Abstract: Biomedical devices such as contact lenses formed from a polymerization product of a mixture comprising (a) a hydrophilic polymer comprising one or more hydrophilic units and one or more thio carbonyl thio fragments of a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (“RAFT”) agent; and (b) one or more biomedical device-forming monomers are disclosed.

Abstract: Biomedical devices such as silicone hydrogels formed from a polymerization product of a mixture comprising (a) a siloxane-containing homopolymer comprising one or more thio carbonyl thio fragments of a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent; and (b) one or more biomedical device-forming monomers are disclosed.

Abstract: Biomedical devices such as contact lenses formed from a polymerization product of a mixture comprising (a) a random copolymer comprising hydrophilic units and hydrophobic units, wherein the random copolymer has at least one thio carbonyl thio fragment of a reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (“RAFT”) agent are disclosed.

Abstract: Polysiloxanes having vinyl or epoxy functionality. The polysiloxanes are used to form polymer-based materials having properties particularly suited for biomedical device applications. The polysiloxanes are of general formula I: wherein R is a C2-10 alkenyl, a C2-10 alkyl with an epoxy group or a C5-C7cycloalkyl with an epoxy group; R2, R3 and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 fluoroalkyl, optionally substituted phenyl and optionally substituted benzyl; A is —OH or —NHR5, wherein R5 is hydrogen or a C1-3 alkyl; and B is —R1-A or —R6, wherein R1 is a linking group having an alkylene group with 2 to 8 carbon atoms wherein the alkylene group optionally includes ether, urethane or ureido linkages; and R6 is selected from the group consisting of C1-4 alkyl, optionally substituted phenyl or optionally substituted benzyl; and m and n are integers with an m:n ratio from 30:1 to 3:1.

Abstract: Polysiloxanes having vinyl or epoxy functionality. The polysiloxanes are used to form polymer-based materials having properties particularly suited for biomedical device applications. The polysiloxanes are of general formula I: wherein R is a C2-10 alkenyl, a C2-10 alkyl with an epoxy group or a C5-C7cycloalkyl with an epoxy group; R2, R3 and R4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 fluoroalkyl, optionally substituted phenyl and optionally substituted benzyl; A is —OH or —NHR5, wherein R5 is hydrogen or a C1-3 alkyl; and B is —R1-A or —R6, wherein R1 is a linking group having an alkylene group with 2 to 8 carbon atoms wherein the alkylene group optionally includes ether, urethane or ureido linkages; and R6 is selected from the group consisting of C1-4 alkyl, optionally substituted phenyl or optionally substituted benzyl; and m and n are integers with an m:n ratio from 30:1 to 3:1.

Abstract: Crosslink agents used to copolymerize at least one hydrophilic monomer with at least one lens monomer typically used to prepare polymeric materials for ophthalmic lenses. The crosslink agents have a relatively high selectivity for the hydrophilic monomer and limited reactivity with the crosslink agent used to polymerize the lens monomer. Accordingly, the invention is also directed to a hydrophilic crosslinked polymer that comprises at least two monomeric units and at least two different crosslink units. The use of the dual crosslink system provides an improved means to control the final chemical, physical and structural characteristics of the resulting polymer.

Abstract: A synthetic route to polymers comprised of at least two monomers each with a very different reactivity ratio by using a corresponding crosslink agent for each monomer. Novel crosslink agents are described that provide for the copolymerization of at least one hydrophilic monomer with at least one lens monomer typically used to prepare materials for ophthalmic lenses. The new crosslink agents have a relatively high selectivity for the hydrophilic monomer and limited reactivity with the crosslink agent used to polymerize the lens monomer.

Abstract: This application is directed toward an improved method of synthesizing cationic siloxane prepolymers as well as a specific cationic siloxane prepolymer having improved compatibility with monofunctional siloxanyl methacrylate monomers and medical devices containing the cationic siloxane prepolymer.

Abstract: Acylphosphine initiators used in making ophthalmic lenses are stabilized by the addition of an acid to the monomer mix used to make the lenses.

Abstract: The invention provides compositions for forming ocular devices which compositions contain latent UV absorbers. The compositions of the invention may be used to conveniently and efficiently produce ocular devices through UV initiated, free radical polymerization.

Abstract: This invention relates to polymers that are formed by polymerizing a reaction mixture that comprises at least one silicone-containing monomer and at least one hydrophilic monomer. More particularly, this invention relates to polymers formed by polymerizing a reaction mixture that comprises at least one silicone-containing monomer and at least one hydrophilic monomer in the presence of a diluent.

Abstract: A soft contact lens comprising a silicone-hydrogel made by curing a reaction mixture comprising a silicone-containing monomer.

Abstract: Shaped hydrogel articles such as soft contact lenses are prepared by the steps of:(1) molding or casting a polymerization mixture comprising:(a) a monomer mixture comprising 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 selected from the group consisting of:(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 glucoside 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 said monomer mixture to produce a shaped gel of a copolymer of said monomers and said diluent; and(2) thereafter replacing said diluent with water.

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 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.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens, particularly a soft hydrogel contact lens, is disclosed. The lens can be derived from a crosslinked polymer made by reacting a hydrophilic monomer with a crosslinking amount of a polyfunctional compound containing a saccharide residue. The preferred hydrophilic monomer is actually a mixture of the following individual hydrophilic monomers: a) the reaction product of a free radical reactive monoisocyanate and a monoalkoxy polyalkylether, b) N,N-dimethylacrylamide, and optionally c)hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The preferred polyfunctional compound is a prepolymer derived from an alkoxylated glucose or sucrose. This prepolymer can be made by reacting glucose or sucrose, which has been ethoxylated or propoxylated, with a free radical reactive isocyanate which has been capped. The free radical reactive isocyanate can be capped by reacting it with a polyalkylether, such as polyethylene glycol, and then reacting this intermediate with a diisocyanate.

Abstract: Shaped hydrogel articles such as soft contact lenses are prepared by the steps of:(1) molding or casting a polymerization mixture comprising:(a) a monomer mixture comprising 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 selected from the group consisting of:(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 glucoside 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 said monomer mixture to produce a shaped gel of a copolymer of said monomers and said diluent; and(2) thereafter replacing said diluent with water.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for producing an ultraviolet radiation absorbing contact lens from a lens shaped polymer having hydroxyl groups pendant therefrom and having dispersed therein a UV absorbing agent substituted with at least one anhydride group which is exposed to basic conditions such that the hydroxyl groups react with the anhydride groups on the UV absorbing agent. As a result the UV absorbing agent becomes fixed to the polymer through the formation of a covalent ester bond.

Abstract: The present invention provides soft contact lenses adopted for placement over the cornea or in the eye which have a high oxygen permeability, a low water content and excellent mechanical properties. Moreover, the lenses of the instant invention have excellent protein and lipid deposition resistance relative to conventional contact lenses. Such lenses having the properties mentioned above comprises a prepolymer which contains an alkoxylate glucoside that is derivatized with at least one polysiloxane compound. The prepolymer is then placed in a suitable mold and polymerized by exposure to ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Shaped hydrogel articles such as soft contact lenses are prepared by the steps of:(1) molding or casting a polymerization mixture comprising:(a) a monomer mixture comprising 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 selected from the group consisting of:(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 glucoside 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 said monomer mixture to produce a shaped gel of a copolymer of said monomers and said diluent; and(2) thereafter replacing said diluent with water.