Abstract: The invention proposes a manual measuring appliance (112) and an analytical measuring system (110) which can be used to measure at least one analyte in an eye fluid of an eye (114). The handheld measuring appliance (112) comprises a measuring system (120) and a positioning system (122). The measuring system (120) can measure at least one property of the at least one analyte and/or at least one analyte-dependent change of property of at least one ocular sensor (116) in the eye fluid, and this can be used to infer a concentration of the analyte in the eye fluid. The positioning system (122) is set up to measure a spatial positioning, wherein the spatial positioning comprises a distance between at least one measurement location in the eye (114) and the handheld measuring appliance (112) and also furthermore at least one further positioning co-ordinate.

Abstract: The invention proposes a manual measuring appliance (112) and an analytical measuring system (110) which can be used to measure at least one analyte in an eye fluid of an eye (114). The handheld measuring appliance (112) comprises a measuring system (120) and a positioning system (122). The measuring system (120) can measure at least one property of the at least one analyte and/or at least one analyte-dependent change of property of at least one ocular sensor (116) in the eye fluid, and this can be used to infer a concentration of the analyte in the eye fluid. The positioning system (122) is set up to measure a spatial positioning, wherein the spatial positioning comprises a distance between at least one measurement location in the eye (114) and the handheld measuring appliance (112) and also furthermore at least one further positioning co-ordinate.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for coating ophthalmic lenses, preferably contact lenses, more preferably silicone hydrogel contact lenses. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method for forming a coating comprising a polyionic material on a contact lens, preferably a silicone hydrogel contact lens, directly in the primary package and maintaining the coated contact lens within said primary package until insertion of the coated contact lens in the eye of the contact lens user.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing biomedical articles, in particular, silicone hydrogel contact lenses having durable hydrophilic chitosan coating. The chitosan coating is covalently attached to the medical device by performing a crosslinking reaction between chitosan and the carboxylic groups on the surface of a medical device directly in a sealed package during autoclave. The coated biomedical articles obtainable by the process of the invention have desirable characteristics regarding adherence to the substrate, durability, hydrophilicity, wettability, biocompatibility and permeability and are thus especially useful in the field of ophthalmic devices.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a composite materials comprising the steps of (a) providing a hydrophobic organic bulk material, and (b) applying a hydrophilic surface coating on the hydrophobic organic bulk material by first non-covalently attaching to the surface of the bulk material a water-soluble peptide comprising a hydrophobic moiety; and then chemically or enzymatically crosslinking said water-soluble peptide. The composite materials manufactured according to the process of the invention have desirable characteristics regarding adherence to the substrate, durability, hydrophilicity, wettability, biocompatibility and permeability and are thus particularly useful as ophthalmic devices.

Abstract: A combined apparatus for measuring the blood glucose level from an ocular fluid comprises a hand-held fluorescence photometer (D1) for determining the glucose level of the ocular fluid and a device (D2) for the amperometric or photometric determination of the blood glucose level. The fluorescence photometer (D1) comprises: first irradiating means (7,8,10) for providing a pilot beam (1) for irradiation of the eye (3) in order to excite a first fluorescence comprising a first wavelength band; first detecting means (8,9,12,13) for measuring the intensity of the of the pupil fluorescence within the first wavelength band; second irradiating means (17,18,21) for providing a measurement beam (5) for irradiation of the eye in order to excite an ocular sensor (4) to emit a second fluorescence comprising a second wavelength band; second detecting means (18,19,20,22,23,24,25) for measuring the intensity of the second fluorescence within the second wavelength band.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for analyzing an analyte in a hydrogel contact lens following its wear on the eye, comprising the steps of (a) physically or chemically inducing a volume reduction of the hydrogel contact lens and thereby squeezing the analyte out of the polymer material making up the contact lens and (b) feeding the analyte obtained according to step (a) into an analyzer. The process of the invention provides a new concept for noninvasively measuring various analytes occurring in the tear fluid that is comfortable to the user.

Abstract: A method for making an article comprising a core material and a coating thereon, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing the core material; (b) applying one or more layers of a crosslinkable polycationic material, wherein the polycationic material is a reaction product of: (i) an epoxide of formula (I) wherein X equals bromo, chloro, iodo, or cyano, and R1, R2, R3, R4, independently of one another, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear or branched C1-C6-alkyl, and linear or branched C1-C6-alkyl which is substituted with halogen, and (ii) a polymer having repeating units comprising one or more secondary or tertiary amine group(s); (c) applying one or more layers of a polyanionic material; and (d) cross-linking the layers of polyelectrolytes formed by steps (b) and (c).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand-held fluorescence photometer and method for measuring an analyte level, preferably a blood glucose level, from an ocular fluid. The photometer is based on a dual beams measuring system and it is capable of defining the correct positioning for the measurement. Only when the apparatus is correctly positioned the actual analyte measurement automatically takes place.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing microspheres comprising an ionically crosslinked polymer, the process comprising: (a) producing liquid aerosol droplets (13) from a solution (3) comprising an ionically crosslinkable polyionic polymer into a continuous gas stream by using an ultrasonic nebulizer; (b) transferring the gas stream into a gelling solution (10) comprising di-, multi- or polyvalent ions, whereby crosslinked polymer microspheres (14) are formed, (c) separating the micro-spheres from the gelling solution, and (d) optionally, filtering the microspheres through a screen.

Abstract: A method of producing a three-dimensionally, flexibly deformable surface element of wood or wood composite material is provided. A workpiece is used having a thickness at least 5% greater than the thickness of a three-dimensional surface element that is to be prepared. Narrow, spaced-apart grooves are introduced into the workpiece and have a depth greater than or the same as the thickness of the three-dimensional surface element yet less than the thickness of the workpiece. The portion of the workpiece that is greater than the thickness of the surface element is separated or otherwise processed from the remainder of surface element in such a way that at least temporarily no fixed cohesion of portions separated by the grooves exist. Prior to, during of after separation from the workpiece the portions thereof separated from one another by the grooves are fixed to one another and/or to a substrate by a transverse connection or bond.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand-held fluorescence photometer and method for measuring an analyte level, preferably a blood glucose level, from an ocular fluid. The photometer is based on a dual beams measuring system and it is capable of defining the correct positioning for the measurement. Only when the apparatus is correctly positioned the actual analyte measurement automatically takes place.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a copolymer, which is the reaction product of (a) a first prepolymer, comprising a bioactive moiety and at least one radically polymerizable group, and (b) a second prepolymer which is a polyvinyl alcohol having a weight average molecular weight of at least about 2000 that, based on the number of hydroxy groups of the polyvinyl alcohol, comprises from 0.5 to 80% structural units of formula (I) wherein: R is alkylene having up to 8 carbon atoms, R1 is hydrogen or alkyl having up to seven carbon atoms, and R2 is an olefinically unsaturated, electron-attracting copolymerizable radical.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for analyzing an analyte in a hydrogel contact lens following its wear on the eye, comprising the steps of (a) physically or chemically inducing a volume reduction of the hydrogel contact lens and thereby squeezing the analyte out of the polymer material making up the contact lens and (b) feeding the analyte obtained according to step (a) into an analyzer. The process of the invention provides a new concept for noninvasively measuring various analytes occurring in the tear fluid that is comfortable to the user.

Abstract: In a process for removing bubbles from viscous polymer solutions (P) in which the content of dissolved gases lies below the saturation limit, the viscous polymer solution (P) is subjected to a superatmospheric pressure. The superatmospheric pressure is such that the gases contained in the bubbles of the polymer solution (P) dissolve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a molding comprising the steps of a) preparing an aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble prepolymer having crosslinkable groups and a further polymer which is devoid of crosslinkable groups, b) introducing the solution obtained into a mold, c) triggering the crosslinking, and d) opening the mold such that the molding can be removed from the mold. According to the process of the invention moldings such as contact lenses may be manufactured with an improved quality and an improved overall yield.

Abstract: The invention relates to the computer-assisted mapping of a plurality of temporarily variable status conditions. According to the invention, a first status description in a first state space is mapped onto a second status description in the second state space by mapping, and the second status description of a temporarily later state is taken into consideration during mapping. By carrying out a further mapping, the second state description is mapped back onto a third state description in the first state space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a moulding, comprising the steps:

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: In a process for removing bubbles from viscous polymer solutions (P) in which the content of dissolved gases lies below the saturation limit, the viscous polymer solution (P) is subjected to a superatmospheric pressure. The superatmospheric pressure is such that the gases contained in the bubbles of the polymer solution (P) dissolve.