Surface-Modified Ophthalmic Devices with Reactive Coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ophthalmic devices, particularly contact lenses made from silicone-containing materials, have hydrophobic, non-wettable surfaces that lead to issues with lipid deposition and discomfort during extended wear, necessitating improved surface modification for enhanced hydrophilicity and biocompatibility.
Innovation Solution
A surface modified ophthalmic device with a coating composition comprising a copolymer of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and hydrophilic monomers, forming a robust interlocked coating through complementary reactive functionalities, increasing hydrophilicity and lubricity on both anterior and posterior surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If silicone-containing materials are used for contact lenses, then oxygen permeability is improved, but surface wettability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying only the surface layer of the contact lens while maintaining the bulk silicone material properties. The surface coating contains hydrophilic monomers and reactive groups that provide wettability, while the underlying silicone bulk maintains high oxygen permeability. This resolves the contradiction by creating different properties at different locations of the same object.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure with a silicone-based bulk material combined with a surface coating layer containing hydrophilic polymers and reactive functional groups. The composite combines the oxygen permeability of silicone with the wettability of hydrophilic materials, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
2Ease of operation
If surface modification is applied to improve wettability, then wear comfort is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates reactive functional groups directly into the lens material during manufacturing, and pre-mixes the coating composition with all necessary components including hydrophilic monomers and crosslinking agents. This preliminary preparation allows the coating to be applied and cured in a single step, reducing manufacturing complexity while achieving improved wear comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating composition contains reactive functional groups that automatically react with complementary groups on the lens surface during application, forming crosslinked bonds without requiring additional processing steps. The system self-assembles and self-cures, simplifying the manufacturing process while ensuring uniform coating application and improved wear comfort.
3Reliability
If extended wear is enabled through surface modification, then biocompatibility is improved, but protein and lipid deposition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the naturally occurring reactive functional groups on the lens surface, which could potentially cause irritation, into beneficial crosslinking sites that anchor hydrophilic coating molecules. This transformation creates a stable, biocompatible surface that resists protein and lipid deposition, turning a potential harmful factor into a protective feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface chemical parameters by introducing hydrophilic monomers and reactive functional groups that create a different surface chemistry. This parameter change results in a surface that is both biocompatible for extended wear and resistant to protein and lipid deposition, simultaneously improving biocompatibility while preventing harmful accumulations.
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 modified surface coating enhances wear comfort and reduces protein and lipid deposition, ensuring compatibility and comfort during extended wear by providing a durable, uniform, and lubricious surface.
Implementation Method 1
a copolymer comprising (i) monomeric units derived from an ethylenically unsaturated containing monomer having ring-opening reactive functionalities
Implementation Method 2
first ones of the ring-opening reactive functionalities of the ethylenically unsaturated containing monomer are complementary to the one or more surface reactive functional groups of the ophthalmic device
Implementation Method 3
a hydrophilic polymer having reactive functional groups, wherein second ones of the ring-opening reactive functionalities of the ethylenically unsaturated containing monomer are complementary to the reactive functional groups of the hydrophilic polymer
Data Source
AI summary
A surface modified ophthalmic device includes an ophthalmic device having one or more surface reactive functional groups and a surface coating, the surface coating including a coating composition including (a) a copolymer comprising (i) monomeric units derived from an ethylenically unsaturated containing monomer having ring-opening reactive functionalities, and (ii) monomeric units derived from a hydrophilic monomer having an ethylenically unsaturated reactive group, and (b) a hydrophilic polymer having reactive functional groups, wherein first ones of the ring-opening reactive functionalities of the ethylenically unsaturated containing monomer are complementary to the one or more surface reactive functional groups of the ophthalmic device and second ones of the ring-opening reactive functionalities of the ethylenically unsaturated containing monomer are complementary to the reactive functional groups of the hydrophilic polymer.