New Patent and Patent Applications
Dr. Ray Myers was granted a patent and the publication of another US patent application in recent months. He was a co-inventor on Patent #8, 550, 238, and sole inventor of a published Patent Application #13/663,154. This patent a “Limited Use, Self-Destructive Contact Lens Case,” defines a family of simple contact lens cases that lasts for a certain time, unless the case is misused (eg., topping off the solution), when it becomes unusable earlier than the manufacturer’s determined time period.
In addition, Dr. Myers’ patent application was recently published, and is entitled, “Laser Methods on the Crystalline Lens as an Oxygen Sink for the Maintenance of Eye Health & Physiology, and Reducing Presbyopia Development by Reestablishing Ionic Transport.” This application defines novel means for treating pre-presbyope patients, and maintaining crystalline lens movement beyond that which occurs in a 40-45 year old eye. A secondary effect is to reduce active oxygen ions that cause certain ocular changes including lens opacification.
The self-destructive contact lens case was done with Canadian co-inventors Joshua Josephson, OD, and polymer chemist Heather Sheardowne of McMaster’s University. Its usefulness is in reducing the bacterial and biofilm buildup by discarding used contact lens solution daily, requiring case drying when not in use, and establishing a predefined life for the case. A continuation patent application has also been submitted for further methods, and foreign patents similar to the first were submitted to seven countries and for other countries in the European Economic Community(EEC).
Dr. Myers’ latest laser patent application on the lens sink starts with his 1997 patent granted in 2012 which describes the technicalities of restoring accommodative movement in portions of the lens. Lensar, Inc., also a company producing a laser for laser-assisted cataract surgery, has begun human trials for accommodative restoration in the past six months. The newest patent application describes how crystalline lens movement in combination with microchannels placed outside the visual axis can reestablish some of the fluid/ionic flow that is lost in lens aging.
Dr. Myers wrapped up the possible meaning of research on the clear crystalline lens which historically was limited to cataract development and removal. In a poster with Dr. Suzanne Lakamp(OD, 2012) at ARVO(Association in Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) last year, called “From Accommodation Restoration to the Antioxidant Lens Sink: A Theoretical Basis for Lenticular Refractive Surgery,” they suggested a theoretical construct for considering lenticular refractive surgery both as a means to change the movement characteristics of the lens, or shape or volume. Also, modification of the lens antioxidant sink may influence certain eye diseases by reducing oxygen availability in the aging eye.