U.S. patent application number 11/526330 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-04 for opthalmic lens package with a deformable bottom and methods of its use.
Invention is credited to George Brock, James R. Davis, Edward Dzwill, James Peck, Michael Tokarski.
Application Number | 20090139879 11/526330 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37888424 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090139879 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tokarski; Michael ; et
al. |
June 4, 2009 |
Opthalmic lens package with a deformable bottom and methods of its
use
Abstract
An ophthalmic lens package including a deformable bottom and
deformable arms.
Inventors: |
Tokarski; Michael; (Ponte
Vedra, FL) ; Peck; James; (Jacksonville, FL) ;
Dzwill; Edward; (Flemington, NJ) ; Brock; George;
(St. Augustine, FL) ; Davis; James R.;
(Pickerington, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PHILIP S. JOHNSON;JOHNSON & JOHNSON
ONE JOHNSON & JOHNSON PLAZA
NEW BRUNSWICK
NJ
08933-7003
US
|
Family ID: |
37888424 |
Appl. No.: |
11/526330 |
Filed: |
September 25, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60720753 |
Sep 27, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/210 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/210 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/24 20060101
B65D081/24 |
Claims
1. A package for enclosing an ophthalmic lens comprising, a
deformable bottom comprising a deformable well, said deformable
bottom comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and two or
more deformable arms extending from said inner surface wherein said
two or more deformable arms and said deformable well may be moved
together between an open and a closed position, wherein an
ophthalmic lens and its packaging solution are enclosed by said two
or more deformable arms and said deformable well in the closed
position and said ophthalmic lens is exposed when said package is
in the open position.
2. The package of claim 1, further comprising side walls comprising
a top and a bottom.
3. The package of claim 2, further comprising a flexible cover,
detachably sealed to said top.
4. The package of claim 1 comprising at least three deformable
arms.
5. The package of claim 1 comprising at least four deformable
arms.
6. The package of claim 1, further comprising illustrated or
printed instructions that instruct the user to open said
package.
7. A method of inserting an ophthalmic lens into the eye of a user
comprising opening a package comprising, a deformable bottom
comprising a deformable well, said deformable bottom comprising an
outer surface, an inner surface and two or more deformable arms
extending from said inner surface wherein said two or more
deformable arms and said deformable well may be moved together
between an open and a closed position, wherein an ophthalmic lens
and its packaging solution are enclosed by said two or more
deformable arms and said deformable well in the closed position and
said ophthalmic lens is exposed when said package is in the open
position pushing said deformable well from the outer surface of
said package, removing the ophthalmic lens and inserting the
ophthalmic lens into a user's eye.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said package comprises three or
more deformable arms.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein said package comprises side
walls.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising instructing said user
how to remove an ophthalmic lens from said package using
illustrated or printed instructions.
11. A method of packaging an ophthalmic lens comprising inserting
an ophthalmic lens into a package comprising, a deformable bottom
comprising a deformable well, said deformable bottom comprising an
outer surface, an inner surface and two or more deformable arms
extending from said inner surface wherein said two or more
deformable arms and said deformable well may be moved together
between an open and a closed position, wherein an ophthalmic lens
and its packaging solution are enclosed by said two or more
deformable arms and said deformable well in the closed position and
said ophthalmic lens is exposed when said package is in the open
position and sealing said package with a flexible cover.
Description
[0001] This application is a non-provisional filing of a
provisional application, U.S. Ser. No. 60/720,753, filed on Sep.
27, 2005.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an ophthalmic lens package
and, more particularly, to an ophthalmic lens package adapted for
improved accessibility to the contents thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Ophthalmic lenses, including contact lenses, intra-ocular
lenses and overlay lenses and particularly disposable contact
lenses, have been conventionally packaged in "blister packs." In
general, a blister pack comprises a rigid plastic (e.g.,
polypropylene), concave-shaped receptacle for receiving an
ophthalmic lens and a flexible cover, typically made from a
laminate material (such as metal foil), which is removably attached
to the receptacle for enclosing the lens therein. Within each
blister pack are a single ophthalmic lens and a sufficient amount
of contact lens solution to prevent drying of the ophthalmic lens
and to maintain the ophthalmic lens readily available for use.
While conventional blister packs provide many users with a
convenient means for shipping and storing ophthalmic lenses, some
users have trouble removing the lens from the contact lens solution
and the lenses are damaged during removal from the package.
Further, lens can often stick to the inner surface of the laminate
and may damaged or lost when users open their packages.
Accordingly, there is a need for an ophthalmic lens package that
provides user's easy access to its contents on a consistent basis.
This need is met by the following invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
reference is made to the following detailed description of an
exemplary embodiment considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an ophthalmic lens
package constructed in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view the ophthalmic lens package
of FIG. 1 in a closed position;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view, of a ophthalmic lens
package of the invention in an open position; and
[0008] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ophthalmic lens
package in an open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The invention includes a package for enclosing an ophthalmic
lens comprising, a deformable bottom comprising a deformable well,
said deformable bottom comprising an outer surface, an inner
surface and two or more deformable arms extending from said inner
surface wherein said two or more deformable arms and said
deformable well may be moved together between an open and a closed
position, wherein an ophthalmic lens and its packaging solution are
enclosed by said two or more deformable arms and said deformable
well in the closed position and said ophthalmic lens is exposed
when said package is in the open position.
[0010] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate an ophthalmic lens package 10
includes circular side wall 14, deformable bottom 16, and four
deformable arms 18. Circular side wall 14 has a top 15 and a bottom
17. Deformable well 20 extends from deformable bottom 16 and
deformable arms 18 extend from the inner surface 22 of deformable
bottom 16. Referring to FIG. 1 deformable arms 18 and deformable
well 20 are closed to enclose ophthalmic lens (not shown) and its
solution (not shown) therein. Flexible cover 12 is shown as
partially attached to top 15 of side wall 14. FIG. 2 illustrates a
cross sectional view of a closed package. Deformable arms 18 and
deformable well 20 enclose ophthalmic lens 24 and its solution.
This package is sealed by flexible cover 12, which is attached to
top 15 of side wall 14.
[0011] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the furthest surface of
said deformable arms from said deformable bottom do not touch in
the closed position. The furthest surface of said deformable arms
18 may contact or overlap one another when the package is in the
closed position, However, when package 10 is in the closed
position, it is preferred that the furthest surface of said
deformable arms 18 be close enough to one another to enclose lens
24 if package 10 is moved by any or all of the following, seating
the package on its flexible cover, rolling it on its side wall,
shaking it, and the like. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate package 10 in
the opened position. Deformable well 20 of FIG. 4 is moved in the
direction of arrow 26 by a force such as a user's finger. The
movement of deformable well 20, from the outer surface 28 displaces
deformable arms 18 to expose lens 24. Lens 24 is presented to the
user and may be easily removed without requiring the user to insert
his or her finger into a well containing packaging solution. An
additional advantage of the invention is that the enclosed
ophthalmic lens does not come into contact with the flexible cover
when said two deformable arms and said deformable well are in the
closed position. This prevents the ophthalmic lens from sticking to
the flexible cover.
[0012] As used herein, "ophthalmic lens" refer to a device that
resides on the eye, including but not limited to soft contact,
lenses, hard contact lenses, intraocular lenses, overlay lenses,
preferably soft contact lenses. Flexible cover 12 may be
manufactured from a foil/polymer laminate or coextrusion,
comprising a metal layer, such as aluminum, and a polymer layer,
such as polypropylene, coating the metal layer. Alternatively,
flexible cover 12 may be manufactured from other materials, such as
a combination of polymers with various barrier and sealing
characteristics formed into a laminate or coextrusion. In the
illustrated embodiment, when package 10 is closed, flexible cover
12 is sealed to the top 15 of circular side wall 14 in order to
prevent the loss or evaporation of the solution from the package 10
and to prevent contamination of the contents thereof from foreign
objects such as debris and dirt particles. The preferred method of
sealing the surface preferably by heat sealing. Alternatively,
other sealing means, such as adhesives, induction sealing or sonic
welding, may be utilized.
[0013] Packaging solutions for the ophthalmic lenses include but
are not limited to saline solution, water or buffered aqueous
solutions, and the preferred solution is aqueous saline solution.
The packaging solution is present in a quantity sufficient to keep
the ophthalmic lens saturated to retain its intended shape (i.e.
convex shape) and softness when release from package 10.
[0014] The invention includes a method of packaging an ophthalmic
lens comprising inserting an ophthalmic lens into a package
comprising, a deformable bottom comprising a deformable well, said
deformable bottom comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and
two or more deformable arms extending from said inner surface
wherein said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well
may be moved together between an open and a closed position,
wherein an ophthalmic lens and its packaging solution are enclosed
by said two or more deformable arms and said deformable well in the
closed position and said ophthalmic lens is exposed when said
package is in the open position and sealing said package with a
flexible cover.
[0015] Further the invention includes a package for an ophthalmic
lens comprising, side walls and a deformable bottom comprising a
deformable well, said deformable bottom comprising an outer
surface, an inner surface and two or more deformable arms extending
from said inner surface wherein said two or more deformable arms
and said deformable well may be moved together between an open and
a closed position, wherein an ophthalmic lens and its packaging
solution are enclosed by said two or more deformable arms and said
deformable well in the closed position and said ophthalmic lens is
exposed when said package is in the open position.
[0016] Still further the invention includes a method of inserting
an ophthalmic lens into the eye of a user comprising opening a
package comprising, a deformable bottom comprising a deformable
well, said deformable bottom comprising an outer surface, an inner
surface and two or more deformable arms extending from said inner
surface wherein said two or more deformable arms and said
deformable well may be moved together between an open and a closed
position, wherein an ophthalmic lens and its packaging solution are
enclosed by said two or more deformable arms and said deformable
well in the closed position and said ophthalmic lens is exposed
when said package is in the open position pushing said deformable
well from the outer surface of said package, removing the
ophthalmic lens and inserting the ophthalmic lens into a user's
eye.
[0017] It will be understood that the embodiments described herein
is merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make
many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention. Specifically, the present invention has
been adapted for use in housing a single ophthalmic lens and an
amount of solution. However, the present invention can be utilized
to house a plurality of ophthalmic lenses and an amount of solution
therefor. Further features and advantages of the invention will
appear more clearly on a reading of the detailed description of an
exemplary embodiment of the invention, which is given below by way
of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. All
such variations and modifications are intended to be included
within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended
claims.
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