CONTACT LENS APPLIER, REMOVER AND CONTAINER

Abstract: A manipulator (1) serving for applying a contact lens (9) in or removing it from a user's eye (10). The manipulator is of the kind that comprises a manipulation part (2) for holding the manipulator with the fingers, a supporting part (3) on the manipulation part (2) with the same or a slightly smaller diameter than the contact lens (9), and a concave face (4) on the supporting part (3) for in use detachably receiving the contact lens (9). The manipulator furthermore comprises a slit (5) made in the supporting part (3) and extending from its concave face (4). When the manipulator is used to remove a contact lens from an eye, the user presses the slit a little together so that a fold (12) is preliminarily made with a subjacent channel (13) for taking air from the open in under the loosened parts of the contact lens. Using the manipulator according to the invention, a contact lens can easily and safely be removed from a user's eye without risk of thereby injuring the cornea of the eye.

Description: Contact lens applier, remover and container. The invention relates to a manipulator for applying a contact lens in or removing it from a user's eye and of the kind comprising a manipulation part for manipulating the manipulator with the fingers, a supporting part fitted on the manipulation part for supporting the contact lens in operation, and a concave face for receiving and detachably retaining the convex face " of the contact lens. For among other things cosmetic reasons, many prefer to use contact lenses instead of glasses. The user normally makes use of his fingers to apply or remove contact lenses at the risk of thereby bringing impurities and/or bacteria from the fingers into the eye. With a view to remedy this disadvantage at application of a contact lens, an applicator described in US Patent No 5,695,049 has been developed. This applicator has a concave, elastomeric disc for preliminarily holding the contact lens. With a finger under the disc, this elastomeric disc is then everted so that it assumes a convex form with the contact lens placed on the now formed convex face of the disc. Finally, the contact lens is applied in the eye with said finger under the disc. Neither this finger nor any other of the user's fingers will thereby come into contact with the contact lens or the eye. During storing and distribution, the contact lens is lying together with sterile saline solution of suitable concentration in a bowl that the elastomeric disc forms in its original, concave form. The bowl is during this tightly sealed by e.g. a cap . From the applicant's International Patent Application WO 99/21519, which is incorporated in the present patent application by reference, is furthermore known a package in form of a cup which is closely connected to a fingerstall for applying a contact lens in an eye. The package has a chamber with a sterile saline solution in which the contact lens is lying. When the contact lens is to be used, the package is opened so that the contact lens is made to lie on a concave face on the fingerstall to which it adheres due to the surface tension in the saline solution. Now the user guides with the fingerstall the contact lens into his eye where it will remain as the adhesive force between the eye and the contact lens is greater than the adhesive force between this lens and the concave face of the fingerstall. The applicators known from the above mentioned patent documents, US Patent No 5,695,049 and WO Patent Application 99/21519, can however not be used for removing a contact lens from an eye. However, such a device is known from US Patent No 4,512,602 which functions with a suction disc at the end of a handle for handling the device during the operation. When the contact lens is to be removed, the suction disc is made to stick to the contact lens. Then, the user pulls at the handle of the device in order to thereby loosen and remove the stuck contact lens from the eye. The contact lens is however stuck to the eye with a quite considerable adhesive force, and there is thus a risk that the known device will not only pull the contact lens free of the eye but that the cornea will follow more or less. The object of the invention is to provide a manipulator of the kind mentioned m the opening paragraph which is easy and safe to use. A second object of the invention is to provide a package containing a number of manipulators. A third object of the invention is to provide a container for storing a contact lens The novel and unique features according to the invention, whereby this is achieved, is the fact that the manipulator furthermore includes at least one slit made m the supporting part and extending from the concave face of this supporting part. When the manipulator is used to remove a contact lens from an eye, a part of the contact lens is preliminarily received as a fold m the slit whereby, between the eye and the contact lens, a channel is formed that ends m the open air. During the pulling off of the contact lens, this lens is gradually loosened from the eye while air is filled up under the loosened areas so that a negative pressure cannot be built here which m a harmful way could cause the cornea to completely or partly be loosened or pulled off the eyeball. In an expedient embodiment, the manipulator is designed as a fingerstall with a skirt forming the manipulation part of the manipulator, and a base forming its supporting part whereby the slit is extending completely or partly through the base and a distance down along each side of the skirt. The fingerstall is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and easy to employ. In its simple embodiment, can the slit end freely on the inside of the fingerstall. In other cases, it can however be advantageous to let the mouth of the slit on the inside of the fingerstall be closed by an elastically deformable wall which causes the base and sides of the fingerstall to be leakproof. The elastically deformable wall can be designed as a U or a V extending all the way along the slit and with the legs connected to the inside of the fingerstall on both side of the slit. This embodiment is well suited for removing a contact lens by receiving the fold of the contact lens m the slit by pressing the manipulator a little together. In order that the contact lens can be folded into the slit for certain, this slit can pass nto the concave face of the manipulator along edges with no or only slight curvature. These edges draw the part of the soft contact lens that is spanning the slit together m the direction of pressing. In other cases, the elastically deformable wall can be designed as a membrane surrounding a channel connecting the underside of the base of the fingerstall to a slit only partly extending down into the base. The membrane acts as a vacuum pump which can provide a negative pressure for drawing a fold of the contact lens a little into the slit. In an alternative embodiment, a liquid-absorbent material can be fitted into the slit for adhering to an area of the contact lens when this is to be removed from an eye. The invention also relates to a package for containing a number of contact lenses. The novel and unique features according to the invention are that the package consists of a number of manipulators according to the invention which are joined in a row with a chamber for storing a contact lens defined by each of two adjacent manipulators. This package is very inexpensive as it only consists of the respective manipulators . The invention furthermore relates to a container serving for storing a contact lens and comprising a manipulator according to the invention and a cap for closing the concave face on the base of the fingerstall. This container is well suited as package for a new contact lens and for subsequently, sterilely storing a reusable lens until this is to be used again. The invention will be explained in greater detail below, describing only exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an axial sectional view of a manipulator according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the manipulator in fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a fractional view of the manipulator in figs. 1-3 partly in section and in a first phase during removal of a contact lens from an eye, Fig. 5 is the manipulator in fig. 4 in a second phase, fig. 6 is the manipulator in fig. 4 in a third phase, Fig. 7 is an axial sectional view of a second embodiment of a manipulator according to the invention, Fig. 8 is a plan view of the manipulator in fig. 7, Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line Ix - IX of fig. 7, Fig. 10 shows the manipulator of figs. 7 - 9 as a part of a package or container for sterilely storing a contact lens, Fig. 11 shows a number of the packages or containers m fig. 10 joined m a row, Fig. 12 is an axial sectional view of a third embodiment of a manipulator according to the invention, Fig. 13 shows the manipulator m fig. 12 but rotated 90° m relation to fig. 12, Fig. 14 shows a number of the manipulators m fig 12 and 13 joined m a row, and Fig. 15 is an axial sectional view of a fourth embodiment 33 of a manipulator according to the invention. Figs. 1 - 3 show a first embodiment of a manipulator 1 according to the invention The manipulator has a skirt 2 and a base 3 with a concave face 4. Across the base and a distance down along each side of the skirt is made a slit 5. The edges 6 of the slit are sharp or provided with only a small curvature . The manipulator can be made of any kind of suitable material However, the material must be elastic for the manipulator to be able to obtain the desired effect. In the following, it is assumed that the manipulator is made of a plastic having the required elasticity and which furthermore is transparent. As shown m fig. 2, a line of sight 7 is marked on the base 3, said line is passing through the centre 8 of the base and crosses the slit 5 m cross direction The line of sight 7 and the slit 5 together form a sight serving for facilitating the use of the manipulator. Figs. 4-6 show how the user (not shown) uses the manipulator to remove a contact lens 9 from an eye 10. In fig. 4, the user is with his fingers holding the manipulator 1 which is guided towards the eye m the direction indicated by the arrow. The user focuses with the eye on the sight 5,7 which is clearly outlined on the transparent base 3 and thereby securely guides the manipulator 1 m to contact with the contact lens 9 as shown m fig. 5. In fig. 5, the user is now pressing the slit 5 a little together as indicated with the arrows. Thereby, the manipulator is affecting the soft contact lens with the edges 6 of the slit 5, said edges are as mentioned above sharp or only have a small curvature, the contact lens is thereby drawn a little together m the direction of the arrows. This results m a fold 12 being made m the slit 5, said fold continues out to the periphery of the contact lens and leaves behind it an air channel 13 between the eye and the contact lens . At the periphery of the contact lens, the air channel 13 ends m the A contact lens adheres on the cornea of the eye with a relatively great adhesive force If the contact lens is attempted pulled free of the eye ust like that, a negative pressure can furthermore be built between the cornea and the contact lens that together with the adhesive force can lead to the cornea being loosened and/or taken off when the contact lens is pulled free of the eye. By using the manipulator according to the invention to remove the contact lens from the eye, this risk is completely eliminated as it now is not possible for a negative pressure to be built between the contact lens and the cornea. For as described above, the channel 13 shown m fig. 5 ends m the open and the pressure m the area of the contact lens under the fold 12 that is kept clear of adhesion is therefore always the same as the ambient pressure. When the user now acts on the manipulator with a tractive effort m the direction indicated by the arrow m fig. 5, that is away from the eye 10, this tractive effort is transmitted to the contact lens via both the fold 12 m the slit 5 and the adhesive force between the concave face 4 of the manipulator and the contact lens The user now pulls the contact lens free of the eye, the already loosened area at the fold 12 successively extending to the rest of the contact lens during this, and the growing space between the contact lens and the cornea successively being filled up by air entering from the mouth of the space m the open . When the contact lens is removed by means of the manipulator according to the invention, the relatively great adhesion of the contact lens to the cornea therefore does not have to be overcome all at once at the risk of taking off the cornea. Instead, the contact lens is gradually loosened from the area at the fold with a tractive force that is quite insignificant m relation to the adhesive force existing between the cornea and the eyeball . During this operation, a negative pressure furthermore cannot be built between the cornea and the contact lens as the air channel 13 under the fold 12 connects the areas under the loosened parts of the contact lent to the open from the start of the operation. By means of the manipulator according to the invention, a contact lens can therefore safely and effectively be removed from an eye without risk of thereby injuring the cornea of the eye . In fig. 6, the contact lens is now completely removed from the eye and is together with the manipulator taken away in the direction indicated by the arrow. The removed contact lens can be a disposable lens which is discarded after having been used only once, or a reusable lens which can be used many times. In the latter case, the contact lens is advantageously stored sterilely in a disinfectant fluid, for example sterile saline solution in suitable concentration, till the contact lens is to be applied in the eye again. Figs. 7-9 show a second embodiment 14 of a manipulator according to the invention in form of the manipulator shown in figs. 1-3 that now has been provided with a V-shaped wall 15 which on the inside of the manipulator is extending along the slit 5. The wall is in this case integral with the rest of the manipulator and is thus made of the same elastic material as this manipulator. It is to be noted that the wall 15 alternatively can be joined with the manipulator and be made of a different material, for example rubber, and that the wall furthermore can have a shape different than a V, for example a U. The elastic wall 15 allows the slit 5 to be pressed together and the manipulator to function in the same way as shown in figs. 4-6 and described above. This function will therefore not be mentioned any further here. When the contact lens is a reusable lens, it is according to the invention stored sterilely in the cup 16 shown in fig. 10 till the contact lens is to be used again. The cup is filled with a disinfectant fluid 17, for example sterile saline solution of an suitable concentration. The manipulator 14 with the contact lens 9 in figs. 4-6 being removed is then placed as a lid on the cup 16 after which the contact lens sinks down onto the convex support surface 18 of the cup, said surface having a concave shape complementary to the convex face of the contact lens. The contact lens is therefore supported in a dimensionally stable manner during storage. In fig. 10 is seen the second embodiment 14 of the manipulator according to the invention shown in figs. 7-9 in an axial sectional view lengthwise of the slit 5. The cup 16 has a base 19 and a casing 20 which on the inside has two opposite ribs 21 fitting tightly into the slit 5 in each side of the skirt 2 of the manipulator. When the manipulator 14 is placed on the cup 16 as shown in fig. 10, the two parts 14 and 16 thus together form a sealed container 22 for sterile storage of the contact lens. When the contact lens is to be used again, the container 22 is turned after which the contact lens will settle on the concave face 4 of the manipulator 14. After that, the cup 16 is removed and the manipulator used in conventional manner to apply the contact lens in the user's eye. The manipulator 14 and the cup 16 can in some cases be individual parts that only are joined to a sealed container when a reusable lens is to be stored temporarily. However according to the invention, the container 22 preliminarily constitutes a package for a new contact lens that can be either a disposable lens or a reusable lens. When the contact lens is a reusable lens, the package is then advantageously used m the manner described above as container for temporarily storing a reusable lens till it is to be used again . As can be seen, the manipulator according to the invention is thus universally applicable for both applying a contact lens m an eye and later for removing the applied contact lens from the eye . Together with the cup 16, the manipulator 14 furthermore forms a simple package 22 for a new contact lens and after having been taken into use, the package is advantageously utilised several times as container 22 for temporary, sterile storage of the contact lens m a disinfectant fluid, for example sterile saline solution of an suitable concentration. The package 22 can be a single package but a number of these packages can also be delivered joined together m a row as shown m fig. 11. Figs. 12 and 13 show a third embodiment 23 of a manipulator according to the invention. The manipulator has a stepped skirt 24 and a base 25 with a concave face 26. Across the base is made a slit 27 with edges 28 that are sharp or only provided with a small curvature. In this case, the slit 27 is only extending a distance down into the base while a centrally placed channel 29 instead serves for connecting the slit to the underside 30 of the base . Under the mouth of the channel 29 on the underside 30 of the base is placed an elastic membrane 31 of e.g. rubber. Along the periphery, the membrane is joined with the base whereas it in a centre area is distanced from the base. When the membrane is pressed in towards the base of the manipulator and is let go again so that it elastically resiles to its original shape, the membrane acts as a vacuum pump. This function is used for drawing a fold into the slit 27 of the manipulator when the user is to remove a contact lens from his eye. The course of this operation moreover takes place in the same way as shown in figs. 4-6 and as described above except that the fold is drawn in instead of being pressed into the slit. The elastic membrane 31 is according to the invention designed with such a short stroke that the produced negative pressure is only able to draw the fold exactly so far into the slit of the manipulator as is desired. The third embodiment 23 of the manipulator according to the invention is also well suited for applying a contact lens in an eye . In this case, the elastic membrane 31 is used first for adhering a contact lens onto the concave face 26 of the manipulator base. When the contact lens is in contact with the eye, the user neutralises the negative pressure with a light touch after which the manipulator can be removed just like that from the contact lens which now easily and safely has been applied in the eye. The manipulator 23 can thus be used many times for applying a contact lens in an eye and subsequently for removing the lens . It is therefore important that the manipulator is stored sterilely when it is not in use. Such a sterile storage can take place m the principle shown m fig. 10 m which the manipulator is placed on a cup (not shown) with a disinfectant fluid, e.g. saline solution, the membrane during this being pressed home. When the membrane then is let go, the fluid from the cup is drawn into the slit 27, the channel 29 and the space between the underside 30 of the manipulator base and the membrane 31. Fig. 14 shows how a number of the manipulators m figs. 11 and 12 are joined together m a row 32. Between each of two adjacent manipulators, a chamber is defined with a contact lens placed m saline solution of suitable concentration. The topmost manipulator m the row which does not contain a contact lens acts as a lid over the subjacent chamber. In fig. 14 all the manipulators are of the kind shown m figs. 12 and 13. Alternatively (not shown) , only the topmost manipulator can be of this kind whereas the rest of the manipulators m the row are without slit and therefore only suited for applying a contact lens m an eye The topmost manipulator provided with a slit is then used to remove the contact lenses that are applied m the user's eyes. In this case, the used contact lenses will typically be disposable lenses. When the topmost manipulator is not is use, it is placed on a cup (not shown) with a disinfectant fluid, e.g. sterile saline solution of suitable solution m the same way as described above . Fig. 15 shows a fourth embodiment 33 of a manipulator according to the invention. The shown manipulator 33 has a stepped skirt 34 and a base 35 with a concave face 36 Across the base 35 is made a slit 37 with a liquid-absorbent material 38, for example liquid- absorbent paper or cellular plastic. The liquid-absorbent material can in one embodiment be extending up to the concave face 36 of the base so that the contact lens upon removal of a contact lens from an eye adheres directly to the material when the concave face 36 of the manipulator is put in contact with the contact lens. In a preferred second embodiment, the top face of the liquid- absorbent material is however placed at a distance from the concave face 36 of the manipulator which upon contact with the contact lens is moistened by the human saline solution on the contact lens. Some of this saline solution will enter into the slit 37 and be absorbed by the liquid-absorbent material 38 whereby the saline solution draws a fold with it into the slit. The manipulator 33 then functions in the way described above . The invention is described above on the assumption that the manipulator was designed as a fingerstall and that in the base of this fingerstall was made a slit extending across the base. Within the scope of the invention, the manipulator can however also be shaped as a bar forming the manipulation part and ending in a supporting part with a slit. Different ways are shown in the drawing and described above of how conventional applicators and manipulators according to the invention can be combined. These combinations are only to be taken as examples as conventional applicators and manipulators according to the invention can be combined in many other expedient ways within the scope of the invention. Instead of only one slit, there can be several slits that not necessarily are extending across the base but instead can be extending radially outwards from a central area on the base. The sight can furthermore be designed m a way other than shown m the drawing, i.e. as a central line crossing the slit m cross direction. Thus, the sight can instead consist of a number of concentric circles having the same centre as the base or be a combination of this and above embodiments of a sight.

Claims: Patent claims 1. A manipulator for applying a contact lens (9) in or removing it from a user's eye (10) and of the kind comprising, a manipulation part (2) for with the fingers manipulating the manipulator, a supporting part (3) on the manipulation part for in use supporting the contact lens (9) , and - a concave face (4) on the supporting part for receiving and detachably retaining the convex face of the contact lens, characterised in that the manipulator furthermore comprises at least one slit (5) made in the supporting part (3) and extending from the concave face (4) of this supporting part . 2. A manipulator according to claim 1, characterised in that the manipulator is designed as a fingerstall with a skirt (2) forming the manipulation part of the manipulator, and a base (3) forming its supporting part. 3. A manipulator according to claim 2, characterised in that at least one slit (5) is extending completely or partly through the base (3) of the fingerstall and a distance down along at least one side of its skirt (2) . 4. A manipulator according to claim 2 or 3 , characterised in that it comprises an elastically deformable wall (15; 31) extending along the mouth of the at least one slit (4,-27) on the inside of the fingerstall and surrounding this mouth. 5. A manipulator according to claim 4, characterised m that the elastically deformable wall (15) is shaped as a U or a V. 6. A manipulator according to claim 2 or 3 , characterised m that the elastically deformable wall (31) is shaped as a membrane . 7. A manipulator according to claim 1, 2 or 3 , characterised m that m the at least one slit (37) is fitted a liquid- absorbent material (38) . 8. A manipulator according to any of the claims 1 - 7, characterised m that the at least one slit (5) passes into the concave face (4) of its supporting part (3) along edges (6) with no or slight curvature. 9. A package for a number of contact lenses, characterised m that it consists of a number of the manipulators (14;23) stated m claims 1-8, that are joined together m a row with a chamber serving for storing a contact lens (9) and defined of each of two adjacent manipulators. 10. A container for storing a contact lens, characterised m that it comprises the manipulator ( 1 ; 14 ; 23 ; 33 ) according to claims 1-8 and a cap for closing the concave face on the supporting part of this manipulator. O 01/41684 18 AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 21 May 2001 (21.05.01); original claims 1-10 replaced by amended claims 1-10 (2 pages)] 1. A manipulator for applying a contact lens (9) in or removing it from a user's eye (10) and of the kind comprising, a manipulation part (2) for with the fingers manipulating the manipulator, a supporting part (3) on the manipulation part for in use supporting the contact lens {9), - a concave face (4) on the supporting part for receiving and detachably retaining the convex face of the contact lens, and at least one slit (5) made in the supporting part (3) and extending from the concave face (4) of this supporting part (3) . characterised in that the manipulator is designed as a fingerstall, said fingerstall comprises a skirt (2 ) forming the manipulation part of the manipulator and a base (3) forming its supporting part, said skirt (2) comprises a mainly cylindrically end section and a mainly conically shaped base section, and said base section comprises the concave face (4) and at least a part of the at least one slit (5) . 2. A manipulator according to claim 1, characterised in that the inclined outer wall of the conically shaped base section constitute a gripping surface. A manipulator according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one slit (5) is extending completely or partly through the base (3) of the fingerstall and a distance down along at least one side of its skirt (2) . O 01/41684 19 4. A manipulator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that it comprises an elastically deformable wall (15;31) extending along the mouth of the at least one slit (4,-27) on the inside of the fingerstall and surrounding this mouth. 5. A manipulator according to claim 4, characterised in that the elastically deformable wall (15) is shaped as a U or a V. 6. A manipulator according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the elastically deformable wall (3D is shaped as a membrane. 7. A manipulator according to any of the claims 1 - 6, characterised in that in the at least one slit (37) is fitted a liquid-absorbent material (38) . 8. A manipulator according to any of the claims 1 - 7, charactβriβed in that the at least one slit (5) passes into the concave face (4) of its supporting part (3) along edges (6) with no or slight curvature. 9. A manipulator according to any of the claims 1 - 8, characterised in that a number of said manipulators are joined together in a row wherein two adjacent manipulators defines a chamber serving for storing a contact lens (9) . 10. Use of the manipulator according to any of the claims 1- 8, for providing af container for storing a contact lens, characterised in that the container is designed of said manipulator and a cap for closing the concave face (4) in the supporting part of said manipulator.

Inventors: FAXE PER, FAXE THOMAS, FAXE, PER, FAXE, THOMAS
Applicants: FAXE PER, FAXE THOMAS, FAXE, PER, FAXE, THOMAS
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A61F9
IPC codes: A61F9