Patent Publication Number: US-2019177063-A1

Title: Anti-contamination contact lens package and method for manufacturing the same

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter generally relates to an anti-contamination contact lens package and a method for manufacturing the anti-contamination contact lens package. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Common contact lens package is PP cups which is made from polypropylene. Contact lens is manufactured by sending the contact lens after hydrating to a packaging machine to heat seal, and then a moist sterilization process is necessary. However, it is difficult to control the cleanliness of the PP cups. Therefore, when the contact lens is waiting to be sterilized, it may be contaminated by the PP cups and cause contamination of the final product. Improvement in the art is preferred. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Implementations of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an anti-contamination contact lens package according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing the anti-contamination contact lens package of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of an anti-contamination contact lens package according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing the anti-contamination contact lens package of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure. 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” 
     The term “comprising” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an anti-contamination contact lens package  100 . The anti-contamination contact lens package  100  is used to seal contact lenses. 
     The anti-contamination contact lens package  100  includes a substrate  10  and a photocatalyst film layer  20  formed on the substrate  10 . 
     The substrate  10  includes an inner surface  101 , an outer surface  102 , and a top surface  103 . The top surface  103  connects the inner surface  101  and the outer surface  102 . The inner surface  101  is lower than the top surface  103 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the inner surface  101  is a cured surface. 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the photocatalyst film layer  20  is formed on the inner surface  101 , the outer surface  102 , and the top surface  103 . 
     The substrate  10  includes a receiving groove  11 . The inner surface  101  is an inner wall of the receiving groove  11 . The contact lenses are received in the receiving groove  11 . 
     The substrate  10  is a material selected from a group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene, and a combination thereof. 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the material of the substrate  10  is PP. 
     A thickness of the photocatalyst film layer  20  is in a range from 0.003 micrometers to 86 micrometers. 
     The photocatalyst film layer  20  is made from a photocatalyst material. 
     The photocatalyst material converts light energy into chemical energy, thereby causing decomposition of organisms (such as bacteria) when irradiated. 
     When the photocatalyst film layer  20  is irradiated with light having a larger band gap than the photocatalytic film  20 , electrons will transit from the valence band to the conduction band, thereby generating electron-hole pairs. The electrons are reducible and the holes are oxidized. The holes will react with OH— on the surface of the photocatalyst film layer  20  to form OH radicals which have strong oxidization. The electrons react with oxygen molecules on the surface of the photocatalyst film layer  20  to form superoxide ion (.O 2 ). The OH radicals and the superoxide ion decompose microorganisms into carbon dioxide and water, thereby achieving a purifying effect. 
     Pure photocatalyst material can only absorb ultraviolet light. Photocatalyst material mixed with other active catalytic materials can absorb visible and even far-infrared light. 
     The photocatalyst material can be selected from a group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), zinc oxide (ZnO), cadmium sulfide (CdS), tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ), iron trioxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), lead sulphide (PbS), stannic dioxide (SnO 2 ), zinc sulfide (ZnS), strontium titanate (SrTiO 3 ), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), and a combination thereof. 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the photocatalyst material is TiO 2 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the anti-contamination contact lens package  100  is irradiated by ultraviolet light. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flowchart of a method for manufacturing the anti-contamination contact lens package  100 . The method is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. Each block shown in  FIG. 2  represents one or more processes, methods, or subroutines, carried out in the exemplary method. Furthermore, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can change. Additional blocks may be added or fewer blocks may be utilized, without departing from this disclosure. The exemplary method can begin at block  601 . 
     At block  601 , also illustrated by  FIG. 1 , a substrate  10  is provided. 
     The substrate  10  includes an inner surface  101 , an outer surface  102 , and a top surface  103 . The top surface  103  connects the inner surface  101  and the outer surface  102 . The inner surface  101  is lower than the top surface  103 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the inner surface  101  is a cured surface. 
     The substrate  10  includes a receiving groove  11 . The inner surface  101  is an inner wall of the receiving groove  11 . The contact lenses are received in the receiving groove  11 . 
     The substrate  10  is a material selected from a group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene, and a combination thereof. 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the material of the substrate  10  is PP. 
     The substrate  10  is made by injection molding. 
     At block  602 , also illustrated by  FIG. 1 , a photocatalyst film layer  20  is formed on the substrate  10  to form the anti-contamination contact lens package  100 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the photocatalyst film layer  20  is formed on the inner surface  101 , the outer surface  102 , and the top surface  103 . 
     A thickness of the photocatalyst film layer  20  is in a range from 0.003 micrometers to 86 micrometers. 
     The photocatalyst film layer  20  is made from photocatalyst material. 
     The photocatalyst material converts light energy into chemical energy, thereby causing decomposition of organisms (such as bacteria) when irradiated. 
     When the photocatalyst film layer  20  is irradiated with light having a larger band gap than the photocatalytic film  20 , electrons will transit from the valence band to the conduction band, thereby generating electron-hole pairs. The electrons are reducible and the holes are oxidized. The holes will react with OH— on the surface of the photocatalyst film layer  20  to form OH radicals which have strong oxidization. The electrons react with oxygen molecules on the surface of the photocatalyst film layer  20  to form superoxide ion (.O 2 ). The OH radicals and the superoxide ion decompose microorganisms into carbon dioxide and water, thereby achieving a purifying effect. 
     Pure photocatalyst material can only absorb ultraviolet light. Photocatalyst material mixed with other active catalytic materials can absorb visible and even far-infrared light. 
     The photocatalyst material can be selected from a group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), zinc oxide (ZnO), cadmium sulfide (CdS), tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ), iron trioxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), lead sulphide (PbS), stannic dioxide (SnO 2 ), zinc sulfide (ZnS), strontium titanate (SrTiO 3 ), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), and a combination thereof. 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the photocatalyst material is TiO 2 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the anti-contamination contact lens package  200  is irradiated by ultraviolet light. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a anti-contamination contact lens package  200 . The anti-contamination contact lens package  200  includes a substrate  10  and photocatalyst particles  30  distributed in the substrate  10 . 
     The substrate  10  includes a receiving groove  11 . The receiving groove  11  is used to receive contact lenses. 
     The photocatalyst particles  30  have a mass percentage of about 0.01% to about 13% of the total mass of the anti-contamination contact lens package  200 . 
     The substrate  10  is a material selected from a group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene, and a combination thereof. 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the material of the substrate  10  is PP. 
     The photocatalyst particles  30  are made from photocatalyst material. 
     The photocatalyst material converts light energy into chemical energy, thereby causing decomposition of organisms (such as bacteria) when irradiated. 
     When the photocatalyst particles  30  are irradiated with light having a larger band gap than the photocatalyst particles  30 , electrons will transit from the valence band to the conduction band, thereby generating electron-hole pairs. The electrons are reducible and the holes are oxidized. The holes will react with OH— on the surface of the photocatalyst particles  30  to form OH radicals which have strong oxidization. The electrons react with oxygen molecules on the surface of the photocatalyst particles  30  to form superoxide ion (.O 2 ). The OH radicals and the superoxide ion decompose microorganism into carbon dioxide and water, thereby achieving a purifying effect. 
     Pure photocatalyst material can only absorb ultraviolet light. Photocatalyst material mixed with other active catalytic materials can absorb visible and even far-infrared light. 
     The photocatalyst material can be selected from a group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), zinc oxide (ZnO), cadmium sulfide (CdS), tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ), iron trioxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), lead sulphide (PbS), stannic dioxide (SnO 2 ), zinc sulfide (ZnS), strontium titanate (SrTiO 3 ), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), and a combination thereof. 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the photocatalyst material is TiO 2 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the anti-contamination contact lens package  200  is irradiated by ultraviolet light. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a flowchart of a method for manufacturing the anti-contamination contact lens package  200 . The method is provided by way of example, as there are a variety of ways to carry out the method. Each block shown in  FIG. 4  represents one or more processes, methods, or subroutines, carried out in the exemplary method. Furthermore, the illustrated order of blocks is by example only and the order of the blocks can change. Additional blocks may be added or fewer blocks may be utilized, without departing from this disclosure. The exemplary method can begin at block  701 . 
     At block  701 , also illustrated by  FIG. 3 , polymeric materials and photocatalyst particles  30  are provided and the photocatalyst particles  30  are mixed in the polymeric materials to form a mixture. 
     The photocatalyst particles  30  have a mass percentage of about 0.01% to about 13% of the total mass of the mixture. The polymeric materials have a mass percentage of about 87% to about 99.99% of the total mass of the mixture. 
     The polymeric materials can be selected from a group consisting of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene, and a combination thereof. 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the polymeric materials are PP. 
     The photocatalyst particles  30  are made from photocatalyst material. 
     The photocatalyst material converts light energy into chemical energy, thereby causing decomposition of organisms (such as bacteria) when irradiated. 
     When the photocatalyst particles  30  are irradiated with light having a larger band gap than the photocatalyst particles  30 , electrons will transit from the valence band to the conduction band, thereby generating electron-hole pairs. The electrons are reducible and the holes are oxidized. The holes will react with OH— on the surface of the photocatalyst particles  30  to form OH radicals which have strong oxidization. The electrons react with oxygen molecules on the surface of the photocatalyst particles  30  to form superoxide ion (.O 2 ). The OH radicals and the superoxide ion decompose microorganism into carbon dioxide and water, thereby achieving a purifying effect. 
     Pure photocatalyst material can only absorb ultraviolet light. Photocatalyst material mixed with other active catalytic materials can absorb visible and even far-infrared light. 
     The photocatalyst material can be selected from a group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ), zinc oxide (ZnO), cadmium sulfide (CdS), tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ), iron trioxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), lead sulphide (PbS), stannic dioxide (SnO 2 ), zinc sulfide (ZnS), strontium titanate (SrTiO 3 ), silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), and a combination thereof. 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the photocatalyst material is TiO 2 . 
     At block  702 , also illustrated by  FIG. 3 , the mixture is injected molding to form the anti-contamination contact lens package  200 . 
     In at least one exemplary embodiment, the anti-contamination contact lens package  200  is irradiated by ultraviolet light. 
     With the above configuration, the anti-contamination contact lens package  100  has the photocatalyst film layer  20  on the substrate  10  and the anti-contamination contact lens package  200  has the photocatalyst particles  30  distributed in the substrate  10 . Because of the photocatalyst film layer  20  and the photocatalyst particles  30  convert light energy into chemical energy, thereby causing decomposition of organisms (such as bacteria) when irradiated, so, the anti-contamination contact lens package  100 ,  200  can achieve a purifying effect and can avoid being polluted during the making process. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Many details are often found in the art such as the other features of the anti-contamination contact lens package having the same. Therefore, many such details are neither shown nor described. Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure have been positioned forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes can be made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present disclosure, up to and including the full extent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the embodiments described above can be modified within the scope of the claims.