U S Patent #6,315,410 is issued to print digitized images of an iris of a good eye on a prosthetic contact lens to provide a natural appearance of a of a patient with a diseased or damaged eye. It could also provide therapeutic benefits to reduce photophobia from aniridia. Further application of this innovation will provide the next generation of technology to produce cosmetic colored contact lenses which has a current global market of $260 million dollars and growing. Initial development work subsequent to patent approval has provided promising results. These results assure feasibility of inkjet printing directly on the convex lens surface with bondable and non-cytotoxic nonfading inks made with FDA approved colorants. During Phase II the major emphasis will be to: 1. Development of ink formulation to get optimum inkjet process and image quality 2. Develop prototype inkjet printer equipment, by modifying existing, commercially available inkjet printer, to print on lens or mold in a pilot scale manufacturing environment 3. Carry out necessary preclinical testing to get approval for clinical trials from IRB 4. Use commercially available color management system to produce desired color and images on the lens with four basic colors. Market implementation of this technology will allow printing of a digitized image of an iris of the good eye of a patient with a diseased or damaged eye, and transmitted through the internet from any part of the world, on a prosthetic lens, thus providing a mirror image of iris of a good eye on a damaged eye on a global basis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II (R44)
Project #
2R44EY013896-02A1
Application #
6645640
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-5 (10))
Program Officer
Helmsen, Ralph J
Project Start
2002-02-01
Project End
2005-03-31
Budget Start
2003-04-04
Budget End
2004-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$440,096
Indirect Cost
Name
Leo Lens Technology, Inc.
Department
Type
DUNS #
119328016
City
Poway
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92064