Patent classifications
B29D11/00826
APPARATUS FOR HARVESTING ENERGY FROM RELATIVE MOTION OF BODY PARTS, PARTICULARLY AN EYEBALL AND AN EYELID
A system for providing electrical energy to an implanted device or to a device attached to a body. The system includes one or more permanent magnets attached to or implanted in a first body part and one or more inductor(s) attached to or implanted in a second body part. The inductor(s) are electrically couplable to the implanted device for providing the implanted device with electrical currents flowing in the one or more inductor(s) in response to changes in the position and/or orientation of the permanent magnet(s) relative to the position and/or orientation of the inductor(s). The system may include a current rectifier for rectifying electrical currents provided by the inductor(s). The system may also include a charge storage device electrically coupled to the current rectifier for storing electrical energy received from the current rectifier.
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DEVELOPING NANOSTRUCTURED MULTIFUNCTIONAL SMART CONTACT LENS
A smart contact lens includes a contact lens, a nanostructures layer, a first sensor, a connector, and a smart module. The nanostructures layer may be anti-bacterial. The smart contact lens may be worn on an eye or may be implanted within an eye. The nanostructures layer is fabricated by depositing a colloidal dispersion onto an electrostatically-coated substrate. The colloidal dispersion is then removed and nanoholes are etched. The electrostatic coating is removed and a biocompatible material is spin-coated onto the substrate. Upon removal, a quasi-randomly distributed nanostructures layer forms.
Contact lens-based methods to deliver power to intraocular devices
An eye-mountable device is provided that includes a battery or other local power source and that can wirelessly power one or more intraocular devices using power from the battery. The eye-mountable device could be provided as a contact lens. The eye-mountable device could provide power to an intraocular device by emitting radio frequency energy, time-varying electrical fields through the conductive medium of the eye, or optical energy. The intraocular device could include an electronic lens configured to provide a controllable optical power to the eye. The intraocular device could include sensors configured to detect accommodation forces exerted by muscles of the eye; such detected forces could be used to control an electronic lens of the intraocular device or an electronic lens of the eye-mountable device. The battery could be rechargeable and the eye-mountable device could be configured to receive power to recharge the battery.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MAKING A LENS ASSEMBLY
Methods and apparatus for making lens assemblies that can be placed on an eye of a person and that include at least one component are described. Generally, a first lens member (100) and a second lens member (200) are formed. The second lens member (200) is transferred to a compliant stage (210). At least one component is placed in contact with one of the lens members (100, 200). The second lens member (200) is placed in contact with the first lens member (100) such that the compliant stage (210) can provide compression to the first and second lens members (100, 200). The second lens member (200) and the first lens member (100) are coupled together to form a lens assembly (10) with the at least one component located between the two lens members (100, 200).
CONACT LENS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
A contact lens according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a lens unit to be placed on an eyeball and a mesh-like or meandering linear communication electrode provided in all or a portion of the lens unit.
Method of manufacturing contact lenses
A method of manufacturing a contact lens 110 is disclosed. The method comprises manufacturing a rod of lens material 101, the rod 101 containing a plurality of electronic components 102 spaced apart along its length, separating the rod 101 into a plurality of lens blanks 106, each lens blank 106 containing at least one of said electronic components 102, and machining the front and/or back surface of a lens blank 106 to produce a contact lens 110 containing the at least one electronic component 102.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) PRINTING OF ELECTRO-ACTIVE LENSES
A method of manufacturing an optic includes disposing electronic circuitry on a substrate. The method also includes depositing a first resin on the first side of the electronic circuitry and curing the first resin to form a first optical segment. The method further includes depositing a second resin on the second side of the electronic circuitry and curing the second resin to form a second optical segment. The first and second optical segments encapsulate the electronic circuitry. The first resin and the second resin can include multiple droplets of resin, thereby reducing mechanical force imposed on the electronic circuitry during printing and allowing conformal contact between the resin and the electronic circuitry. Accordingly, electronic circuitry of smaller dimension can be used to form the electronic eyewear.
Oxygen Permeable Scleral Contact Lenses With Thick Payloads
A contact lens has a core that is thick enough to accommodate a payload. The core has a base surface for mounting the contact lens to the sclera of the user's eye. It also provides mechanical integrity to carry the payload. The contact lens also includes an outer covering and an inner covering. Each covering is a thin layer of gas-permeable material shaped to form an air gap between the covering and the core. The two air gaps are connected by an air path that traverses the core. Oxygen from an outside environment passes through the gas-permeable outer covering to reach the outer air gap, through the air path to the inner air gap, and through the gas-permeable inner covering to reach the cornea of the wearer's eye.
Process for customizing an active contact lens
A method for customizing active contact lenses, such as contact lens displays, for a plurality of wearers includes the following: Contact lens precursors are obtained for a plurality of wearers. The contact lens precursors include active electronics. The same contact lens precursors are used as a starting point to generate active contact lenses for many different individuals, but they are processed into active contact lenses that are customized for each individual wearer.
Implantable device for increasing tear production
Described here are devices, systems, and methods for increasing tear production by stimulating the cornea, conjunctiva, and/or subconjunctiva. In some variations, the devices may be in the form of a contact lens. The contact lens may comprise a lens body and a stimulator chip, where the stimulator chip is embedded in the lens body. An external power source wirelessly transmits energy to the stimulator chip, where the stimulator chip may convert the energy to an electric waveform to stimulate the cornea, conjunctiva, and/or subconjunctiva. Stimulation may activate the lacrimal reflex to increase tear production. The devices and systems for increasing tear production may be used in methods of treating dry eye, reducing the symptoms of tired eye, increasing comfort for contact lens wearers, and extending the number of years a contact lens user can wear contacts. Also described are methods of manufacturing a contact lens.