Device for detecting oxygen permeability of corneal contact lens

Abstract

The utility model provides a corneal contact lens oxygen permeability performance detection device, which comprises a box body, an execution part and a control part, the execution part comprises a lower cavity body, the top of the lower cavity body is provided with an arc-shaped concave surface and a convex ring, and the middle of the arc-shaped concave surface is provided with a lower air hole; an arc-shaped protruding face and a groove are formed in the bottom of the upper cavity body, a sealing ring is arranged in the groove, an upper air hole is formed in the middle of the arc-shaped protruding face, and an oxygen sensor is arranged in the upper cavity body; the upper cavity body is configured to move up and down relative to the lower cavity body; the arc-shaped convex surface, the groove and the upper air hole are respectively matched with the arc-shaped concave surface, the convex ring and the lower air hole correspondingly; and the lower chamber body and the upper chamber body are correspondingly communicated with a lower gas pipe interface for externally connecting oxygen and an upper gas pipe interface for externally connecting nitrogen respectively. The novel corneal contact lens is simple in structural design, convenient to operate and suitable for being used as a soft or hard corneal contact lens, and the lens cannot be damaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of corneal contact lens testing technology, specifically, it demonstrates a device for testing the oxygen permeability of corneal contact lenses. Background Technology

[0002] The oxygen permeability of corneal contact lenses (commonly known as contact lenses) is a core indicator for measuring their safety and comfort, directly affecting corneal oxygen supply and metabolism.

[0003] For soft contact lenses, polarography is generally used. The sample is attached to the electrode. After oxygen passes through the sample and is separated, an electrochemical reaction occurs at the two electrodes. The oxygen permeation can be obtained by detecting the generated current and calculating it. For rigid contact lenses, coulometric method is generally used. The contact lens is placed in a sample holder, with oxygen flowing through one side and a carrier gas flowing through the other side. After the oxygen permeates through the contact lens, it is carried away by the carrier gas. The oxygen concentration is detected using a coulometric sensor.

[0004] Polarography can only determine the oxygen permeability of soft contact lenses, which has extremely limited applications. It requires damaging the lens during testing, and the equipment is expensive, resulting in high operating costs. Coulomb's method is generally used to determine the oxygen permeability of rigid contact lenses, and can also be used to determine the oxygen permeability of soft contact lenses. However, its sample holder is prone to crushing rigid contact lenses, and it cannot properly hold soft contact lenses. During the holding process, soft contact lenses are prone to deformation, making the operation difficult. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a device for testing the oxygen permeability of corneal contact lenses, which has a simple and practical structure and high applicability.

[0006] The technical solution is as follows:

[0007] A device for testing the oxygen permeability of corneal contact lenses includes a housing, an execution unit, and a control unit. The housing has a door that can be opened and closed. The execution unit is located inside the housing, and the control unit is located outside the housing. The execution unit includes:

[0008] The lower chamber has an arc-shaped concave surface at the top center for placing a corneal contact lens, and a raised ring is formed around the top edge of the arc-shaped concave surface. A lower air hole is opened in the middle of the arc-shaped concave surface.

[0009] The upper chamber has an arc-shaped protrusion at the bottom center, and a groove is formed around the bottom edge of the arc-shaped protrusion. A sealing ring is installed in the groove. An air vent is opened in the middle of the arc-shaped protrusion. An oxygen sensor is installed inside the upper chamber.

[0010] The upper chamber is configured to move up and down relative to the lower chamber, and the arc-shaped protrusion, groove, and upper air hole respectively correspond to the arc-shaped concave surface, the protruding ring, and the lower air hole to form a fit.

[0011] The lower chamber and upper chamber are respectively connected to a lower air pipe interface for external oxygen and an upper air pipe interface for external nitrogen.

[0012] The mirror-match design of the concave and convex curved surfaces perfectly conforms to the curvature of the corneal contact lens, preventing lens displacement or deformation during measurement. It is suitable for measuring both soft and rigid corneal contact lenses. The mechanical interlocking of the sealing ring and the raised ring within the groove forms a sealing barrier, effectively preventing oxygen and nitrogen leakage at the chamber edge and ensuring the reliability of oxygen permeability measurement data. The vertical alignment of the upper and lower air vents, combined with separate oxygen / nitrogen interfaces, enables unidirectional flow of both gases, eliminating the risk of cross-contamination.

[0013] In addition, the IC chip pick-up mechanism with a pressure fixture according to the above embodiments of this utility model may also have the following additional technical features:

[0014] According to one embodiment of this utility model, the chamber is further provided with a temperature control unit for adjusting the internal temperature and a humidity control unit for adjusting the internal air humidity, so as to meet the requirements of a constant temperature and humidity measurement environment.

[0015] The temperature control unit includes a temperature sensor, a heating film, and a heating controller. The heating film is attached to the inner wall side of the enclosure, and the temperature sensor is installed on the top of the inner wall. The temperature sensor and the heating controller are connected to the control unit, and the heating controller supplies power to the heating film. The side wall heating film transfers heat through radiation, and combined with the top temperature sensor monitoring the natural convection of hot air, it avoids internal overheating and prevents the lens material from deforming due to uneven temperature.

[0016] The humidity unit includes a humidity sensor, an atomizer, and a humidifier controller. The atomizer is installed on one side of the bottom of the housing, and the humidity sensor is installed on the top inner wall of the housing. The humidity sensor and the humidifier controller are connected to the control section, and the humidifier controller is used to control the atomizer's on and off states. The water mist generated by the bottom atomizer diffuses naturally upwards, and the top humidity sensor provides real-time feedback on the humidity level.

[0017] According to one embodiment of this utility model, multiple miniature pressure sensors are evenly arranged on the circumference of the raised ring. The pressure sensors arranged in a ring array dynamically detect the pressure state of the sealing ring, thereby avoiding excessive pressure from the arc-shaped convex surface on the lens on the arc-shaped concave surface and preventing damage to the lens.

[0018] According to one embodiment of this utility model, the upper part of the housing is provided with a lifting drive, a mounting frame, several guide posts, and an intermediate body. The mounting frame is mounted on the housing, the lifting drive is mounted on the mounting frame, and the several guide posts are movably inserted into the mounting frame via bushings. The guide posts are connected downwards to the intermediate body, which is connected to the upper chamber. The head end of the lifting drive is connected to the intermediate body. The design of the guide posts ensures the stability of the upper chamber during vertical movement and ensures accurate docking with the lower chamber.

[0019] Based on the above technical solution, the lower chamber is fixed to a fine-tuning platform via a fixing frame, and the fine-tuning platform is fixed to the bottom of the housing. The fine-tuning platform corrects installation deviations of the lower chamber, ensuring the accuracy of the lens clamping position.

[0020] The intermediate body has a protruding guide post at its bottom end, and the fixed frame has a guide hole at its top end, with the guide post and guide hole fitting together. This reduces the alignment deviation between the upper and lower chambers and ensures that the sealing ring is subjected to uniform pressure.

[0021] According to one embodiment of this utility model, an exhaust port is provided at the top of the upper chamber to prevent excessive internal pressure during measurement operations.

[0022] According to one embodiment of this utility model, a visualization window is installed on the door. This allows for real-time observation of the internal status of the enclosure, avoiding frequent door opening that could disrupt temperature and humidity stability.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of this invention are as follows: The design of the contoured chamber, namely the nested structure of the arc-shaped protruding / arc-shaped concave surfaces and grooves / protruding rings of the upper and lower chambers, fits and holds the lens well. Combined with the pressing effect of the sealing ring, it ensures the airtightness of the local testing environment and avoids gas leakage interfering with the oxygen permeability measurement. The lens is held between the upper and lower chambers. Oxygen diffuses through the lens from the lower vent and enters the upper chamber, while nitrogen is continuously purged from the upper vent. The oxygen permeability rate is measured by the oxygen sensor in the upper chamber. This invention is simple to operate and suitable for use with soft or rigid corneal contact lenses without damaging the lens. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the housing (excluding the execution part) of a corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the execution part of a corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3This is a simplified schematic diagram showing the connection between the temperature control unit, humidity unit, and control section in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0027] The following are the relevant markings in the attached diagram: 1-Box body, 2-Lower chamber body, 3-Upper chamber body; 11-Control section, 12-Door body, 121-Visual window, 13-Temperature sensor, 14-Heating film, 15-Heating controller, 16-Humidity sensor, 17-Atomizer, 18-Humidification controller; 21-Arc-shaped concave surface, 211-Lower air hole, 22-Protruding ring, 221-Pressure sensor, 23-Lower air pipe interface, 24-Fixed frame, 241-Guide hole, 25-Fine-tuning platform; 31-Arc-shaped protruding surface, 311-Upper air hole, 32-Groove, 321-Sealing ring, 33-Oxygen sensor, 34-Upper air pipe interface, 35-Exhaust port, 36-Lifting drive component, 37-Mounting frame, 371-Sleeve, 38-Guide post, 39-Intermediate body, 391-Guide post. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0029] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in the figure, this utility model embodiment proposes a corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device, which mainly includes a housing 1, an execution part, and a control part 11. The housing 1 is of medium size, usually around 500mm×500mm×500mm. The front of the housing 1 has a door 12 for opening and closing, and its interior has space. The execution part is located inside the housing 1, while the control part 11 is located outside the housing 1. It usually includes a control unit, a signal processing unit, a display unit, a control panel, etc. The signal processing unit is used to transmit the corresponding signals of the execution part to the control unit or the display unit. The control unit adopts a microprocessor or a high-performance PLC controller, which is mainly used to control the corresponding actions of the execution part. The display unit is used to display the measurement signals in a visual manner.

[0030] The execution part mainly includes an upper chamber 3 and a lower chamber 2 arranged vertically. The lower chamber 2 remains stationary during the measurement, while the upper chamber 3 is configured to move vertically relative to the lower chamber 2. It is worth noting that the vertical center line of the upper chamber 3 is consistent with the vertical center line of the lower chamber 2.

[0031] The top center of the lower chamber body 2 is constructed into an arc-shaped concave surface 21 for placing a corneal contact lens, and a raised ring 22 is constructed around the top edge of the lower chamber body 2 around the arc-shaped concave surface 21. A lower air hole 211 is also provided in the middle of the arc-shaped concave surface 21, and the diameter of the lower air hole 211 is about 5 mm.

[0032] The bottom of the upper chamber 3 is constructed with a downward-protruding arc-shaped protrusion 31 in the middle, and a groove 32 is constructed around the bottom edge of the upper chamber 3 around the arc-shaped protrusion 31. A rubber sealing ring 321 is provided in the groove 32. An upper air hole 311 is opened in the middle of the arc-shaped protrusion 31. The diameter of the upper air hole 311 is about 5mm. The upper air hole 311 is designed in the same way as the lower air hole 211. An oxygen sensor 33, such as an electrochemical oxygen sensor, is also installed inside the upper chamber 3.

[0033] The radius of curvature of the concave surface has an error of ≤0.1 mm with the base arc of the corneal contact lens. The diameter range of the lower and upper pores can be designed to be 3 to 5 mm, and the coaxiality deviation is ≤0.05 mm.

[0034] When the upper chamber 3 approaches the lower chamber 2 downwards, the arc-shaped protruding surface 31 can fit and match the arc-shaped concave surface 21, and the groove 32 can fit and match the raised ring 22. The curvature of the arc-shaped protruding surface 31 and the arc-shaped concave surface 21 is consistent with the curvature of the corneal contact lens being tested. That is to say, the convex surface of the lens can almost match the arc-shaped concave surface, and the concave surface of the lens can almost match the arc-shaped protruding surface. In this way, the lens can be well clamped between the arc-shaped protruding surface and the arc-shaped concave surface, achieving conformal clamping, which is suitable for the shape of the lens without damaging the lens. In addition, the tight fit between the sealing ring 321 and the raised ring 22 in the groove 32 forms a sealing barrier, that is, a sealed measurement environment is formed between the arc-shaped protruding surface 31 and the arc-shaped concave surface 21.

[0035] The lower chamber 2 and the upper chamber 3 are respectively connected to a lower air pipe interface 23 for external oxygen and an upper air pipe interface 34 for external nitrogen. That is to say, the lower chamber 2 is connected to an external oxygen source through the lower air pipe interface 23 so that oxygen flows out from the lower air hole 211. The upper chamber 3 is connected to an external nitrogen source through the upper air pipe interface 34. This avoids the internal gas of the upper chamber 3 being disordered and affecting the oxygen sensor's monitoring of the incoming oxygen. In this way, oxygen can pass through the middle lens and enter the upper air hole 311 from the lower air hole 211. Finally, the oxygen sensor 33 in the upper chamber 3 detects the oxygen and monitors the change of oxygen concentration in the upper chamber over time in real time, that is, the rate at which the oxygen concentration gradually increases from 0%. In order to ensure the safety performance of the upper chamber, an exhaust port is also provided at the top to prevent the internal pressure of the upper chamber from being too high during measurement.

[0036] In some possible implementations, the chamber 1 is also equipped with a temperature control unit for regulating the internal temperature and a humidity unit for regulating the internal air humidity to meet the requirements of constant temperature and humidity measurement environment. Furthermore, the temperature control unit and humidity unit are integrated into the chamber, which is more flexible and convenient than an external environmental chamber.

[0037] Based on this technical solution, the design of the temperature control unit mainly includes a temperature sensor 13, a heating film 14, and a heating controller 15. The heating film 14 is attached to both sides of the inner wall of the enclosure 1. The temperature sensor 13 is installed on the top of the inner wall of the enclosure 1. The temperature sensor 13 and the heating controller 15 are electrically connected to the control part 11 (such as its control unit). The heating controller 15 supplies power to the heating film 14, enabling the heating film 14 to increase the temperature change of the environment inside the enclosure through radiative heat transfer. Combined with the top temperature sensor 13, it monitors the natural convection of hot air to prevent internal overheating and to prevent deformation of the lens material due to uneven temperature. The temperature sensor uses a DS18B20, and the heating controller is a PID controller.

[0038] Regarding the design of the humidity unit: it mainly includes a humidity sensor 16, an atomizer 17, and a humidifier controller 18. The atomizer 17 is installed in the middle of the bottom side inside the housing 1. The humidity sensor 16 is installed on the top of the inner wall of the housing 1. The humidity sensor 16 and the humidifier controller 18 are electrically connected to the control part 11 (such as its control unit). The humidifier controller 18 is used to control the opening and closing of the atomizer 17. The humidity sensor 16 monitors the ambient humidity inside the housing, i.e., the water mist generated by the bottom atomizer diffuses naturally upwards, and the humidity sensor at the top provides real-time feedback on the humidity. The humidity sensor uses an SHT35, and the humidifier controller is a PID controller.

[0039] In some embodiments, a plurality of miniature pressure sensors 221 are uniformly arranged on the circumference of the raised ring 22. The pressure sensors arranged in a ring array can dynamically detect the pressure state of the sealing ring, thereby avoiding excessive pressure from the arc-shaped convex surface on the lens on the arc-shaped concave surface and preventing damage to the lens.

[0040] In some embodiments, the upper part of the housing 1 is provided with a lifting drive 36, a mounting frame 37, several guide posts 38, and an intermediate body 39. The mounting frame 37 is mounted on the housing 1, the lifting drive 36 is mounted on the mounting frame 37, and the several guide posts 38 are movably inserted into the mounting frame 37 via bushings 371. The several guide posts 38 are connected downwards to the intermediate body 39, and the intermediate body 39 is connected to the upper chamber 3. The head end of the lifting drive 36 is connected to the intermediate body 39. The lifting drive is a cylinder drive, which drives the upper chamber to move closer to or away from the lower chamber. The design of the guide posts ensures the stability of the upper chamber during vertical movement, preventing deviation and ensuring accurate docking with the lower chamber.

[0041] In addition, the lower chamber 2 is fixed to a fine-tuning platform 25 by a fixing frame 24. The fine-tuning platform 25 is fixedly installed in the middle of the bottom of the housing 1. The fine-tuning platform is a standard XY axis slide. The installation deviation of the lower chamber is corrected by the fine-tuning platform, which can perfectly match the upper chamber and ensure the accuracy of the lens clamping position.

[0042] The bottom end of the intermediate body 39 is provided with a downward protruding guide post 391, and a guide hole 241 is opened at the top of the fixed frame 24. The guide post 391 and the guide hole 241 form an insertion fit. By aligning the guide post 391 and the guide hole 241, the alignment deviation between the upper chamber body 3 and the lower chamber body 2 is reduced, ensuring that the sealing ring is evenly compressed.

[0043] In addition, a visualization window 121 is installed on the door 12 of the enclosure 1. Such as a tempered glass visualization window, it supports real-time observation of the internal conditions of the enclosure and avoids frequent opening of the door from interfering with the temperature and humidity stability during the measurement process.

[0044] The specific testing process is as follows: First, oxygen is injected into the lower chamber 2, making its interior almost entirely oxygen gas. Then, nitrogen is injected into the upper chamber 3, making its interior almost entirely nitrogen gas. The capacities of the upper and lower chambers are not very large, and the gas filling time is generally about 30 seconds. Simultaneously, the operator holds the lens with its convex side facing down and places it in the center of the arc-shaped concave surface 21, sealing the lower air hole 211 with the lens. At this point, the injection of oxygen into the lower chamber 2 is stopped. Next, the upper chamber 3 is driven downward to contact the lower chamber 2 until the arc-shaped convex surface 31 contacts the concave surface of the lens, and the groove 32 contacts the raised ring 22. The injection of oxygen into the upper chamber 3 is stopped in time according to the output signal of the pressure sensor 221. The lens is eventually held between the curved convex surface 31 and the curved concave surface 21, with the upper vent 311 and the lower vent 211 perpendicularly aligned. At this point, nitrogen injection into the upper chamber 3 is stopped; the door 12 is closed, and the temperature and humidity inside the chamber are adjusted using the temperature and humidity control units until the measurement conditions are met. Finally, oxygen is continuously injected into the lower chamber 2 at a uniform rate (controlled flow rate of 0.5–1 L / min) for approximately 5 minutes. The oxygen sensor 33 in the upper chamber 3 monitors the oxygen concentration changes in real time during this period, converts the oxygen permeability into a value, and compares it with a high oxygen permeability standard lens (such as a silicone hydrogel lens) to verify whether the oxygen permeability of the lens under test is qualified.

[0045] The above descriptions are merely some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the inventive concept of this utility model, and all such modifications and improvements fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A device for testing the oxygen permeability of corneal contact lenses, comprising a housing (1), an execution part, and a control part (11), wherein the housing (1) has a door (12) that can be opened and closed, characterized in that, The execution part is located inside the housing (1), and the control part (11) is located outside the housing (1). The execution part includes: The lower chamber body (2) has an arc-shaped concave surface (21) at the top center for placing a corneal contact lens. A raised ring (22) is formed around the top edge of the arc-shaped concave surface (21). A lower air hole (211) is opened in the middle of the arc-shaped concave surface (21). The upper chamber (3) has an arc-shaped protrusion (31) at the bottom center, and a groove (32) is formed around the bottom edge of the arc-shaped protrusion (31). A sealing ring (321) is provided in the groove (32). An upper air hole (311) is opened in the middle of the arc-shaped protrusion (31). An oxygen sensor (33) is provided inside the upper chamber (3). The upper chamber body (3) is configured to move up and down relative to the lower chamber body (2), and the arc-shaped protrusion (31), groove (32), and upper air hole (311) respectively correspond to the arc-shaped concave surface (21), protrusion ring (22), and lower air hole (211) to form a fit. The lower chamber (2) and upper chamber (3) are respectively connected to a lower air pipe interface (23) for external oxygen and an upper air pipe interface (34) for external nitrogen.

2. The corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The enclosure (1) is also equipped with a temperature control unit for adjusting the internal temperature and a humidity control unit for adjusting the internal air humidity.

3. The corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The temperature control unit includes a temperature sensor (13), a heating film (14), and a heating controller (15). The heating film (14) is attached to the inner wall side of the housing (1). The temperature sensor (13) is installed on the top of the inner wall of the housing (1). The temperature sensor (13) and the heating controller (15) are connected to the control part (11). The heating controller (15) is used to supply power to the heating film (14).

4. The corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The humidity unit includes a humidity sensor (16), an atomizer (17), and a humidifier controller (18). The atomizer (17) is installed on the bottom side of the housing (1), and the humidity sensor (16) is installed on the top of the inner wall of the housing (1). The humidity sensor (16) and the humidifier controller (18) are connected to the control part (11). The humidifier controller (18) is used to control the opening and closing of the atomizer (17).

5. The corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Multiple miniature pressure sensors (221) are evenly arranged on the circumference of the raised ring (22).

6. The corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper part of the housing (1) is provided with a lifting drive (36), a mounting frame (37), several guide posts (38), and an intermediate body (39). The mounting frame (37) is located on the housing (1), the lifting drive (36) is located on the mounting frame (37), and several guide posts (38) are movably inserted into the mounting frame (37) through bushings (371). The several guide posts (38) are connected downward to the intermediate body (39), and the intermediate body (39) is connected to the upper chamber (3). The head end of the lifting drive (36) is connected to the intermediate body (39).

7. The corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower chamber (2) is fixed to a fine-tuning platform (25) by a fixed frame (24), and the fine-tuning platform (25) is fixed to the bottom of the box (1).

8. The corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The bottom end of the intermediate body (39) is provided with a protruding guide column (391), and the top end of the fixed frame (24) is provided with a guide hole (241). The guide column (391) and the guide hole (241) are fitted together.

9. The corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper chamber (3) is provided with an exhaust port (35) at the top.

10. The corneal contact lens oxygen permeability testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A visualization window (121) is installed on the door (12).

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