Patents by Inventor Robert Carey Tucker

Robert Carey Tucker 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: 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: 20230384482
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a sandwich colored hydrogel contact lenses lens, comprising: a pupil section, a generally annular iris section surrounding the pupil section, wherein the iris section having at least one colored, printed, opaque, intermittent pattern, wherein the said pattern is covered by a clear donut shape-layer layer, wherein the clear donut shape-layer layer is on inner surface of lens to the observer and has a thickness at least 25 ?m. And the method make such lenses using a common polypropylene base curve (BC Mold 1) and two different front curve molds (FC Mold 1, FC Mold 2) that provided different volume gaps to accommodate the size requirements of the two layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Robert Carey Tucker, Pushkar S. Varde, Weihong Lang, Paul William Oyler
  • Publication number: 20220291525
    Abstract: Described herein is a colored hydrogel contact lens, comprising: a hydrogel material; at least one cosmetic colored film; wherein the cosmetic colored film is made of a thermal plastic material or thermal setting material and is surrounded by the hydrogel material, wherein the colored hydrogel contact lens is capable of absorbing from about 10% to about 75% by weight of water when being fully hydrated, wherein the contact lens has an anterior surface and an opposite posterior surface and a circumferential edge where the anterior and posterior surfaces are tapered off, wherein the contact lens comprises a central optical zone, a peripheral zone surrounding the central optical zone, and an edge zone surrounding the peripheral zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Robert Carey Tucker
  • Publication number: 20220281190
    Abstract: The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Sibichen J. Thekveli, Robert Carey Tucker, Jared Nelson
  • Publication number: 20220197056
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a cosmetic functional contact lens having a pupil section, a generally annular iris section surrounding the pupil section for detecting at least one target analyte or physical attribute, comprising: a substrate for supporting electronic components and providing structural support for the functional contact lens; at least one sensing element disposed on the substrate for sensing the at least one target analyte or physical attribute and undergoing a physical change representing a sensed signal; an antenna disposed on the substrate for transmitting the sensed signal to an external device, the antenna being coupled to the at least one sensing element; a colored, printed, opaque, intermittent cosmetic pattern to mask the embedded electronic components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Robert Carey Tucker, John Dallas Pruitt
  • Patent number: 11364695
    Abstract: The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Sibichen J. Thekveli, Robert Carey Tucker, Jared Nelson
  • 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: 20220032564
    Abstract: The invention is related to a coated contact lens, especially a coated silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises an anterior surface, an opposite posterior surface, and a layered structural configuration from the anterior surface to the posterior surface. The layered structural configuration comprises an outer anterior surface hydrogel layer, an inner layer, and an outer posterior surface hydrogel layer. The inner layer is a lens bulk material. The coated contact lens has a superior lens surface softness and a good lens surface hydrophilicity while optionally having a desirably-lower polyquaternium-1 uptake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Ciara Dauenhauer, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Paul William Oyler, Robert Carey Tucker
  • Publication number: 20210132411
    Abstract: The invention is related to a contact lens, especially a SiHy contact lens, which comprises a lens bulk material covered with an outer surface hydrogel layer thereon and has a posterior surface and an opposite anterior surface. The outer surface hydrogel layer consists of an anterior outer hydrogel layer and a posterior outer hydrogel layer. A contact lens of the invention is characterized by having a difference in surface softness between its posterior (BC) and anterior (FC) surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, Robert Carey Tucker, Yeming Gu
  • Patent number: 10996492
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a colored contact lens including the steps of providing a transparent contact lens having a pupil section and an iris section, the iris section surrounding the pupil section and applying a colorant to the surface of the contact lens. The colorant is applied to the contact lens as an amorphous pattern and covers an effective amount of the iris section of the same. The amorphous pattern provides a lens capable of changing the apparent color of the iris of a person wearing the lens while imparting a very natural appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Carey Tucker, Laura Ashley Creech
  • Publication number: 20200339836
    Abstract: The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Sibichen J. Thekveli, Robert Carey Tucker, Jared Nelson
  • Patent number: 10781340
    Abstract: The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Sibichen J. Thekveli, Robert Carey Tucker, Jared Nelson
  • Patent number: 10589479
    Abstract: The invention is generally related to colored contact lenses which comprise a hydrogel lens body having an opaque color image therein and/or thereon and a durable lubricious coating thereon. The coating comprises an anchoring layer of a polyanionic polymer having carboxyl groups and a hydrogel layer which is derived from a hydrophilic polymeric material having azetidinium groups and is covalently attached onto the anchoring layer of the polyanionic polymer through linkages each formed between one carboxyl group and one azetidinium groups. The colored contact lens has a surface lubricity better than the lubricity of the non-silicone hydrogel lens body and a friction rating of about 2 or lower after 7 cycles of manual rubbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Carey Tucker, John Dallas Pruitt, Yongxing Qiu
  • Publication number: 20200017713
    Abstract: The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Sibichen J. Thekveli, Robert Carey Tucker, Jared Nelson
  • Patent number: 10525158
    Abstract: The present invention is generally related to a lens care system and method for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses. A lens care system or method of the invention is based on electrolysis of an aqueous chloride solution for generating germicide species (e.g., chlorine, hypochlorous acid, hypochlorite, or combinations thereof) and subsequent in-situ electrolysis of hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite in the aqueous solution for neutralizing the generated germicide species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Robert Carey Tucker
  • Patent number: 10513628
    Abstract: The invention is related to a hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens having a layered structural configuration: a lower water content silicone hydrogel core (or bulk material) completely covered with a layer of a higher water content hydrogel totally or substantially free of silicone. A hydrated silicone hydrogel contact lens of the invention possesses high oxygen permeability for maintaining the corneal health and a soft, water-rich, lubricious surface for wearing comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Yongxing Qiu, John Dallas Pruitt, Sibichen J. Thekveli, Robert Carey Tucker, Jared Nelson
  • Publication number: 20190381205
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a hydrogen peroxide-based lens care system for disinfecting contact lenses. Unlike hydrogen peroxide-based system known in the prior art, a lens care system of the present invention involves electrochemically neutralizing of hydrogen peroxide after any desired period of disinfection time for which contact lenses have been immersed in a hydrogen peroxide-based lens care solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Robert Carey Tucker
  • Patent number: 10449740
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses having a stable lubricious coating thereon without involving use of organic solvent in post-curing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventors: Xinming Qian, Jared Nelson, Robert Carey Tucker, Steve Yun Zhang, Daqing Wu, Leroy Wainaina Muya, Dharmesh Patel, Zach Munoz, Yongxing Qiu, Chung-Yuan Chiang, Ritu Shrestha, Kelly Kayi Tallau
  • Patent number: 10398799
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a hydrogen peroxide-based lens care system for disinfecting contact lenses. Unlike hydrogen peroxide-based system known in the prior art, a lens care system of the present invention involves electrochemically neutralizing of hydrogen peroxide after any desired period of disinfection time for which contact lenses have been immersed in a hydrogen peroxide-based lens care solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Robert Carey Tucker