IP Library › Patent Application 12259342
Patent Application
App. No. 12/259,342

Method for Providing Lens Blanks

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/259,342
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.

Claims (32)

1 . A method of providing a machineable silicon-containing lens blank, comprising, sequentially:

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.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lens blank is made of a silicone hydrogel copolymer.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lens blank is cylindrical.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lens blank has a thickness of at least 4 mm.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lens blank has a thickness of at least 5 mm.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lens blank is placed in a heated oven during removal of organic diluent.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the oven is under vacuum.

8 . The method of claim 1 , comprising, sequentially:

casting the lens blank in the mold;

removing the lens blank from the mold;

replacing the organic diluent in the lens blank with water; and

drying the lens blank to remove water.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the lens blank is supported on a porous substrate while organic diluent is replaced with water.

10 . The method of claim 1 , comprising, sequentially:

casting the lens blank in the mold;

removing the lens blank from the mold;

replacing the organic diluent in the lens blank with an organic solvent, and replace the organic solvent with water; and

drying the lens blank to remove water.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the lens blank is supported on a porous substrate while organic diluent is replaced with organic solvent.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the porous substrate comprises a perforated tray.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the porous substrate comprises a porous membrane.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the lens blank is cylindrical and has a thickness of at least 4 mm.

15 . The method of claim 1 , comprising, sequentially:

casting the lens blank in the mold;

partially removing organic diluent from the lens blank, and releasing the lens blank from the mold; and

removing additional organic diluent from the lens blank removed from the mold.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the lens blank is cylindrical and has a thickness of at least 4 mm.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the lens blank is placed in a heated oven during removal of organic diluent.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the oven is under vacuum.