Patent ID: 7785092
Filing Date: 2010-08-31
Classification: B29D,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A system for producing silicone hydrogel contact lenses from a polymerizable composition, the system comprising: a housing defining a chamber having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, and a length extending from the inlet portion to the outlet portion; a carrier movable in the chamber between the inlet portion and the outlet portion, the carrier being configured to carry a plurality of contact lens mold assemblies; a plurality of contact lens mold assemblies containing a polymerizable silicone hydrogel contact lens precursor composition provided on the carrier, each contact lens mold assembly comprises a front surface mold section and a back surface mold section assembled together to provide a concave lens forming surface and a convex lens forming surface; a first light source located in the housing spaced apart from and generally facing a first side of the carrier for providing light effective to facilitate polymerization of the polymerizable composition in the plurality of contact lens mold assemblies; a second light source located in the housing spaced apart from and generally facing a substantially opposing second side of the carrier for providing light effective to facilitate polymerization of the polymerizable composition in the plurality of contact lens mold assemblies; a first optical surface spaced apart from the plurality of contact lens mold assemblies and positioned in the housing to provide a substantially uniform intensity of light from the first light source over the contact lens mold assemblies positioned substantially perpendicular to the length of the chamber; a second optical surface spaced apart from the plurality of contact lens mold assemblies and positioned in the housing to provide a substantially uniform intensity of light from the second light source over the contact lens mold assemblies positioned substantially perpendicular to the length of the chamber and wherein the first optical surface and the second optical surface each comprises a substantially planar surface extending across contact lens mold assemblies provided on the carrier substantially perpendicular to the length of the chamber and extending across contact lens mold assemblies provided on the carrier substantially parallel to the length of the chamber; and the carrier being configured to allow each of the plurality of contact lens mold assemblies provided on the carrier to be exposed to light from both the first light source and the second light source.