Contact lens cleaning and disinfecting system
US5144144A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 19, 1991 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61L12/063
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A contact lens cleaning and disinfecting system is formed as a compact unit with an upper housing portion containing a UV lamp and a lower base portion containing a cleaning/disinfecting chamber which is filled with saline solution, a lens holder, a turbulence mechanism for inducing turbulence in the fluid, and an electronic control unit for operating the UV lamp and the turbulence mechanism in a single cleaning/disinfecting cycle of comparatively short duration. The lens holder has a pair of lower lens holder portions for the lenses and an upper bracket for shading the lenses from direct UV radiation. The turbulence mechanism is a magnetic pedal, tethered on the end of a flexible spring, which is driven by a magnetic flux generator to create a whirlpool in the fluid which swirls in and around the lens holder portion. Particles, films, and other deposits dislodged from the lenses are carried by the whirlpool above the upper bracket of the lens holder where they are disinfected by the UV radiation. The pedal is driven in oscillation in a sub-sonic range of about 50-120 cyc/sec. An electrical contact interlock between the upper housing and the lower base prevents accidental operation…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.