zoom controls are interconnected so that the image will not have to be refocused if the magnification of the image is changed. The camera converts the image to an electrical signal which is sent to the base unit. A mobile holder for the scanner is provided having an upper frame of space apart, horizontally extending arms. The arms extend laterally from the top edge of a vertical side wall. The scanner can be removeably attached between the arms and there by elevated above the object being read. The side wall has a pair of wheels attached to the bottom corners. There is a support member at one corner which extends laterally from the wall and parallel to the support arms.

Abstract: A process of removing flash from a molded intraocular lens includes a step of tumbling the lens body in a tumbling media. The tumbling media includes a mixture of 0.5 mm diameter glass beads and 1.0 mm diameter glass beads, alcohol and water. This process applies to single piece and multipiece IOLs.

Abstract: A preservative for ophthalmic solutions having an active ingredient is provided, having a hydrogen peroxide content of about 0.001% to about 0.10% by weight; and diethylene triamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) or a physiologically compatible salt thereof, present at about 0.002% to 0.03% by weight and/or 0.005% to about 0.20% by weight of 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid, or physiologically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: A position sensing detector in which each of a plurality of sensing channels is provided with ends and an output current lead at each end of each channel. A light spot is imaged along the length of the channel. The channels are electrically isolated from each other. The channels may be proportional to a selected keystone pattern, and the channels may be rectangular-shaped and accommodate keystoning effects of an imaged beam.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for optimizing multifocal lens designs using neural network analysis. More specifically, a neural network is trained using data collected in clinical evaluations of various multifocal lens designs. The trained neural network is then used to predict optimal lens designs for large populations of patients.

Abstract: A contact lens made of a polymeric hydrogel material having absorbed therein as a leachable additive of desferrioxamine, and a method for making the composition by soaking the polymeric material in a solution of the additive.