Disposable ophthalmic/medical apparatus with timed color change indication

Abstract

A disposable ophthalmic or medical apparatus has a portion with a color changeable dye disposed thereon. The dye changes color after being exposed to oxygen for a controlled and predetermined period of time indicating that the apparatus should no longer be used.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]N / ASTATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]N / AFIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to a disposable, limited or restricted use product that can transmit contaminants, and disease to a person or cause infection if reused or used beyond a recommended period of time and more particularly to such an apparatus with a portion having a color changeable dye that changes color after being exposed to oxygen for a predetermined period of time indicating that the device should no longer be used.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Many products currently marketed and sold to consumers are designed for limited use. These products are usually associated with a single event, a restricted time period or restricted access. There are many reasons for the need of single use or limited use products.[0005]An example of a single use product is a disposable syringe. Instrument contamination and cross infection betwee...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0032]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a package containing the contact lens of FIG. 11 to prevent premature color change.

Problems solved by technology

Instrument contamination and cross infection between patients is an ever present concern if the syringe is inadvertently reused.

Medical and ophthalmic devices that must be sterilized such as scalpels or tonometers (for the measurement of a patient's intraocular pressure) body piercing and tattooing instruments used on multiple clients also give cause for concern.

Non-compliance on the part of the patient, either through choice or due to lack of education, can injure the eye.

Frequent replacement lenses are sometimes worn for longer than recommended or they may be stored or cleaned inappropriately.

The problem with this patent is that the indicator is not displaying information relating to the condition of the product contained within the package.

An additional problem with this patent is that the basic atmosphere in which the product is stored is chlorine gas which is highly reactive to the materials that comprise many of the products that one could imagine being supplied in a sterile package container, such as metal surgical instruments and many pharmaceutical compounds or drugs.

Images