Abstract: A sampling device comprising a body that defines a fluid flow path from an inlet opening, wherein the flow path includes a bed of a porous polymer monolith selected to adsorb bioparticles from a matrix drawn or dispensed through the inlet opening and the bed.

Abstract: An object is to provide an artificial lens for use in an artificial eye device for cataract surgery practice. The artificial lens includes an artificial nucleus corresponding to a human eye lens nucleus and an artificial cortex corresponding to a human eye lens cortex. The artificial nucleus is formed of an agar gel of agar concentration 1.0 wt % to 5.0 wt %. The artificial cortex is formed of an agar gel of agar concentration 0.5 wt % to 1.5 wt % which is lower than the agar concentration of an agar gel forming the artificial nucleus. In another embodiment, an artificial lens includes an artificial nucleus corresponding to a human eye lens nucleus and an artificial cortex corresponding to a human eye lens cortex. The artificial nucleus is formed of cheese or a cheese-like substance, and the artificial cortex is formed of pulp fiber.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are presented for a prosthetic injectable intraocular lens. One or more silicone elastomeric patches located outside the optical path on the anterior side but away from the equator can be accessed by surgical needles in order to fill or adjust optically clear fluid within the lens. The fluid can be adjusted in order to set a base dioptric power of the lens and otherwise adjust a lens after its initial insertion. The elastomeric patches are sized so that they self-seal after a needle is withdrawn. A straight or stepped slit in the patch can allow a blunt needle to more easily access the interior of the lens.

Abstract: A packaged, sterilized intraocular lens prepared by a process comprising providing a hydrophobic acrylic, or low water acrylic, intraocular lens and positioning the acrylic lens in a lens enclosure with an aqueous solution to provide a lens package. The lens package is then heated to a temperature sufficient for sterilization, however, the heating of the lens package must begin before the acrylic lens reaches an equilibrated, hydrated state following contact of the lens with the aqueous solution. The resulting sterilized acrylic intraocular lens will have less than sixty percent of total volume of disc-like features, or less than forty percent of total volume of water vacuoles, after 60 days following sterilization compared to an acrylic lens of the same composition, which was sterilized under the same conditions, but in an equilibrated, hydrated state.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel methods and materials particularly useful for ophthalmic applications and to methods for making and using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to relatively soft, optically transparent, foldable, high refractive index materials particularly suited for use in the production of intraocular lenses, contact lenses, and other ocular implants and to methods for manufacturing and implanting IOLs made therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed are soft, high refractive index, acrylic materials. These materials, especially useful as intraocular lens materials, contain one or more aryl acrylic hydrophobic monomers as principal device-forming monomers and a tack-reducing macromer additive. In addition to their use as intraocular lens materials, the present materials are also suitable for use in other ophthalmic or otorhinolaryngological devices, such as contact lenses, keratoprostheses, corneal inlays or rings; otological ventilation tubes and nasal implants.

Abstract: Methods and devices for altering the power of a lens, such as an intraocular lens, are disclosed. In one method, the lens comprises a single polymer matrix containing crosslinkable pendant groups, wherein the polymer matrix increases in volume when crosslinked. The lens does not contain free monomer. Upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, crosslinking causes the exposed portion of the lens to increase in volume, causing an increase in the refractive index. In another method, the lens comprises a polymer matrix containing photobleachable chromophores. Upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, photobleaching causes a decrease in refractive index in the exposed portion without any change in lens thickness. These methods avoid the need to wait for diffusion to occur to change the lens shape and avoid the need for a second exposure to radiation to lock in the changes to the lens.

Abstract: The present invention provides copolymers made up of alkoxyalkyl methacrylate and/or alkoxyalkyl acrylate monomers in combination with one or more additional hydrophobic monomers. The copolymers may be used in the manufacture of intraocular lenses, including both the optic and haptic portions of the lenses. The present invention also provide methods for making intraocular lenses from the copolymers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite material, preferably an ophthalmic device, more preferably a contact lens, which comprises a vesicle-containing coating including at least one layer of a vesicle and one layer of a polyionic material having charges opposite the charges of the vesicle. Such composite material can find use in biomedical applications, for example, a device for localized drug delivery and an in vivo analyte sensor such as glucose sensing contact lens. By lifting off the vesicle-containing coating from a substrate, a self-standing membrane (film) capable of encapsulating a wide variety of guest materials can be prepared. In addition, the invention provides methods for making vesicle-containing composite and film materials of the present invention.

Abstract: An intraocular lens with an ordered polymer system contained within a lens capsule or a membrane in the lens capsule. The ordered polymer system includes at least one negatively charged copolymer comprising hydrophilic groups, anionic groups and hydrophobic groups, and at least one positively charged copolymer comprising hydrophilic groups, cationic groups and hydrophobic groups. The at least one negatively charged copolymer and the at least one positively charged copolymer are associatively arranged through non-covalent interactions in the lens capsule or the membrane.

Abstract: Opthalmic devices, particularity intraocular lenses (IOL), with improved contrast sensitivity and methods of making same. In one aspect, blue light blocking chromophores (BLBC) are diffused into, e.g. an IOL lens body to create a BLBC gradient in the lens. Orange dyes are preferred BLBCs.

Abstract: A method of providing a polymerized ophthalmic lens in which a polymerized ophthalmic lens is heated with a packaging solution comprising about 100 ppm to about 3,000 ppm of a wetting agent after its polymerization, and the ophthalmic lens formulation not having the wetting agent prior to its polymerization.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an ocular lens superior in the wettability of the surface thereof, hydrating properties, oxygen permeability, flexibility, elasticity, transparency and shape recoverability though it has a composition using a silicone-containing monomer. The present invention relates to a highly oxygen-permeable hydrated ocular lens obtained by saponifying a copolymer prepared from a specific both-terminal (meth)acryl polydimethylsiloxane, a vinyl carboxylate, a (meth)acrylamide type monomer, a vinyl type crosslinking agent, one or both of a (meth)acrylate having a tertiary structure and a (meth)acrylate having a cyclic structure as (meth)acrylates each having a bulky structure at its side chain and a monomer copolymerizable with these compounds.

Abstract: Disclosed are soft, high refractive index, acrylic materials. These materials, especially useful as intraocular lens materials, contain an aryl acrylic hydrophobic monomer as the single principal device-forming monomer and a tack-reducing macromer additive. In addition to their use as intraocular lens materials, the present materials are also suitable for use in other ophthalmic or otorhinolaryngological devices, such as contact lenses, keratoprostheses, corneal inlays or rings; otological ventilation tubes and nasal implants.

Abstract: Polymeric materials and methods that realize a gel-type intraocular lens that is formed in situ within the lens capsule of the eye. The polymeric material of the intraocular lens includes reactive end groups that effectively bond with lens capsule walls, thus eliminating space between the intraocular lens and the lens capsule walls and significantly reducing the proliferation of lens epithelial cells which can cause unwanted posterior capsule opacification.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composite material, preferably an ophthalmic device, more preferably a contact lens, which comprises a vesicle-containing coating including at least one layer of a vesicle and one layer of a polyionic material having charges opposite the charges of the vesicle. Such composite material can find use in biomedical applications, for example, a device for localized drug delivery and an in vivo analyte sensor such as glucose sensing contact lens. By lifting off the vesicle-containing coating from a substrate, a self-standing membrane (film) capable of encapsulating a wide variety of guest materials can be prepared. In addition, the invention provides methods for making vesicle-containing composite and film materials of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new hydrogels with improved mechanical properties and methods of their preparation. The hydrogels are formed from hydrophilic polymers having function hydroxyl groups and have low elasticity modulus typically less than about 10 kPa, a tensile strength above 1 MPa, an elongation above 50% which makes suitable as medical implants, in particular intraocular lenses. The hydrogels are prepared by a crosslinking method with a comparatively low concentration of hydrophilic polymer of a sufficiently high molecular weight dissolved in a good solvent.

Abstract: Prosthetic implants designed to be implanted in the cornea for modifying the cornea curvature and altering the corneal refractive power for correcting myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia, and, in addition, such implants formed of a micro-porous hydrogel material.

Abstract: An adjustable lens system. In a first embodiment, the lens system of the present invention is a two optic system. The optics are connected by an expandable material that allows the distance between the optics to increased in-situ. In a second embodiment of the present invention is a single optic system having a section made from an expandable material at or near the junction between the optic and the centering haptics. Expansion of these section causes the haptics to move radially away from the optic. Such movement may allow for recentering of the lens or, if the haptics are slightly vaulted, radial movement of the haptics away from the optic will cause axial movement of the lens system along the visual axis.

Abstract: A dehydrated intraocular lens implant is first folded and then inserted into the eye through an incision in the eye. The folded dehydrated intraocular lens implant is then allowed to unfold, hydrate in the eye and expand to its desired dimensions. The intraocular lens implant is comprised of a polymer, wherein the polymer is flexible and elastic when dehydrated so as to facilitate the intraocular lens implant to be folded and inserted into the incision in the eye. The polymer also expansile when hydrated, such that after insertion into the eye, the intraocular lens implant hydrates and expands.

Abstract: Disclosed is a two-step method of making soft, high refractive index, acrylic ophthalmic device materials. In the first step, a copolymer containing pendant oxirane groups is formed by copolymerizing one or more aryl acrylic hydrophobic monomers with one or more compounds of the formula wherein X is H or CH3; and n is 1-4. In the second step, the copolymer containing pendant oxirane groups formed in the first step is reacted with a compound of the formula W—T—H wherein W is H, CH3(CH2)a, or Z(OCH2CH2)b; a is 0-3; b is 1-5; Z is H, or CH3(CH2)p; p is 0-3; and T is O, NH, S; provided that if T≠O, then W≠H.

Abstract: Iris fixated intraocular lenses include an optic and at least one fixation member or haptic. The fixation member is joined to the optic and has a distal segment including a through-iris portion adapted to extend through an iris hole, and an anchor portion. The anchor portion has or is adapted to have an anchor structure positioned to be disposed proximate to a side of the iris so as to be effective in fixating the intraocular lens to the iris. The anchor structure may be formed prior to inserting the intraocular lens in the eye or may be formed after the intraocular lens is inserted in the eye. Methods for inserting such intraocular lenses in the eye are also provided.

Abstract: A method of making a one-piece intraocular lens formed from a copolymer of a hydrophilic monomer and an alkoxy-alkylmethacrylate. The intraocular lens is foldable so as to be insertable through a small incision in the eye. Copolymers of the lens have an equilibrium water content of from about 10 to about 38 percent by weight based on the total weight of the hydrated copolymer.

Abstract: Iris fixated intraocular lenses include an optic and at least one fixation member or haptic. The fixation member is joined to the optic and has a distal segment including a through-iris portion adapted to extend through an iris hole, and an anchor portion. The anchor portion has or is adapted to have an anchor structure positioned to be disposed proximate to a side of the iris so as to be a effective in fixating the intraocular lens to the iris. The anchor structure may be formed prior to inserting the intraocular lens in the eye or may be formed after the intraocular lens is inserted in the eye. Methods for inserting such intraocular lenses in the eye are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to porous polymers incorporating dihydroperfluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates and the like and their production. The invention also relates to the use of polymers derived from dihydroperfluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates and like compounds, in both porous and non-porous forms, as substrates for the attachment and growth of mammalian cells and tissue. The invention also relates to the use of polymers derived from dihydroperfluoroalkyl acrylates and methacrylates as components of medical devices and prostheses, including implanted devices.

Abstract: An intraocular lens includes (1) a foldable optical lens part made of a copolymer; and (2) a harder haptic part. A high crosslinking of the copolymer of the lens part and of the haptic part results in a high stability against hydrolysis in a biological medium.

Abstract: Disclosed is a two-step method of making soft, high refractive index, acrylic ophthalmic device materials.

Abstract: A one piece intraocular lens and an intraocular lens include an optic portion and a haptic portion formed from a copolymer that includes an incorporated hydrophilic monomer and an incorporated alkoxyalkyl methacrylate monomer. The optic and haptic portions of the one-piece intraocular lens and intraocular lens are formed from the same copolymer. The copolymer of intraocular lenses and preferred one-piece intraocular lenses includes about 40 to about 95 percent by weight of the hydrophilic monomer based on the total weight of the dry copolymer and about 5 to about 60 percent by weight of the alkoxyalkyl methacrylate based on the total weight of the dry copolymer. A blank for use in constructing an intraocular lens includes a hydrogel in a shape suitable for finishing into an intraocular lens. The hydrogel of the blank comprises a first portion suitable for finishing into a haptic portion and a second portion suitable for finishing into an optic portion.