Granted Patent B2

US 9,289,954 · App. 13/743,443 · Granted Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

Claims (33)

1. A method comprising:

applying a first amount of polymerizable material to a ring-shaped structure, wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises at least one sensor;

positioning the ring-shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto in a mold, wherein the mold is configured to form an eye-mountable device;

applying pressure, via a plunger comprising a compliant material, on the ring-shaped structure in the mold while curing the first amount of polymerizable material;

adding a second amount of polymerizable material to the mold with the ring-shaped structure therein; and

curing the second amount of polymerizable material to form an over-molded polymer layer such that the ring-shaped structure is at least partially enclosed in the eye-mountable device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the ring-shaped shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto in the mold comprises positioning the ring-shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto on a previously-formed polymer layer in the mold.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the previously-formed polymer layer defines an anterior side of the eye-mountable device and the over-molded polymer layer defines a posterior side of the eye-mountable device.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the previously-formed polymer layer is in a partially-cured state.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the previously-formed polymer layer and the over-molded polymer layer comprise a transparent material.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying the first amount of polymerizable material to the ring-shaped structure comprises placing the polymerizable material at one or more discrete locations on the ring-shaped structure, and wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure at the one or more discrete locations.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure on the entire ring-shaped structure.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the over-molded polymer layer comprises a hydrogel material or a silicone elastomer.

9. A method comprising:

applying a first amount of polymerizable material to a ring-shaped structure, wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises at least one sensor;

positioning the ring-shaped structure with the first amount of polymerizable material applied thereto on a previously-formed polymer layer in a mold, wherein the mold is configured to form an eye-mountable device;

applying, via a plunger comprising an elastic material, pressure on the ring-shaped structure in the mold; and

adding a second amount of polymerizable material to the mold with the ring-shaped structure therein, and curing the second amount of polymerizable material to form an over-molded polymer layer such that the ring-shaped structure is fully enclosed in the eye-mountable device.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the previously-formed polymer layer defines an anterior side of the eye-mountable device and the over-molded polymer layer defines a posterior side of the eye-mountable device.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the anterior side of the eye-mountable device is configured to allow an analyte to diffuse therethrough to be detected by the sensor.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the previously-formed polymer layer is in a partially-cured state.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the previously-formed polymer layer and the over-molded polymer layer comprise a transparent material.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ring-shaped structure is more rigid than the previously-formed polymer layer and the over-molded polymer layer.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein applying the first amount of polymerizable material to the ring-shaped structure comprises placing the polymerizable material on one or more discrete locations on the ring-shaped structure, and wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure at the one or more discrete locations.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure on the entire ring-shaped structure.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein applying pressure on the ring-shaped structure comprises applying pressure while curing the first amount of polymerizable material.

18. A method comprising:

applying an amount of adhesive material to a ring-shaped structure, wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises at least one sensor;

positioning the ring-shaped structure with the amount of adhesive material applied thereto in a mold, wherein the mold is configured to form an eye-mountable device;

applying pressure, via a plunger comprising a compliant material, on the ring-shaped structure in the mold while curing the amount of adhesive material;

adding a respective amount of polymerizable material to the mold with the ring-shaped structure therein; and

curing the respective amount of polymerizable material to form an over-molded polymer layer such that the ring-shaped structure is at least partially enclosed in the eye-mountable device.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the adhesive material comprises a thermosetting polymer.

Assignments (8)