System and kit for replenishing an electrowetting ophthalmic device
Systems and kits for replenishing an electrowetting ophthalmic device are described. In an embodiment, the system includes an electrowetting ophthalmic device including a lens material defining a cavity encasing an aqueous electrowetting solution; a replenishing solution having an osmolarity approximately equal to an osmolarity of the aqueous electrowetting solution; and a container shaped to carry the electrowetting ophthalmic device and the replenishing solution and to position the electrowetting ophthalmic device in contact with the replenishing solution when the electrowetting ophthalmic device and the replenishing solution are carried by the container. In an embodiment, the osmolarity of the aqueous electrowetting solution is higher than an osmolarity of a tear fluid of an eye.
1. A system comprising:
an electrowetting ophthalmic device including a lens material defining a cavity of an electrowetting lens encasing two immiscible liquids, wherein one of the two immiscible liquids is an aqueous electrowetting solution, wherein the lens material is permeable to a water vapor and the cavity depletes a first amount of water from the aqueous electrowetting solution through the lens material out of the electrowetting ophthalmic device while the electrowetting ophthalmic device is worn on an eye;
a replenishing solution having a first osmolarity approximately equal to a target osmolarity for the aqueous electrowetting solution, wherein the replenishing solution replenishes at least a portion of the first amount of water while the electrowetting ophthalmic device is bathed within the replenishing solution by permeating the portion of the first amount of water through the lens material into the cavity from the replenishing solution; and
a container shaped to removably carry the electrowetting ophthalmic device and the replenishing solution when the electrowetting ophthalmic device is not worn on an eye, the container configured to bathe the electrowetting ophthalmic device in-contact with the replenishing solution when the electrowetting ophthalmic device and the replenishing solution are carried by the container, wherein the container includes a resealable cap portion.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the target osmolarity of the aqueous electrowetting solution is greater than 290 mOsmol/L.
3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a rinsing solution having a second osmolarity approximately equal to or less than 290 mOsmol/L.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a transmitter positioned in or on the container to inductively couple with a receiver of the electrowetting ophthalmic device to transfer power wirelessly to the electrowetting ophthalmic device when the electrowetting ophthalmic device is carried within the container.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises a heat source coupled to a container body portion of the container and positioned to heat the replenishing solution when carried by the container, wherein the heat source is shaped as a ring and disposed at a bottom of the container body portion opposite the resealable cap portion.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the container further comprises an agitator coupled to the resealable cap portion of the container to agitate the replenishing solution when the replenishing solution is carried by the container and when the resealable cap portion is coupled to a container body portion of the container.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the replenishing solution further comprises one or more surfactants.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more surfactants have a molecular weight of greater than about 2,000 g/mole.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more surfactants have a hydrophilicity/lipophilicity balance of about 20.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the replenishing solution further comprises a peroxide; and wherein the container further comprises a catalyst positioned to contact the replenishing solution when carried by the container and configured to degrade the peroxide.
11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the agitator is coupled to the removeable cap portion of the container via a cage shaped to hold the electrowetting ophthalmic device such that the agitator and the cage are removed from the container body portion when the removeable cap portion is removed from the container body portion.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the agitator is statically coupled to the removeable cap portion via the cage and does not move relative to the removeable cap portion.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the agitator comprises a catalyst in a shape of a plurality of fins and wherein the catalyst reacts with the replenishing solution to generate gas bubbles that agitate the replenishing solution.
14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a heat source disposed on a base portion of the container and shaped as a ring that encircles the agitator when the removeable cap portion is attached to the container body portion.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the agitator is disposed below the cage within the replenishing solution when the removeable cap portion is attached to the container body portion while carrying the replenishing solution.