Patents by Inventor Augustine Twum Kumi

Augustine Twum Kumi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11945181
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses in a relatively efficient and consistent manner from a polymerizable composition under a controlled thermal curing scheme. The main polymerizable components in the polymerizable composition are a high radical-reactive hydrophilic (meth)acrylamido monomer, a high radical-reactive siloxane-containing (meth)acrylamido monomer, and a polysiloxane vinylic crosslinker(s) free of low-reactive ethylenically unsaturated group as the main crosslinker. The thermal free radical initiator having a 10 hour half-life temperature (T10h?) of from about 50° C. to about 90° C. The controlled thermal curing scheme includes maintaining a first curing temperature of from about (T10h??20)° C. to about T10h?° C. for a first curing time and maintaining a second curing temperature of from about (T10h?+10)° C. to about (T10h?+35)° C. for a second curing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Junhao Ge, Yuan Chang, Steve Yun Zhang, Michelle Plavnik, Augustine Twum Kumi, Daqing Wu
  • Patent number: 11886045
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing photochromic contact lenses, in particular, photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method comprises a step of cast molding of a lens-forming composition including an iniferter to form an unprocessed contact lens having iniferter moieties covalently incorporated into its polymer matrix and a step of iniferter-induced graft-polymerization of a photochromic vinylic monomer to the polymer matrix only in its central region which is circular and concentric with the central axis of the unprocessed contact lens. The obtained photochromic contact lens has a central pupillary region that only can undergo a reversible color change upon exposure to UV/HEVL-radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Chang, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Michelle Plavnik, Augustine Twum Kumi
  • Publication number: 20240018309
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses having relatively high oxygen permeability, relatively high equilibrium water content and relatively low elastic modulus. The present invention is also related to a method for making such inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Steve Yun Zhang, Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Xinming Qian, Zach Munoz, Matthew D. Nelson, Augustine Twum Kumi, Weihong Lang, Ying Zheng, Feng Jing, Frank Chang
  • Patent number: 11833771
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing a contact lens comprising a central photochromic zone that has a diameter of about 13 mm or less and is concentric with the central axis of the contact lens. The method comprises: applying, in the center of the molding surface of a male mold half, a drop (having a volume of about 5 ?L or less) of a first polymerizable fluid composition containing at least one photochromic compound and a relatively-high molecular weight polysiloxane vinylic crosslinker for increasing the viscosity and adhesion on the molding surface of the male mold half; dosing a second polymerizable fluid composition in a female mold hald; closing the female mold hald with the male mold half with the drop thereon to form a molding assembly; and curing the second polymerizable fluid composition and the drop of the first polymerizable fluid composition in the molding assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Chang, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Michelle Plavnik, Yang Zheng, Jing Cheng, Augustine Twum Kumi
  • Patent number: 11802182
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses having relatively high oxygen permeability, relatively high equilibrium water content and relatively low elastic modulus. The present invention is also related to a method for making such inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yun Zhang, Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Xinming Qian, Zach Munoz, Matthew D. Nelson, Augustine Twum Kumi, Weihong Lang, Ying Zheng, Feng Jing, Frank Chang
  • Publication number: 20220365371
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a colored cosmetic photochromic contact lens, comprising: a pupil section, a generally annular iris section surrounding the pupil section, wherein at least the pupil section is photochromic, wherein the iris section having a colored, printed, opaque, intermittent pattern, wherein the said pattern is covered by a clear ink layer, wherein the clear ink layer is on outer surface of lens to the observer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Junhao Ge, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Steve Yun Zhang, Yuan Chang, Augustine Twum Kumi
  • Publication number: 20220339895
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing a contact lens comprising a central photochromic zone that has a diameter of about 13 mm or less and is concentric with the central axis of the contact lens. The method comprises: applying, in the center of the molding surface of a male mold half, a drop (having a volume of about 5 ?L or less) of a first polymerizable fluid composition containing at least one photochromic compound and a relatively-high molecular weight polysiloxane vinylic crosslinker for increasing the viscosity and adhesion on the molding surface of the male mold half; dosing a second polymerizable fluid composition in a female mold hald; closing the female mold hald with the male mold half with the drop thereon to form a molding assembly; and curing the second polymerizable fluid composition and the drop of the first polymerizable fluid composition in the molding assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: Yuan Chang, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Michelle Plavnik, Yang Zheng, Jing Cheng, Augustine Twum Kumi
  • Publication number: 20220326412
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an embedded hydrogel contact lens, which comprises an insert sandwiched between two layers of hydrogel materials and can be produced according to a cast molding method including the procedures involving two females halves (FC1 and FC2) and two male halves (BC1 and BC2) and three consequential molding steps involving three molding assemblies: the 1st one formed between FC1 and BC1 for molding an insert; the 2nd one formed between FC1 and BC2 for molding a lens precursor having the molded insert embedded in a layer of a hydrogel material in a way that the front surface of the molded insert merges with the convex surface of the lens precursor; and the 3rd one formed between FC2 and BC2 for molding an embedded hydrogel contact of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Yuan Chang, Junhao Ge, Ying Pi, Cornelius Daniel Niculas, Yang Zheng, Steve Yun Zhang, Michelle Plavnik, Ethan Leveillee, Jing Cheng, Augustine Twum Kumi
  • Publication number: 20220324187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing embedded hydrogel contact lenses involving a set of 3-mold halves consisting essentially of: one female lens mold half having a molding surface defining the anterior surface of a contact lens; one male lens mold half having a molding surface defining the posterior surface of the contact lens; and an insert mold half having a molding surface defining one of the front and back surfaces of an insert. One of the lens mold halves is used twice: first with the insert mold half for molding an insert during first curing process and then with the other lens mold half for molding an embedded hydrogel contact lens with the molded insert embedded partially or fully therein during second curing process. The invention also relates to embedded hydrogel contact lenses produced from a method of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Zahra Bassampour, Chandana Kolluru, Steve Yun Zhang, Junhao Ge, Yang Zheng, Cornelius Daniel Niculas, David Andrew Icenogle, Jing Cheng, Yuan Chang, Augustine Twum Kumi, Michelle Plavnik
  • Patent number: 11439661
    Abstract: The invention is generally related to topical ophthalmic compositions comprising: from about 0.05 w/v % to about 5 w/v % of galactomannan polymer; a cis-diol and about 0.5 w/v % to about 10 w/v % of a hydrophilic copolymer which comprises (a) arylborono-containing repeating units each having a boronic acid, (b) repeating units of at least one phosphorylcholine-containing vinylic monomer, and (c) acrylic monomeric units of at least one acrylic monomer having 3 to 16 carbon atoms, the ophthalmic composition is substantially free of a borate for improving lubrication, hydration and drug delivery property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yun Zhang, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Maria F. Gubitosi Raspino, Augustine Twum Kumi, Wei Liang
  • Publication number: 20220275154
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses having relatively high oxygen permeability, relatively high equilibrium water content and relatively low elastic modulus. The present invention is also related to a method for making such inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Steve Yun Zhang, Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Xinming Qian, Zach Munoz, Matthew D. Nelson, Augustine Twum Kumi, Weihong Lang, Ying Zheng, Feng Jing, Frank Chang
  • Patent number: 11427685
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method of the invention is characterized by using an organic solvent as a processing-aid tool for controlling lens diameter without significantly affecting lens equilibrium water content during cast-molding of soft contact lenses from a polymerizable composition. By adjusting the weight percentage of the organic solvent in a polymerizable composition for making SiHy contact lenses, one can adjust lens diameter of produced SiHy lenses to meet target without affecting adversely the lens properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Daqing Wu, Steve Yun Zhang, Junhao Ge, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Augustine Twum Kumi, Weihong Lang
  • Patent number: 11365288
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses having relatively high oxygen permeability, relatively high equilibrium water content and relatively low elastic modulus. The present invention is also related to a method for making such inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yun Zhang, Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Xinming Qian, Zach Munoz, Matthew D. Nelson, Augustine Twum Kumi, Weihong Lang, Ying Zheng, Feng Jing, Frank Chang
  • Patent number: 11346982
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses having relatively high oxygen permeability, relatively high equilibrium water content and relatively low elastic modulus. The present invention is also related to a method for making such inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Xinming Qian, Zach Munoz, Matthew D. Nelson, Augustine Twum Kumi, Weihong Lang, Ying Zheng, Feng Jing, Frank Chang
  • Publication number: 20220137433
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing photochromic contact lenses, in particular, photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses. The method comprises a step of cast molding of a lens-forming composition including an iniferter to form an unprocessed contact lens having iniferter moieties covalently incorporated into its polymer matrix and a step of iniferter-induced graft-polymerization of a photochromic vinylic monomer to the polymer matrix only in its central region which is circular and concentric with the central axis of the unprocessed contact lens. The obtained photochromic contact lens has a central pupillary region that only can undergo a reversible color change upon exposure to UV/HEVL-radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Yuan Chang, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Michelle Plavnik, Augustine Twum Kumi
  • Publication number: 20220126541
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for producing photochromic silicone hydrogel contact lenses in a relatively efficient and consistent manner from a polymerizable composition under a controlled thermal curing scheme. The main polymerizable components in the polymerizable composition are a high radical-reactive hydrophilic (meth)acrylamido monomer, a high radical-reactive siloxane-containing (meth)acrylamido monomer, and a polysiloxane vinylic crosslinker(s) free of low-reactive ethylenically unsaturated group as the main crosslinker. The thermal free radical initiator having a 10 hour half-life temperature (T10h?) of from about 50° C. to about 90° C. The controlled thermal curing scheme includes maintaining a first curing temperature of from about (T10h??20)° C. to about T10h?° C. for a first curing time and maintaining a second curing temperature of from about (T10h?+10)° C. to about (T10h?+35)° C. for a second curing time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Junhao Ge, Yuan Chang, Steve Yun Zhang, Michelle Plavnik, Augustine Twum Kumi, Daqing Wu
  • Patent number: 11254076
    Abstract: The invention provides a contact lens manufacturing method comprising a process for removing unprocessed molded silicone hydrogel contact lenses from mold halves in a relatively efficient and consistent manner. A method of the invention comprising the steps of formulating a lens formulation by dissolving/blending all polymerizable components in a mixture a hydrophobic acrylic monomer as a reactive diluent and an organic solvent as a non-reactive diluent at a weight ratio of least 0.24 (reactive diluent over the sum of reactive and non-reactive solvents) per gram of the polymerizable composition and using a relatively low ultrasonic vibration energy for delensing. This method of the invention can be easily implemented in a production environment for enhancing the production yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Junhao Ge, Daqing Wu, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Steve Yun Zhang, Augustine Twum Kumi
  • Patent number: 10968319
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to silicone hydrogel contact lenses each inherently having, on lens surfaces, a relatively-high concentration of primary amino groups and to a method for producing the same. The invention is also related to silicone hydrogel contact lens precursors each inherently having, on lens surfaces, a relatively-high concentration of N-Boc-protected primary amino groups which can be easily and conveniently deprotected during lens extraction and/or hydration steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Yun Zhang, Maria F. Gubitosi Raspino, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Augustine Twum Kumi, Zach Munoz, Weihong Lang
  • Publication number: 20210011197
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses having relatively high oxygen permeability, relatively high equilibrium water content and relatively low elastic modulus. The present invention is also related to a method for making such inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Xinming Qian, Zach Munoz, Matthew D. Nelson, Augustine Twum Kumi, Weihong Lang, Ying Zheng, Feng Jing, Frank Chang
  • Publication number: 20210009762
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses having relatively high oxygen permeability, relatively high equilibrium water content and relatively low elastic modulus. The present invention is also related to a method for making such inherently wettable silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventors: Steve Yun Zhang, Daqing Wu, Junhao Ge, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Xinming Qian, Zach Munoz, Matthew D. Nelson, Augustine Twum Kumi, Weihong Lang, Ying Zheng, Feng Jing, Frank Chang