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WO1997038733A1 - Appareil de nettoyage automatique d'articles d'usage courant - Google Patents

Appareil de nettoyage automatique d'articles d'usage courant Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1997038733A1
WO1997038733A1 PCT/GB1997/001071 GB9701071W WO9738733A1 WO 1997038733 A1 WO1997038733 A1 WO 1997038733A1 GB 9701071 W GB9701071 W GB 9701071W WO 9738733 A1 WO9738733 A1 WO 9738733A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
chamber
cleaning
cleaning apparatus
holder
lens holder
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1997/001071
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Charles Philip Ifejika
Original Assignee
Charles Philip Ifejika
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Charles Philip Ifejika filed Critical Charles Philip Ifejika
Publication of WO1997038733A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997038733A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02C—SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES
    • G02C13/00—Assembling; Repairing; Cleaning
    • G02C13/008—Devices specially adapted for cleaning contact lenses
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L12/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising contact lenses; Accessories therefor
    • A61L12/08—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising contact lenses; Accessories therefor using chemical substances

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for cleaning utility items, such as electrical components, medical and scientific equipment and in particular, but not exclusively contact lenses.
  • the lens is not sufficiently clean, then a biofilm may form and the bacterial load of the lens may increase such that some solutions are no longer sufficient to kill residual bacteria.
  • EP0394254 discloses apparatus comprising an agitator with a reciprocating motion, which apparatus is adapted to clean the lens in a short time with minimal effort.
  • the problem underlying the invention is therefore to provide an apparatus which enables contact lens wearers to clean, disinfect and store their lenses in a single process with little or no effort or maintenance on their part.
  • the apparatus of the invention has the advantage over the known systems in that it removes the responsibility for carrying out cleaning and sterilising regimens from the contact lens wearer and enables wearers to clean their lenses as the cleaning solution manufacturer intended. The entire cleaning process is thus carried out without the intervention of the lens wearer.
  • the device comprises a support arm for coupling the agitating means with the lens holder.
  • a first chamber contains a cleaning or disinfecting solution and a second chamber a rinsing or neutralising solution.
  • the support arm is adapted to withdraw the holder from the first chamber and insert the holder in the second chamber.
  • the tank means are rotatable with respect to the support arm.
  • the agitator means includes a timer or a time delay mechanism so that cleaning can take place for a predetermined time, which can be set by the manufacturer, thereby minimizing the influence of the wearer.
  • Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus
  • Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional end view
  • Figure 3 shows an alternative drive system for the apparatus.
  • the apparatus comprises tank means 1 having two chambers 2,3, the chambers being separated from one another by a partition wall 5.
  • a rotatable shaft 4 is mounted on the upper edge of the wall 5 and runs parallel along its full extent.
  • a contact lens holder 6 is coupled to the shaft by a connecting piece 7, which connecting piece is rigidly attached to the shaft and pivotally attached to the contact lens holder 6, the shaft and connecting piece thereby forming a support arm.
  • the contact lens holder 6 is adapted to receive a pair of contact lenses is provided with a plurality of openings to enable fluid communication between the interior and exterior of the lens holder.
  • the shaft 5 is in engagement with a gear 8, which gear is adapted to rotate the shaft about the shaft's axis, thereby pivoting the lens holder 6 from one chamber 2 to the other chamber 3.
  • the rotation of the gear 8 is damped by a damper 10 to control the rate of transfer from one chamber to the other.
  • the contact lens holder 6 has generally the form of the storage case and may therefore have two recesses on the inside, one for each of a pair of lenses.
  • Figure 2 shows a cross sectional end view of the apparatus with a contact lens holder in the inserted position in a chamber of the tanks means 1.
  • the lens holder 6 is provided with six openings on its upper and lower surfaces to enable fluid communication with cleaning and neutralising fluids.
  • the drive shaft 4 runs transversely across the upper open side of the tank means 1.
  • the contact lens holder 6 is coupled to the shaft by two connecting pieces 7.
  • At one end of the shaft 4 a drive pin 11 is pivotally attached, which drive pin 11 is coupled to a motor 12 via an off centre pivot 13.
  • the drive pin is supported and connected to the tank means by a further connecting piece 14. In use the motor provides the agitation which assists in the cleaning process.
  • the agitation imparted is preferably in the form of a combination of a vibration and a reciprocating motion.
  • the vibration is provided from the motor via the connecting piece 14.
  • the reciprocating motion is provided to the shaft 4 by means of the interaction of the motor with the off centre pivot 13.
  • a suitable frequency for the vibration would be in the range of 10-100 Hz, typically 35-45 Hz.
  • the shaft is provided with a spline to drivingly couple the shaft 4 to the gear 8.
  • the damper 10 is provided at the lower side of the gear on the side facing the tank means. Coupled to the gear on the surface remote from the tank is a lever 15, which lever is used to rotate the gear 8 and hence the contact lens in the holder 6 from one chamber to the other.
  • the gear 8 is biassed by a spring 9 towards the central position, where the lenses may be removed.
  • a release latch 16 which acts on the gear 8 is provided to retain the gear in position and hence to keep the contact lens in the holder 6 in the submerged position in the respective chamber.
  • one of the chambers 2,3 of the tank means 1 is filled with a contact lens cleaning fluid and the other chamber is filled with a soaking or disinfecting and storage fluid.
  • a one step solution which comprises cleaning, soaking, disinfecting and rewetting agents can be used in both chambers. In this latter case one chamber is then used for cleaning and the other for storage. If a peroxide solution is used as or combined with the cleaning fluid, then the other chamber ought to contain a neutralising solution.
  • the lenses are first placed in the lens holder.
  • the latch 16 is then released and the holder is then inserted into the first chamber containing the sterilising liquid by means of the lever 15.
  • the latch 16 is then reengaged to ensure that the lens holder remains submerged during the sterilisation stage.
  • the motor is then actuated and the combined vibration and reciprocating motion imparted.
  • the sterilisation stage will typically take about 60 seconds.
  • the latch release is connected to a timer so that the latch is released to terminate this stage at any predetermined time.
  • the lens holder is then pivoted into the second chamber by releasing the latch 16 and using the lever 15, where it is again subjected to the combined vibration and reciprocating motion to clean or to rinse the lenses.
  • the lenses are then stored in the second solution.
  • the pivot action could be automatically driven from the motor.
  • the motor would have to be controlled either in the form of a step motor or by means of a microprocessor. Equally possible would be a spring loaded or clockwork mechanism.
  • FIG. 3 shows an alternative drive system for the apparatus of the invention which dispenses with the gear wheel 8.
  • the apparatus is provided with a second motor 17, which is preferably a step motor controllable by a microprocessor.
  • the shaft 4 is then driven from the motor by means of a belt system.
  • the belt system comprises a first belt 18, which connects the motor to an idler wheel 20 and a second belt 21, which connects the idler wheel 20 to the shaft 4. Power is thus transmitted from the motor to the shaft.
  • the shaft 4 could be driven directly from the motor 17 by means of a single belt.
  • the motor is controlled by the microprocessor so as to be rotatable in both directions, so that the lens holder 6 can be pivoted between the two chambers 2,3.
  • the tank means 1 is movable between two positions and the support arm is fixed, each of the positions enabling a respective one of the chambers to be aligned with the support arm to enable the holder to be received therein.
  • the tank means of the apparatus is provided with three chambers.
  • the support arm would be lifted out of the first chamber and then either rotated and inserted into the second chamber or held steady and the chambers rotated.
  • This embodiment is particularly suitable where it is desirable for the cleaning and storage steps to be separated.
  • the chambers 2,3 of the tank means have fixed walls, these walls could be movable to facilitate the movement of fluids to different chambers for drainage of the fluids and/or the cleaning of the apparatus.
  • the chambers of the tank means could be spatially separated from rather than adjacent to one another.
  • the cleaning apparatus could deliver an ionic charge to the lenses, with the addition of an ionic charge generator to the device, in order to aid the removal of deposits from the surface. Equally, heat or ultraviolet light could be used in combination with the invention.
  • the lens holder may be generally in the form of a contact lens case, any form of holder which permits fluid communication between the exterior and the interior of the lens holder is suitable.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Eyeglasses (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un appareil de nettoyage et désinfection de verres de contact comportant un réservoir (1) muni d'au moins deux chambres (2, 3) destinées chacune à recevoir un verre placé sur un support (6), ledit support étant monté sur un bras relié à un agitateur à moteur (12). Un mécanisme automatique à roue dentée (8) transfère l'ensemble bras support/verre de contact dans l'autre chambre où il est désinfecté et rangé. L'appareil réduit au minimum la responsabilité du porteur quant au nettoyage.
PCT/GB1997/001071 1996-04-18 1997-04-17 Appareil de nettoyage automatique d'articles d'usage courant WO1997038733A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9608028.8A GB9608028D0 (en) 1996-04-18 1996-04-18 Automatic cleaning and disinfecting of contact lenses
GB9608028.8 1996-04-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997038733A1 true WO1997038733A1 (fr) 1997-10-23

Family

ID=10792269

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1997/001071 WO1997038733A1 (fr) 1996-04-18 1997-04-17 Appareil de nettoyage automatique d'articles d'usage courant

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB9608028D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997038733A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4381285A (en) * 1981-01-09 1983-04-26 Sidney Wittenberg Contact lens sterilizing device
EP0218539A1 (fr) * 1985-09-30 1987-04-15 Bernard Barrau Appareil nettoyeur et stérilisateur des lentilles de contact
WO1989000429A1 (fr) * 1987-07-17 1989-01-26 Charles Ifejika Appareil et procede pour nettoyer des lentilles de contact
WO1990011785A1 (fr) * 1989-04-05 1990-10-18 Lensmatic Ag Appareil d'entretien pour lentilles de contact
GB2289547A (en) * 1994-05-19 1995-11-22 Zygi Ltd Device for cleaning contact lenses having three liquid containers

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4381285A (en) * 1981-01-09 1983-04-26 Sidney Wittenberg Contact lens sterilizing device
EP0218539A1 (fr) * 1985-09-30 1987-04-15 Bernard Barrau Appareil nettoyeur et stérilisateur des lentilles de contact
WO1989000429A1 (fr) * 1987-07-17 1989-01-26 Charles Ifejika Appareil et procede pour nettoyer des lentilles de contact
WO1990011785A1 (fr) * 1989-04-05 1990-10-18 Lensmatic Ag Appareil d'entretien pour lentilles de contact
GB2289547A (en) * 1994-05-19 1995-11-22 Zygi Ltd Device for cleaning contact lenses having three liquid containers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9608028D0 (en) 1996-06-19

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