Patents by Inventor Ethan Leveillee

Ethan Leveillee 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: 12370766
    Abstract: A dosing system and method for delivery of contact lens formulation(s) to a contact lens forming mold. The system includes a carrier portion configured for holding a contact lens mold, and an alignment mandrel configured for retaining a lens formulation delivery device. The lens formulation delivery device is retained in a specified position relative to the contact lens mold for precise location of delivery of the lens formulation within the contact lens mold. A first lens formulation can be dosed to a center location in the mold, and a different second lens formulation can be dosed to a ring-shaped pattern around the center location, to form a contact lens having different center and edge characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Plavnik, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Ethan Leveillee, Yang Zheng, Yuan Chang
  • Patent number: 12360289
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    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: 20250199204
    Abstract: The invention is related to contact lenses that not only comprise the much desired water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polycationic antimicrobials and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after going through a 30-days lens care regime. Because of the water gradient structural configuration and a relatively-thick, extremely-soft and water-rich hydrogel surface layer, a contact lens of the invention can provide superior wearing comfort. Further, a contact lens of the invention is compatible with multipurpose lens care solutions present in the market and can endure the harsh lens care handling conditions (e.g., digital rubbings, accidental inversion of contact lenses, etc.) encountered in a daily lens care regime. As such, they are suitable to be used as weekly- or monthly-disposable water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
  • Patent number: 12270968
    Abstract: The invention is related to contact lenses that not only comprise the much desired water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polycationic antimicrobials and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after going through a 30-days lens care regime. Because of the water gradient structural configuration and a relatively-thick, extremely-soft and water-rich hydrogel surface layer, a contact lens of the invention can provide superior wearing comfort. Further, a contact lens of the invention is compatible with multipurpose lens care solutions present in the market and can endure the harsh lens care handling conditions (e.g., digital rubbings, accidental inversion of contact lenses, etc.) encountered in a daily lens care regime. As such, they are suitable to be used as weekly- or monthly-disposable water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
  • Publication number: 20240399684
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for producing embedded diffractive contact lenses involving use of a mold set in two-curing steps. The mold set consists of three mold halves, one of which is used twice, the first time for molding a diffractive insert and the second time for an embedded contact lens with the molded diffractive insert embedded therein. The twice-used mold half has been treated with a corona plasma or a vacuum UV in a central circular area having a diameter equal to or smaller than the diameter of the insert to ensure that the molded insert consistently adheres to the twice-used mold half, even though the other mating insert mold half for molding the diffractive insert has a great tendency to bind strongly the molded insert due to the diffractive structure on its molding surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Newton T. Samuel, Ya-Wen Chang, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Augustine Twum Kumi, Steve Yun Zhang, David Borja, Ethan Leveillee, Joseph Michael Lindacher
  • Publication number: 20240288712
    Abstract: A bi-layer contact lens having an insert embedded in a bulk hydrogel material. The insert comprises at least one peripheral edge, wherein the peripheral edge of the insert is configured to provide improved lens performance by selective application of at least one design parameter selected from width, angle, shape configuration, and combinations thereof the peripheral edge of the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Ethan Leveillee, Joseph Michael Lindacher, David Borja, Ying Pi, Newton T. Samuel, Ya-Wen Chang
  • Publication number: 20240288713
    Abstract: An embedded contact lens that comprises a lens body that has an anterior surface and an opposite posterior surface. The lens body is composed of a bulk hydrogel material and a circular insert embedded in the bulk hydrogel material and comprises an annular mask on the anterior surface or the posterior surface of the lens body. The circular insert comprises a peripheral edge. Both the annular mask and the insert are concentric with a central axis of the lens body. The annular mask is an opaque colored area that covers or overlaps the peripheral edge of the circular insert to minimize or eliminate optical disturbances induced by peripheral edge of the circular insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Ethan Leveillee, Joseph Michael Lindacher, David Borja, Ying Pi, Newton T. Samuel, Ya-Wen Chang
  • Publication number: 20240176047
    Abstract: The invention is related to contact lenses that not only comprise the much desired water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polycationic antimicrobials and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after going through a 30-days lens care regime. Because of the water gradient structural configuration and a relatively-thick, extremely-soft and water-rich hydrogel surface layer, a contact lens of the invention can provide superior wearing comfort. Further, a contact lens of the invention is compatible with multipurpose lens care solutions present in the market and can endure the harsh lens care handling conditions (e.g., digital rubbings, accidental inversion of contact lenses, etc.) encountered in a daily lens care regime. As such, they are suitable to be used as weekly- or monthly-disposable water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
  • Patent number: 11933941
    Abstract: The invention is related to contact lenses that not only comprise the much desired water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polycationic antimicrobials and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after going through a 30-days lens care regime. Because of the water gradient structural configuration and a relatively-thick, extremely-soft and water-rich hydrogel surface layer, a contact lens of the invention can provide superior wearing comfort. Further, a contact lens of the invention is compatible with multipurpose lens care solutions present in the market and can endure the harsh lens care handling conditions (e.g., digital rubbings, accidental inversion of contact lenses, etc.) encountered in a daily lens care regime. As such, they are suitable to be used as weekly- or monthly-disposable water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
  • Publication number: 20230117502
    Abstract: A dosing system and method for delivery of contact lens formulation(s) to a contact lens forming mold. The system includes a carrier portion configured for holding a contact lens mold, and an alignment mandrel configured for retaining a lens formulation delivery device. The lens formulation delivery device is retained in a specified position relative to the contact lens mold for precise location of delivery of the lens formulation within the contact lens mold. A first lens formulation can be dosed to a center location in the mold, and a different second lens formulation can be dosed to a ring-shaped pattern around the center location, to form a contact lens having different center and edge characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Michelle Plavnik, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Ethan Leveillee, Yang Zheng, Yuan Chang
  • 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: 20220137263
    Abstract: The invention is related to contact lenses that not only comprise the much desired water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polycationic antimicrobials and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after going through a 30-days lens care regime. Because of the water gradient structural configuration and a relatively-thick, extremely-soft and water-rich hydrogel surface layer, a contact lens of the invention can provide superior wearing comfort. Further, a contact lens of the invention is compatible with multipurpose lens care solutions present in the market and can endure the harsh lens care handling conditions (e.g., digital rubbings, accidental inversion of contact lenses, etc.) encountered in a daily lens care regime. As such, they are suitable to be used as weekly- or monthly-disposable water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
  • Patent number: 11256003
    Abstract: The invention is related to contact lenses that not only comprise the much desired water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polycationic antimicrobials and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after going through a 30-days lens care regime. Because of the water gradient structural configuration and a relatively-thick, extremely-soft and water-rich hydrogel surface layer, a contact lens of the invention can provide superior wearing comfort. Further, a contact lens of the invention is compatible with multipurpose lens care solutions present in the market and can endure the harsh lens care handling conditions (e.g., digital rubbings, accidental inversion of contact lenses, etc.) encountered in a daily lens care regime. As such, they are suitable to be used as weekly- or monthly-disposable water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
  • Publication number: 20190179055
    Abstract: The invention is related to contact lenses that not only comprise the much desired water gradient structural configurations, but also have a minimized uptakes of polycationic antimicrobials and a long-lasting surface hydrophilicity and wettability even after going through a 30-days lens care regime. Because of the water gradient structural configuration and a relatively-thick, extremely-soft and water-rich hydrogel surface layer, a contact lens of the invention can provide superior wearing comfort. Further, a contact lens of the invention is compatible with multipurpose lens care solutions present in the market and can endure the harsh lens care handling conditions (e.g., digital rubbings, accidental inversion of contact lenses, etc.) encountered in a daily lens care regime. As such, they are suitable to be used as weekly- or monthly-disposable water gradient contact lenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee