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Last Updated: March 29, 2024

Claims for Patent: 10,172,516


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Summary for Patent: 10,172,516
Title:Fogging prevention for surgical contact lenses
Abstract: A contact lens for use with a surgical microscope may be equipped with an anti-fogging device to prevent obscuring the view of a surgeon due to condensation during ophthalmic surgery. The anti-fogging device may deliver thermal energy to a surface of the contact lens to heat the contact lens above an ambient dew point. The thermal energy may be delivered by an air duct with a fan nozzle, a fluid duct in thermodynamic contact with the contact lens circulating a heat transfer fluid, or generated with electrical energy to an electrical heating element disposed on the surface of the contact lens. The thermal or electrical energy may be delivered via a handle for supporting the contact lens during surgery.
Inventor(s): Charles; Steven T. (Germantown, TN)
Assignee: Novartis AG (Basel, CH)
Application Number:15/499,581
Patent Claims:1. A method for performing ophthalmic surgery, comprising: positioning a first optical axis of a surgical microscope along a second optical axis of an eye of a patient; viewing an interior portion of the eye using a contact lens in contact with the eye; and activating an anti-fogging device coupled to the contact lens, wherein the anti-fogging device delivers thermal energy to the contact lens.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-fogging device comprises an air duct in fluid coupling to an air nozzle directed to a surface of the contact lens, and wherein the air duct transports heated air towards the air nozzle to deliver the thermal energy.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the air nozzle is a fan beam nozzle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-fogging device comprises an electrical heating element disposed on a surface of the contact lens to deliver the thermal energy.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electrical heating element comprises a transparent conductor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-fogging device comprises an electrical heating element disposed on a ring surrounding the contact lens.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-fogging device comprises a fluid duct in thermodynamic contact with the contact lens, and wherein the fluid duct circulates a heat transfer fluid to deliver the thermal energy.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the heat transfer fluid is an aqueous saline or a sterile water solution.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the anti-fogging device further comprises a handle for supporting the contact lens on the eye during surgery.

10. A contact lens for ophthalmic surgery, the contact lens comprising: an anti-fogging device coupled to the contact lens, wherein the anti-fogging device delivers thermal energy to the contact lens while the contact lens is in use during ophthalmic surgery to view an interior portion of an eye of a patient using a surgical microscope.

11. The contact lens of claim 10, wherein the anti-fogging device comprises an air duct in fluid coupling to an air nozzle directed to a surface of the contact lens, and wherein the air duct transports heated air towards the air nozzle to deliver the thermal energy.

12. The contact lens of claim 11, wherein the air nozzle is a fan beam nozzle.

13. The contact lens of claim 10, wherein the anti-fogging device comprises an electrical heating element disposed on a surface of the contact lens to generate the thermal energy.

14. The contact lens of claim 13, wherein the electrical heating element comprises a transparent conductor.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the anti-fogging device comprises an electrical heating element disposed on a ring surrounding the contact lens.

16. The contact lens of claim 10, wherein the anti-fogging device comprises a fluid duct in thermodynamic contact with the contact lens, and wherein the fluid duct circulates a heat transfer fluid to deliver the thermal energy.

17. The contact lens of claim 16, wherein the heat transfer fluid is an aqueous saline or a sterile water solution.

18. The contact lens of claim 10, wherein the anti-fogging device further comprises a handle for supporting the contact lens on the eye during surgery.

19. The contact lens of claim 18, wherein the thermal energy is delivered via the handle.

20. The contact lens of claim 18, wherein electrical energy to generate the thermal energy is delivered via lead lines attached to the handle.

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