Title:
コンタクトレンズを成形する方法および該方法で使用するための成形装置
Document Type and Number:
Japanese Patent JP2007504018
Kind Code:
A
Abstract:
The present application relates to a method of moulding a contact lens using a male mould ( 3 ) and a female mould ( 5 ). The method comprises the steps of introducing lens-forming material in a liquid state into the female mould. The male mould is then inserted into the female mould to a first relative position to form an assembly of the male and female moulds in which the moulds together define a moulding cavity ( 11 ) and a reservoir ( 21 ) for lens-forming material. During the insertion of the male mould to the first position thereof, part of the liquid state lens-forming material is expelled from the moulding cavity to the reservoir. Curing of the lens-forming material is then initiated in the moulding cavity whilst keeping open a pathway between the moulding cavity and the reservoir so as to allow lens forming material to flow from the reservoir into the moulding cavity to compensate for shrinkage of the lensforming material during curing. An external force is applied on the assembly of moulds to insert the male mould further into the female mould to thereby close the moulding cavity and to seal off the moulding cavity from the reservoir. The lens-forming material is allowed to complete the transformation to a final, glassy solid state within the sealed moulding cavity. The formed contact lens is removed from the assembly of male and female moulds after the lens forming material has reached the final glassy solid state thereof. The invention also relates to apparatus for moulding a contact lens.
Inventors:
Kelly, Michael
Application Number:
JP2006524422A
Publication Date:
March 01, 2007
Filing Date:
August 27, 2004
Export Citation:
Assignee:
VISAQ LIMITED
International Classes:
B29D11/00; G02C7/04
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Minoru Yoshida
Tatsuya Tanaka
Tsukasa Senba
Hiroshi Furusawa
Yasumitsu Suzuki
Nao Usui
Tatsuya Tanaka
Tsukasa Senba
Hiroshi Furusawa
Yasumitsu Suzuki
Nao Usui