Contact Lens Moisturizing Composition via Crosslinked Hydrophilic Network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contact lenses with poor oxygen permeability and low moisture content cause discomfort, dryness, and hypoxia due to insufficient tear secretion, leading to foreign body sensation and abnormal blood vessel proliferation.
Innovation Solution
A moisturizing composition with a 3-dimensional crosslinking structure and a surfactant-stabilized hydrophilic cosolvent-bonded moisturizing additive is applied to contact lenses, enhancing moisture retention and wettability, allowing the lenses to maintain high moisture content independently of tear secretion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrogel material with high moisture content is used to improve oxygen permeability, then oxygen permeability is improved, but the lens becomes dependent on tear secretion which may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating a moisturizing composition into the contact lens material before the lens is used. The composition includes hydrophilic polymers and moisturizing agents that are pre-loaded into the lens structure, providing moisture reservoirs that can be released over time to maintain lens hydration independently of tear secretion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining hydrogel base material with additional moisturizing components including hydrophilic polymers (such as polyacrylic acid, polyvinyl alcohol), moisturizing agents (such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin), and crosslinking agents. This creates a multi-functional composite material that provides both oxygen permeability and sustained moisture retention.
2Reliability
If organosilicon polymer is used as main material to achieve high oxygen permeability, then oxygen permeability is improved, but wettability deteriorates due to hydrophobicity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by integrating organosilicon polymer base material with hydrophilic modifiers and moisturizing composition. The hydrophilic polymers and surfactants in the moisturizing composition are incorporated into the hydrophobic organosilicon matrix, creating a composite structure that maintains the high oxygen permeability of the organosilicon while adding wettability and moisture retention properties through the hydrophilic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions with different properties within the contact lens material. The base organosilicon polymer provides high oxygen permeability in certain regions, while hydrophilic polymers and moisturizing agents are distributed to create localized hydrophilic zones that improve wettability and moisture retention where needed, achieving spatial variation in material properties.
3Stability of the object's composition
If crosslinking structure is added to improve structural stability, then structural stability is improved, but moisture retention capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the crosslinking degree and using specific crosslinking agents that balance structural stability with moisture retention. The crosslinking density is optimized to provide sufficient structural integrity while maintaining adequate pore spaces and hydrophilic pathways for moisture retention. Parameters such as crosslinking agent concentration, molecular weight, and crosslinking reaction conditions are adjusted to achieve the optimal balance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition significantly reduces dryness sensations and improves moisture retention in contact lenses, maintaining comfort and preventing hypoxia by ensuring the lenses absorb and retain moisture, reducing the need for tear moisture and minimizing weight loss over time.
Implementation Method 1
The earliest technology of the contact lens was developed in 19 century... the hydrogel material such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was developed... HEMA is mainly developed due to its high moisture content
Implementation Method 2
a moisturizing composition with a 3-dimensional crosslinking structure and a surfactant-stabilized hydrophilic cosolvent-bonded moisturizing additive
Implementation Method 3
bond a hydrophilic cosolvent to a larger-molecular-weight moisturizing additive to improve the hydrophilic characteristic of the moisturizing additive
Data Source
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AI summary
A moisturizing composition of a contact lens is disclosed in the present invention. A rinse agent (ex. TEOA) is applied for bonding a moisturizing stabilizer (ex. HPMC) and a compound of a hydrophilic cosolvent (ex. PEG) and a moisturizing additive (ex. HA). Hence, the solubility of the moisturizing additive and the aqueous solution can be improved via applying the hydrophilic cosolvent; the stability of the combination of the moisturizing stabilizer and the moisturizing additive can be improved via the structural and the chemical stabilities of the moisturizing stabilizer itself. Meanwhile, the moisturizing composition disclosed can be directly applied to the raw material of the conventional contact lens during manufacturing the high-moisturizing contact lenses.