Contact Lens Functional Patch with Porous Attaching Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current contact lenses with embedded microelectronic devices or colored patterns are inconvenient and costly due to the need for multiple pairs to change functions or diopters, and they often have uneven surfaces from ink permeation into hydrophilic material pores.
Innovation Solution
A functional patch for contact lenses featuring an attaching layer with a net-like structure of small pores and a functional patterned layer that can be easily attached and detached, allowing for additional functions such as color change, electrical conductivity, or biocompatibility without altering the lens's original shape or surface smoothness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ink patterned layer is printed onto hydrophilic material contact lens surface, then colored pattern function is provided, but ink permeates into pores causing uneven surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous coating layer with controlled pore structure that selectively interacts with ink. The porous structure allows ink to be absorbed and fixed while maintaining surface uniformity, resolving the contradiction between providing colored pattern function and maintaining surface uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure combining hydrophilic contact lens material with a porous coating layer. This composite material system allows the coating to provide colored patterns while the porous structure controls ink permeation to maintain surface uniformity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If microelectronic devices are directly embedded in contact lenses, then detection function is provided, but device placement is difficult and diopter choices are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the contact lens system into separate functional components: the contact lens for vision correction and the microelectronic device for detection. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and simplifies the manufacturing process by avoiding direct embedding difficulties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure or method to facilitate the integration of microelectronic devices with contact lenses. This intermediary approach eases the placement process and expands diopter choices while maintaining detection functionality.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pairs of contact lenses are purchased to change functions or diopters, then function variety is achieved, but cost and inconvenience increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic reconfiguration of contact lens functions through removable components or adjustable mechanisms. Users can change functions or diopters without purchasing new lenses, reducing time loss and inconvenience while maintaining variety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal contact lens system that can perform multiple functions through add-on components or adjustable features. A single base lens can serve multiple purposes, eliminating the need to purchase multiple pairs for different functions or diopters.
4Adaptability or versatility
If contact lenses with embedded microelectronic devices or colored patterns are made, then additional functions are provided, but lens cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments additional functions into separate, optional components that can be added to standard contact lenses. This allows users to purchase only the basic lens and add functional components only when needed, reducing overall cost while maintaining access to additional functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables users to discard old functional components and recover or replace them with new ones without replacing the entire lens. This reduces material waste and cost while allowing function updates.
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 functional patch enables contact lenses to provide additional functions like color change, basal metabolic rate detection, or eye protection without the need for multiple lenses, maintaining a smooth surface and reducing costs and inconvenience.
Implementation Method 1
The attaching layer presenting the second net-like structure form an attaching surface adsorbable to the contact lens
Implementation Method 2
A very limited part of the material molecules of the functional patterned layer is permeated into the attaching layer
Data Source
AI summary
A functional patch for use with a contact lens includes an attaching layer and a functional patterned layer. The contact lens and the attaching layer are made of different hydrophilic materials to present two net-like structures respectively contain a plurality of first pores and second pores, and the second pores have pore size smaller than that of the first pores. The attaching layer is adsorbable to and detachable from the contact lens. A part of the functional patterned layer permeates into the second pores and the remaining part of the functional patterned layer is cured on the surface of the attaching layer. The attaching layer has closely arranged molecular chain blocks to form net-like structure having relatively small pore size. Therefore, only a limited amount of the material molecules of the functional patterned layer is permeated into the second pores, allowing the functional patterned layer to have a smooth surface.