Abstract: A new class of silicone monomers, providing transparent materials and imparting hydrophilic properties have been developed. These materials are incorporated into ophthalmic devices such as soft and rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses. These new silicone monomers include Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) with two polymerizable groups and six organofunctional groups. These types of structures incorporate at least two available sites for polymerization allowing for the incorporation of the silsesquioxane cage into the backbone of a macromolecule. Additional functional sites allow the design of specific chemical features which address needed material properties.

Abstract: A method of producing an ultra-high Dk material includes contacting and reacting a fluoroalkyl methacrylate; an alkyl glycol dimethacrylate; a hydrophilic agent, such as methacrylic acid; a hydroxyalkyl tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane; a hydroxyalkyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane; and styrylethyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane. The reaction is conducted within an inert atmosphere at a pressure of at least 25 pounds per square inch (PSI) and for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to produce the ultra-high Dk material.

Abstract: A method of producing an ultra-high Dk material includes contacting and reacting a fluoroalkyl methacrylate; an alkyl glycol dimethacrylate; a hydrophilic agent, such as methacrylic acid; a hydroxyalkyl tris(trimethylsiloxy)silane; a hydroxyalkyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane; and styrylethyltris(trimethylsiloxy)silane. The reaction is conducted within an inert atmosphere at a pressure of at least 25 pounds per square inch (PSI) and for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to produce the ultra-high Dk material.

Abstract: A method of preparing a mixed-phase thermoplastic biomaterial comprises contacting and reacting a diol and a graft pre-polymer comprising a diol and at least one covalently bonded unsaturated monomer with an organic diisocyanate compound. The reaction is conducted within an aprotic solvent and for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to produce the mixed-phase thermoplastic biomaterial. The diol may be selected from the group consisting of siloxane diols, polyether diols, polyester diols and polycarbonate diols while the at least one covalently bonded unsaturated monomer may be selected from the group consisting of a fluorinated monomer, a siloxane monomer, an aliphatic ester of methacrylic acid, a cyclic ester of methacrylic acid, a charged monomer, a sulfonium salt, a vinyl monomer with phenol or benzoic acid, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, an aminoglucoside, and a therapeutic agent. The mixed-phase thermoplastic biomaterial may further include an anti-microbial, a therapeutic agent or both.

Abstract: A method of preparing a mixed-phase thermoplastic biomaterial comprises contacting and reacting a diol and a graft pre-polymer comprising a diol and at least one covalently bonded unsaturated monomer with an organic diisocyanate compound. The reaction is conducted within an aprotic solvent and for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to produce the mixed-phase thermoplastic biomaterial. The diol may be selected from the group consisting of siloxane diols, polyether diols, polyester diols and polycarbonate diols while the at least one covalently bonded unsaturated monomer may be selected from the group consisting of a fluorinated monomer, a siloxane monomer, an aliphatic ester of methacrylic acid, a cyclic ester of methacrylic acid, a charged monomer, a sulfonium salt, a vinyl monomer with phenol or benzoic acid, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, an aminoglucoside, and a therapeutic agent. The mixed-phase thermoplastic biomaterial may further include an anti-microbial, a therapeutic agent or both.

Abstract: A method provides a machineable silicon-containing lens blank by removal of diluent from the lens blank. The method involves casting a lens blank in a mold, wherein the lens blank is made of a polymerization product of a monomeric mixture comprising a silicone-containing monomer and an organic diluent; removing the lens blank from the mold; and removing organic diluent from the lens blank.

Abstract: A copolymer useful as a rigid gas permeable contact lens material is the polymerization product of a monomeric mixture comprising a polysiloxane-containing urethane or urea prepolymer endcapped with polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated radicals.

Abstract: Soft, durable, polymeric compositions with one or more reactive polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane reinforcing agents and ophthalmic devices such as for example intraocular lenses and corneal inlays made therefrom are described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides, in a first embodiment, a blocking wax composition. The blocking wax comprises from about 50 to about 90 weight percent of a water-soluble continuous phase and from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of a discontinuous solid phase filler that is substantially inert to the continuous phase. The invention further provides a method for mounting a contact lens blank for machining.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the renewable surface treatment of medical devices such as contact lenses and medical implants. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a medical device to increase its biocompatibility or hydrophilicity by coating the device with a removable hydrophilic polymer by means of reaction between reactive functionalities on the hydrophilic polymer which functionalities are complementary to reactive functionalities on or near the surface of the medical device. The present invention is also directed to a contact lens or other medical device having such a surface coating.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the renewable surface treatment of medical devices such as contact lenses and medical implants. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a medical device to increase its biocompatibility or hydrophilicity by coating the device with a removable hydrophilic polymer by means of reaction between reactive functionalities on the hydrophilic polymer which functionalities are complementary to reactive functionalities on or near the surface of the medical device at reaction temperatures of less than about 55° C.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the renewable surface treatment of medical devices such as contact lenses and medical implants. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a medical device to increase its biocompatibility or hydrophilicity by coating the device with a removable hydrophilic polymer by means of reaction between reactive functionalities on the hydrophilic polymer which functionalities are complementary to reactive functionalities on or near the surface of the medical device. The present invention is also directed to a contact lens or other medical device having such a surface coating.

Abstract: The invention provides a biocompatible copolymer produced by polymerizing a mixture comprising at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of itaconates, (meth)acrylates, fumarates and styrenics, at least one ethylenically unsaturated organosiloxane monomer and at least one monomer comprising a POSS compound.

Abstract: The invention provides, in a first embodiment, a blocking wax composition. The blocking wax comprises from about 50 to about 90 weight percent of a water-soluble continuous phase and from about 10 to about 50 weight percent of a discontinuous solid phase filler that is substantially inert to the continuous phase. The invention further provides a method for mounting a contact lens blank for machining.

Abstract: A bimodulus contact lens article, including both contact lenses and buttons from which contact lenses are produced. More specifically, the subject bimodulus contact lens article comprises a rigid gas-permeable polymeric core section and a soft edge section attached annularly about the core section. The edge section of the subject lens article comprises a crosslinked composition polymerized from a monomer mix including at least 15 weight percent of monomers represented by Formula I: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is selected from: hydrogen and a methyl group, and R.sub.2 is selected from alkyl groups having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms, so long as R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are not both methyl groups. The soft edge section is annularly attached to the core section by an interpenetrating network of the crosslinked composition into the core section.

Abstract: A copolymer for optical fiber applications is the polymerization product of a mixture comprising a fluorinated itaconate and an alkyl (meth)acrylate.

Abstract: Copolymers useful as contact lens materials are the polymerization product of a mixture comprising:(a) an itaconate;(b) a compound represented by formula (I): ##STR1## wherein: each A is independently an activated unsaturated radical;each R is independently selected from the group consisting of a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 monovalent hydrocarbon radical, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 monovalent hydrocarbon radical containing ether linkages, a halogen-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 monovalent hydrocarbon radical, and a halogen-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.12 monovalent hydrocarbon radical containing ether linkages;each R' is independently a C.sub.1 -C.sub.22 divalent hydrocarbon radical; andn averages about 15 to about 50;(c) an ethylenically unsaturated organosiloxane monomer; and(d) a hydrophilic monomer.