Method for making novel compositions capable of post fabrication modification

Abstract

The invention relates to a novel method for preparing materials whose properties can be manipulated after fabrication. In this process, a base material is created in a manner that provides spaces or voids which can then be filled with a modifying composition. The method is particularly useful in the manufacture of light adjustable optical elements such as intraocular lenses.

1 . A method for making an adjustable material comprising 
 forming a base material;    impregnating the base material with a modifier, said modifier capable of stimulus induced refractive power change by changing the refractive index or shape or both.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the base material is formed in the presence of a spacer-material.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of impregnating the lens material with a modifier displaces at least a portion of the spacer-material.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the stimulus is light.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the light is UV light.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the base material formed in the shape of an optical element.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the base material comprises a polymer matrix.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the base material is a polycrylate, poly-methacrylate, polyvinyl, polysiloxane or poly-phosphazene.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the spacer-material is selected from the group consisting of silicon alkanoates, silicon fluids, acrylic dialkanoates and C 1  to C 18  dioldialkanoates.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modifier has the general formula  
       X—Y—X 1    
     wherein Y is a siloxane group having the general formula suited from  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein m and n are integers and R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, and hetroaryl and X has the general formula  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     and X 1  has the general structure  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein R 5  and R 6  are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl and Z is a photoploymerizable group.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the modifier is an acrylate based modifier having the general formula  
       Q-A-B-A-Q 1    
     wherein A has the general formula selected from  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein m and n are integers and R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyls, halogenated alkyls, phenyl, hydrogen and aryl; B is a dihalide containing acrylate intiator and Q and Q 1  are photopolymerizable groups.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  where the modifier has the general formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of alkyls, halogenated alkyls, aryls and hydrogen, m and n are integers and Q and Q 1  are photopolymerizable groups.