Contact Lens Polymer Network for Wettability and Oxygen Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing contact lenses face challenges in balancing oxygen permeability, wettability, and material strength, leading to discomfort and potential eye issues due to protein and lipid deposition, especially in extended wear lenses.

Innovation Solution

The development of ophthalmic devices using a monomeric mixture comprising cationic initiators with polymerizable groups and alkyl-substituted oxazolines, which form a brush polymeric network to enhance lubricity, antifouling properties, and water content, improving comfort and biocompatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If soft hydrogel materials are used for contact lenses, then wettability and comfort are improved, but oxygen permeability and material strength deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewettabilityVSAvoidoxygen permeability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite polymer networks combining hydrophilic monomers (for wettability) with silicone-containing monomers or crosslinking agents (for oxygen permeability and strength). This creates a material system that integrates the beneficial properties of both hydrogel and rigid gas permeable materials, resolving the contradiction between wettability and oxygen permeability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies material parameters by adjusting the composition ratios of hydrophilic monomers, crosslinking agents, and silicone components. By optimizing these parameters, the lens achieves simultaneous improvement in wettability, oxygen permeability, and mechanical strength, overcoming the traditional trade-offs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If soft hydrogel materials are used for contact lenses, then wettability and comfort are improved, but material strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovewettabilityVSAvoidmaterial strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite polymer network incorporating crosslinking agents alongside hydrophilic monomers. The crosslinking structure provides mechanical strength while the hydrophilic components maintain wettability, thus resolving the contradiction between comfort and material strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by creating regions with different properties within the lens material. Crosslinked regions provide strength and structural integrity, while hydrophilic regions maintain wettability and comfort, allowing both requirements to be satisfied simultaneously in different parts of the same material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Duration of action of moving object

If extended wear lenses are used, then convenience is improved, but protein and lipid deposition increases causing eye issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewear durationVSAvoiddeposition

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful interaction between lens material and tear film components into a beneficial effect. By incorporating specific surface-modified monomers and hydrophilic components, the lens surface actively resists protein and lipid adhesion, transforming what would be a harmful deposition process into a protective antifouling mechanism that enables safe extended wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution provides contact lenses with increased lubricity, antifouling properties, and water content, enhancing wear comfort and reducing deposition-related eye issues, particularly for extended wear lenses.

Implementation Method 1

one or more cationic initiators comprising one or more polymerizable groups

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization:

Implementation Method 2

one or more alkyl-substituted oxazolines... form a brush polymeric network

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization:

Implementation Method 3

hydrating the polymerized ophthalmic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydration:

Implementation Method 4

Hydrogels are a cross-linked polymeric system that absorb and retain water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS12510690B2Ophthalmic devices

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 BAUSCH & LOMB IRELAND LIMITED

AI summary

An ophthalmic device which is a polymerization product of a monomeric mixture includes (a) one or more cationic initiators comprising one or more polymerizable groups; and (b) one or more alkyl-substituted oxazolines.