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).
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Patent number: 12370766Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2022Date of Patent: July 29, 2025Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Michelle Plavnik, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Ethan Leveillee, Yang Zheng, Yuan Chang
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Patent number: 12360289Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: July 15, 2025Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20250199204Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2025Publication date: June 19, 2025Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
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Patent number: 12270968Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 8, 2024Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
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Publication number: 20240399684Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Inventors: Newton T. Samuel, Ya-Wen Chang, Richard Charles Breitkopf, Augustine Twum Kumi, Steve Yun Zhang, David Borja, Ethan Leveillee, Joseph Michael Lindacher
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Publication number: 20240288712Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2024Publication date: August 29, 2024Inventors: Ethan Leveillee, Joseph Michael Lindacher, David Borja, Ying Pi, Newton T. Samuel, Ya-Wen Chang
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Publication number: 20240288713Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2024Publication date: August 29, 2024Inventors: Ethan Leveillee, Joseph Michael Lindacher, David Borja, Ying Pi, Newton T. Samuel, Ya-Wen Chang
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Publication number: 20240176047Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2024Publication date: May 30, 2024Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
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Patent number: 11933941Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 11, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
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Publication number: 20230117502Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Michelle Plavnik, Junhao Ge, Steve Yun Zhang, Ethan Leveillee, Yang Zheng, Yuan Chang
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Publication number: 20220326412Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Yuan Chang, Junhao Ge, Ying Pi, Cornelius Daniel Niculas, Yang Zheng, Steve Yun Zhang, Michelle Plavnik, Ethan Leveillee, Jing Cheng, Augustine Twum Kumi
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Publication number: 20220137263Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
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Patent number: 11256003Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Alcon Inc.Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee
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Publication number: 20190179055Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2018Publication date: June 13, 2019Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Newton T. Samuel, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Robert Carey Tucker, Yuan Chang, Ethan Leveillee