Electrochemical Contact Lens Cleaning with Neutral Saline pH Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current contact lens care solutions, particularly alkaline ones, pose safety and flexibility issues, require specialized preparation, and lack effective protein removal and sterilization methods, leading to lens discoloration and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical method using a neutral physiological saline solution with pH adjustment and a cation exchange membrane, employing electrodes to generate hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ions for sterilization and protein removal, with a device design that includes multiple electrodes and chambers for controlled electrolysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alkaline care solutions are used to achieve excellent cleaning and sterilization effects, then the cleaning and sterilization effectiveness is improved, but the safety and harm to human body and contact lenses increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the care solution from alkaline to neutral (pH 7.0), using physiological saline as the base solution. This parameter change maintains cleaning effectiveness through electrochemical reactions while eliminating the harmful effects of alkaline solutions on eyes and contact lenses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces chemical cleaning mechanisms (alkaline solutions) with electrochemical mechanisms (electrodes generating reactive oxygen species). The electrolysis process generates cleaning agents in-situ without requiring harmful chemical additives, thus improving safety while maintaining effectiveness
2Measurement precision
If conventional pH adjustment methods are used by adding alkali to the solution, then the pH value can be adjusted, but the preparation complexity and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses electrochemical reactions to automatically generate the required pH conditions and cleaning agents through the electrolysis of water and saline. The electrodes self-generate hydroxyl radicals and other reactive species that provide both pH adjustment and cleaning functions, eliminating the need for manual alkali addition and simplifying preparation
Solution Approach 2:
The electrolysis process simultaneously achieves multiple functions: pH adjustment, sterilization, and protein removal. The same electrochemical reactions that adjust pH also generate the cleaning agents needed for protein removal, reducing the number of separate preparation steps and materials required
3Reliability
If care solutions are used for sterilization and protein removal, then the sterilization effect is achieved, but the lens discoloration and damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical nature of the sterilization agent from alkaline chemicals to electrochemically generated reactive oxygen species (hydroxyl radicals, ozone). This parameter change in the chemical composition achieves effective sterilization while avoiding the discoloration and damage caused by alkaline solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of strong oxidizing conditions into a benefit by using controlled electrochemical generation of oxidizing agents. The in-situ generation of hydroxyl radicals and ozone provides powerful sterilization and protein removal capabilities while the controlled dosage and neutral base solution prevent lens damage
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
Achieves safe, efficient, and rapid sterilization and protein removal without lens damage, reducing costs and inconveniences, with a 99% bacterial and fungal kill rate within 3 minutes, and preventing lens discoloration.
Implementation Method 1
The first electrode undergoes a reduction reaction, electrolyzing H2O in the chloride ion-containing solution in the care chamber to produce H2 and OH-
Implementation Method 2
The third electrode undergoes an oxidation reaction, electrolyzing Cl- in the chloride ion-containing solution to generate Cl2
Implementation Method 3
A cation exchange membrane is placed between the care chamber and auxiliary chamber
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A method and a device for cleaning and sterilizing contact lens (5) using electrochemistry, The method comprises: pouring normal saline into care chambers (1) and an auxiliary chamber (10), a cation exchange membrane (101) being provided between the care chamber (10), first electrodes (1) and the auxiliary chambers (1) and second electrodes (12) being provided inside the care chambers (1), third electrodes (102) being provided inside the auxiliary chamber (10), and contact lenses (5) being provided inside the care chambers (1); connecting the first electrodes (11) serving as a cathode and the third electrodes (102) serving as an anode to a power supply, such that the first electrodes (11) allows OH-to be generated inside the care chambers (1), and the cation exchange membrane (101) stops the OH-generated in the care chambers (1) from entering the auxiliary chamber (10); and then disconnecting the power supply, and connecting the power supply to the first electrodes (11) and the second electrodes (12), such that the anode generates ClO-, the ClO-sterilizes the contact lenses (5) and degrades denatured proteins and, under the action of an electric field force, the degraded denatured proteins move towards the electrode carrying opposite charges to those of themselves. A neutral NaCl solution is used as a base care solution, and the p H value of the solution is automatically adjusted by means of a special structure and a special method, thereby achieving high flexibility, and good sterilization and protein removal effects. A neutral NaCl solution is used as the care solution, and the pH value of the solution is automatically adjusted through a special structure and method, which provides high flexibility and excellent sterilization and protein removal effects.