Patents by Inventor Zuzana Krcova

Zuzana Krcova 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: 6992118
    Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses, such as corneal contact lenses, include a lens body made of a composition including a lens body made of a composition including a first crosslinked polymer material which is water swellable, and a second polymeric material, other than the first material, selected from water soluble polymeric materials, water swellable polymeric materials and mixtures thereof. The second material is physically immobilized by the first material. Such lenses provide increased water retention and/or increased water content and/or increased modulus and/or reduced friction which increases lens wearer comfort. Compositions and methods for providing such lenses and compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Cooper Vision Inc.
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Publication number: 20050191335
    Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses, such as corneal contact lenses, include a lens body made of a composition including a lens body made of a composition including a first crosslinked polymer material which is water swellable, and a second polymeric material, other than the first material, selected from water soluble polymeric materials, water swellable polymeric materials and mixtures thereof. The second material is physically immobilized by the first material. Such lenses provide increased water retention and/or increased water content and/or increased modulus and/or reduced friction which increases lens wearer comfort. Compositions and methods for providing such lenses and compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Applicants: CooperVision Inc.
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 6617373
    Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses, such as corneal contact lenses, include a lens body made of a composition including a lens body made of a composition including a first crosslinked polymer material which is water swellable, and a second polymeric material, other than the first material, selected from water soluble polymeric materials, water swellable polymeric materials and mixtures thereof. The second material is physically immobilized by the first material. Such lenses provide increased water retention and/or increased water content and/or increased modulus and/or reduced friction which increases lens wearer comfort. Compositions and methods for providing such lenses and compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Ocular Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Publication number: 20020091175
    Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses, such as corneal contact lenses, include a lens body made of a composition including a lens body made of a composition including a first crosslinked polymer material which is water swellable, and a second polymeric material, other than the first material, selected from water soluble polymeric materials, water swellable polymeric materials and mixtures thereof. The second material is physically immobilized by the first material. Such lenses provide increased water retention and/or increased water content and/or increased modulus and/or reduced friction which increases lens wearer comfort. Compositions and methods for providing such lenses and compositions are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Ocular Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 6372815
    Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses, such as corneal contact lenses, include a lens body made of a composition including a lens body made of a composition including a first crosslinked polymer material which is water swellable, and a second polymeric material, other than the first material, selected from water soluble polymeric materials, water swellable polymeric materials and mixtures thereof. The second material is physically immobilized by the first material. Such lenses provide increased water retention and/or increased water content and/or increased modulus and/or reduced friction which increases lens wearer comfort. Compositions and methods for providing such lenses and compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 6005039
    Abstract: Composite pressure sensitive hydrophilic adhesive, permeable for water vapor and losing its adhesivness in contact with liquid water, is particularly suitable for temporary glueing to the body surface for medical purposes. The composite is a gelled mixture of: (a) a water swellable, water insoluble polymer, soluble in polar water-miscible solvents boiling at atmospheric pressure at temperatures higher than 100.degree. C. as well as in their mixtures with minor amounts of water, (b) a hydrophilic water swellable polymer, insoluble in water as well as in polar water-miscible solvents boiling at atmospheric pressure at temperatures higher than 100.degree. C., and (c) a polar water-miscible innocuous solvent boiling at atmospheric pressure at temperatures higher than 100.degree. C., if desired mixed with a minor amount of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 5549891
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for destroying hydrogen peroxide in hydrogen peroxide-containing liquid aqueous media, for example, employed to disinfect contact lenses, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present composition comprise at least one item containing a hydrophilic polyurethane component and a catalase component covalently bonded to the hydrophilic polyurethane component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Allergan
    Inventors: Jiri S. Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 5391669
    Abstract: A water swellable crosslinked polymer of essentially balanced charge is obtained by polymerizing a polymer-forming composition comprising a cationic-anionic pair of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and a non-ionic ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic monomer. Contact lenses formed from the polymer exhibit little if any tendency to attract soils, e.g., proteinaceous debris, to their surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignees: Hydron Limited, Ceskoslovenska akademie ved.
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova, Patrick Chen, Qi-Bin Bao
  • Patent number: 5270415
    Abstract: A water swellable crosslinked polymer of essentially balanced charge is obtained by polymerizing a polymer-forming composition comprising a cationic-anionic pair of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and a nonionic ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic and/or hydrophobic monomer. Contact lenses formed from the polymer exhibit little if any tendency to attract soils, e.g., proteinaceous debris, to their surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignees: Allergan Inc., Ceskoslovenska akademie ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova, Patrick Chen, Qi-Bin Bao
  • Patent number: 5158832
    Abstract: A lens made from a non-hydrophilic acrylate or methacrylate polymer or copolymer for application in an aqueous medium inside a human eye or on its surface, i.e., an intraocular or contact lens, is provided wherein the originally non-hydrophilic surface layer has been hydrophilized by a partial hydrolysis or sulfonation in such a way that a gradient of swelling results such that the swelling decreases from a maximum on the very surface to a minimum in the non-swelling core, which is unaffected by hydrophilization. Accordingly, light reflexes are eliminated or at least substantially reduced as well as the tendency of the surface to grow cells, the irritation of neighboring living tissues, and the formation of pressure necroses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1992
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska akademie ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 5080683
    Abstract: A method for the formation of hydrophilic layers on the surface of objects comprised of polymeric esters, nitriles, or combinations thereof, derived from acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or both, by means of hydrolysis caused by strong acid at elevated temperatures, wherein the solubility of the polymer in warm acid is reduced by the addition of a salt which does not react with said polymer. Preferably, the salt is a salt of the strong acid employed to hydrolyze the polymer. The thickness of the hydrophilic layer may be controlled through control of the concentration of the salt. Optionally, the surface layer containing hydroxyl groups may be thickened by treatment with multifunctional primary or secondary alcohol which may, prior to treatment, have been esterified with a weaker acid than the acid employed for purposes of performing the hydrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska Akademie Ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 5002570
    Abstract: An intraocular hydrogel lens with shape memory swelling in water or in isotonic solution, as is physiologic saline, which is deformed before implantation into a shape suitable for operative insertion, for example, into the shape of a rod, is made, at least in part, from a crosslinked synthetic hydrogel containing acid and/or basic groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska akademie ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 4994083
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a soft intracameral lens determined for the location in the posterior chamber of eye.The soft intracameral hydrogel lens has its front supporting and centering convex part determined for leaning against iris having in front a rotation symmetrical shape of a sphere, paraboloid or hyperboloid and passing into the broadest circumference by a surface which shape is equal to or approaches a shape of lateral area of cone, while the hinder supporting part of the lens with a spherical, planar, or moderately convex or concave-curved shape for leaning against a hinder capsula or a membrane from vitreous body in a large surface area. The hinder supporting part is broadened and forms on the edge a retaining ring reaching over the front part as much as by 1.5 mm, whereas the central thickness of the lens ranges between 1 to 3.5 mm. The surface of the soft intracameral lens may be formed, at least in part, from a soft hydrogel containing at least 70% of water at 20.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska akademie ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova, Karel Smetana, Sarka Pitrova
  • Patent number: 4955903
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a soft intracameral lens intended for location in the posterior chamber of the eye.The soft intracameral hydrogel lens has a front supporting and centering convex part intended for leaning against the iris having a rotational symmetrical shape of a sphere, paraboloid, or hyperboloid and passing into the broadest circumference by a surface, the shape of this surface being equal to or approaching the shape of the lateral area of a cone, while the hinder, or rear, supporting part of the lens has a spherical, planar, or moderately convex or concave-curved shape and a large surface area for leaning against a hinder capsula or a membrane of the vitreous body. The hinder supporting part is broadened and forms on its edge a retaining ring which reaches over the front part by as much as 1.5 mm, whereas the central thickness of the lens ranges between 1 to 3.5 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska Akademie Ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova, Karel Smetana, Sarka Pitrova
  • Patent number: 4946470
    Abstract: A hard introcular lens having shape memory consisting of a copolymer having a glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) from 40.degree. C. to 60.degree. C. that is deformable into the shape of a straight or bent rod with a diameter of 1 to 4 mm at a temperature above its T.sub.g temperature and cooled to fix the deformation for insertion into the human eye through a small incision. After insertion into the eye the deformed lens will soften and relax to its original undeformed shape by elevating its temperature with a rinsing solution above 40.degree. C. and will maintain its final shape after a subsequent temperature reduction at normal body temperature of about 37.degree. C. whereby the lens becomes a hardened lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska akademie ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 4921497
    Abstract: Method for the formation of hydrophilic layers on the surface of objects made from polymeric esters and/or nitriles of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid by means of hydrolysis caused by stron acids at elevated temperature, where the solubility of polymer in warm acid is reduced by addition of a salt which alone does not react with the polymer, advantageously of a salt of the used acid. The thickness of the hydrophilic layer may be controlled by changing the concentration of salt and the survace layer containing hydroxyl groups may be at the same time or subsequently thickened by treatment with a multifunctional primary or secondary alcohol, whereas the alcohol groups may be previosuly, at least in part, esterified with an acid which is weaker than is the acid used for hydrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska akademie ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 4890911
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a new design of contact lenses and to the method of their manufacturing. The contact lens comprising a carrier portion and a hydrophilic supporting portion mediating the contact of the lens with the eye surface, wherein both these parts are made from different materials, with the supporting portion being divided into two or more independent pieces protruding above the concave surface of the lens and lead from the lens circumference towards the lens center which is left free, with gaps being provided between individual pieces. The supporting part is made from a water-swelling synthetic crosslinked hydrogel which has, in the state of full swelling with physiological saline, a swelling capacity of about 40 to 95 percent, whereas the carrier optical portion is made from a transparent material having a modulus of elasticity at least twice that of the modulus of elasticity of the supporting portion. The supporting portion forms a gap of at least 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska akademie ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova
  • Patent number: 4806287
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the polymerization cast molding of lenses from hydrophilic gels. A hydrophobic liquid which is essentially immiscible with a hydrophilic polymerization mixture is introduced into a mold having a hydrophobic surface, followed by dosing of the hydrophilic monomer mixture which is allowed to polymerize to form a drop which is pressed, while polymerizing, into the mold with a punch having a hydrophobic molding surface. The polymerizing monomer mixture is maintained under the pressure of the punch until the end of the polymerization. Any overflow of the two liquids is allowed to escape between the mold and the punch. The apparatus comprises a concave mold with an inner hydrophobic, rotation-symmetrical surface, and a punch with a hydrophobic molding surface which when placed in relationship to the mold has an overflow space formed between the mold and the punch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska akademie ved
    Inventors: Jiri Sulc, Zuzana Krcova, Jiri Vacik