초록 ▼

The present invention provides for a disinfecting radiation base for working in conjunction with a storage case for an ophthalmic lens. The disinfecting radiation base provides disinfecting radiation for disinfecting a surface of the storage case. The disinfecting radiation base may also include a p

The present invention provides for a disinfecting radiation base for working in conjunction with a storage case for an ophthalmic lens. The disinfecting radiation base provides disinfecting radiation for disinfecting a surface of the storage case. The disinfecting radiation base may also include a processor and digital memory for automated functions associated with the base.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A base unit for receiving a storage case for storing at least one ophthalmic lens, the base unit comprising: a lid;a base;a receptacle formed within one or both of the lid and the base for receiving the storage case; andmultiple disinfecting radiation sources mounted to one or both of the lid and

1. A base unit for receiving a storage case for storing at least one ophthalmic lens, the base unit comprising: a lid;a base;a receptacle formed within one or both of the lid and the base for receiving the storage case; andmultiple disinfecting radiation sources mounted to one or both of the lid and the base and configured to emit disinfecting radiation into the storage case, the disinfecting radiation sources are aligned with the storage case via at least one positioning artifact such that the storage case and the ophthalmic lens stored therein are exposed to the emitted disinfecting radiation to disinfect at least a portion of the storage case and the at least one ophthalmic lens stored therein;a processor for controlling generation of the disinfecting radiation; anda display in the lid for displaying a status of a disinfecting process based upon digital data transmitted by the processor,wherein the lid is hinged to the base along one edge and configured to fold over the top of the base and enclose the storage case in the receptacle. 2. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting radiation sources emit the disinfecting radiation directly towards the storage case. 3. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the disinfecting radiation sources are an ultraviolet emitting diode configured to emit the disinfecting radiation at a wavelength in the range of about 250 nanometers to 280 nanometers. 4. The base unit of claim 1, additionally comprising a reflective surface for reflecting the disinfecting radiation towards the storage case. 5. The base unit of claim 1, additionally comprising an optic for directing the disinfecting radiation towards one or both of the storage case and the ophthalmic lens stored therein. 6. The base unit of claim 1, additionally comprising a vibration generation device for providing vibrational motion to facilitate disinfection of the ophthalmic lens stored therein. 7. The base unit of claim 1, additionally comprising a power storage device for storing power to operate the base unit. 8. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the processor controls an intensity of the disinfecting radiation emitted from the disinfecting radiation sources based upon a logical control signal generated by the processor. 9. The base unit of claim 1, additionally comprising an audio component operative to provide an audio signal based upon an operation of the at least one disinfecting radiation source. 10. The base unit of claim 1, additionally comprising a digital storage for storing information related to a disinfecting process. 11. The base unit of claim 1, additionally comprising a universal serial bus connector for transferring one or both of data and electrical power to or from the base unit. 12. The base unit of claim 1, additionally comprising a sensor capable of sensing an amount of disinfecting radiation and a feedback loop capable of controlling an output from the disinfecting radiation sources. 13. An ophthalmic lens disinfecting system comprising: a base unit having a lid, a base, and a receptacle for receiving an ophthalmic lens storage case, the receptacle being formed within one or both of the lid and the base;multiple disinfecting radiation sources mounted to one or both of the lid and the base of said base unit and configured to emit disinfecting radiation into said storage case;an ophthalmic lens storage case mountable within the receptacle of the base unit and configured to store at least one ophthalmic lens therein; andat least one positioning artifact configured to align the disinfecting radiation sources with the storage case,a processor for controlling generation of the disinfecting radiation; anda display in the lid for displaying a status of a disinfecting process based upon digital data transmitted by the processor,wherein the storage case has a cap and at least one radiation window, and is configured such that upon its insertion into the receptacle it is positioned within a path of radiation emitted by the disinfecting radiation sources such that at least a portion of the storage case and the at least one ophthalmic lens stored therein are exposed to the disinfecting radiation emitted by the disinfecting radiation sources, andwherein the lid is hinged to the base along one edge and configured to fold over the top of the base and enclose the storage case in the receptacle. 14. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the emitted disinfecting radiation is sufficient to kill an organism on a surface of the storage case. 15. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the disinfecting radiation sources emit the disinfecting radiation directly towards the storage case. 16. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the storage case comprises an optic for directing the disinfecting radiation toward the ophthalmic lens stored therein. 17. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the base unit comprises an optic for directing the disinfecting radiation toward one or both of the storage case and the ophthalmic lens stored therein. 18. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the disinfecting radiation sources are ultraviolet emitting diodes configured to emit the disinfecting radiation at a wavelength in the range of about 250 to 280 nanometers. 19. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the base unit comprises a reflective surface for reflecting the disinfecting radiation towards the storage case. 20. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the storage case comprises a reflective surface for reflecting the disinfecting radiation towards the ophthalmic lens stored within the storage case. 21. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the storage case comprises at least one storage compartment configured to store the at least one ophthalmic lens. 22. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 21, wherein the at least one storage compartment comprises the radiation window. 23. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 21, wherein at least one storage compartment comprises an alignment mechanism configured to position the at least one ophthalmic lens in the storage compartment. 24. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 23, wherein the alignment mechanism aligns the ophthalmic lens with the path of the radiation emitted by the disinfecting radiation sources. 25. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein at least one positioning artifact is an annular depression formed in the cap on the storage case. 26. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the processor controls an intensity of the disinfecting radiation emitted from the disinfecting radiation sources. 27. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 26, additionally comprising a scanner configured to scan the ophthalmic lens and to log disinfecting information associated with the ophthalmic lens including a time of disinfection. 28. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, additionally comprising a vibration generation device for providing vibrational motion to facilitate disinfection of the ophthalmic lens. 29. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, additionally comprising a power storage device for storing power to operate the base unit. 30. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 26, additionally comprising a sensor capable of sensing an amount of disinfecting radiation and a feedback loop capable of controlling an output from the disinfecting radiation sources. 31. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the disinfecting radiation sources emit the radiation directly towards the radiation window. 32. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the disinfecting radiation sources are positioned to emit disinfecting radiation in a direction generally orthogonal to a top surface of the ophthalmic lens storage case. 33. The base unit of claim 1, wherein the multiple disinfecting radiation sources are in an annular arrangement. 34. The ophthalmic lens disinfecting system of claim 13, wherein the multiple disinfecting radiation sources are in an annular arrangement.