Disposable ophthalmic/medical apparatus with timed color change indication

Abstract

A disposable ophthalmic or medical apparatus has a portion with a color changeable dye disposed thereon. The dye changes color after being exposed to oxygen for a controlled and predetermined period of time indicating that the apparatus should no longer be used.

1 . A contact lens with expiration color change indication comprising:
 a contact lens intended to be worn by a user, the contact lens having a peripheral area that extends beyond the pupil of a user's eye, the contact lens being disposable such that the lens is not intended to be worn for more than a predetermined period of time; and   a color changeable dye disposed on a portion of the peripheral area of the contact lens, the dye being somewhat translucent prior to use of the contact lens and changing to a warning color after the contact lens has been exposed to oxygen for a period of time indicating that the contact lens should no longer be used.   
   
   
       2 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye is disposed around the periphery of the contact lens to form a visible portion of at least part of a ring indicating that the contact lens should no longer be used. 
   
   
       3 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye is disposed in at least one spot in the periphery of the contact lens to form a visible symbol indicating that the contact lens should no longer be used. 
   
   
       4 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye remains somewhat translucent for at least 12 hours and thereafter changes to the warning color. 
   
   
       5 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the period of time that the dye is exposed to oxygen before changing color is approximately equal to the predetermined period of time. 
   
   
       6 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, glucose, and sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       7 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, glucose and sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       8 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, glucose, sodium hydroxide, and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       9 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, glucose, sodium hydroxide and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       10 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue and wax. 
   
   
       11 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T and wax. 
   
   
       12 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       13 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       14 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 1  wherein the dye comprises at least glucose, sodium hydroxide, Methylene Blue or Safranine T, and methyl cellulose or acacia gum. 
   
   
       15 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 14  wherein the dye further includes wax. 
   
   
       16 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 14  wherein the dye further includes Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       17 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 14  wherein the dye further includes wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       18 . A contact lens with expiration color change indication comprising:
 a disposable contact lens intended to be worn by a user; and   a color changeable dye disposed on an area of the contact lens, the dye being fairly translucent prior to use of the contact lens and for a period of time that is equal to or greater than twelve hours and the dye changing to a visible color after the contact lens has been exposed to oxygen for said period of time indicating that the contact lens should no longer be worn.  10     
   
   
       19 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 18  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, glucose, sodium hydroxide, and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       20 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 18  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, glucose, sodium hydroxide and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       21 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 18  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       22 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 18  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       23 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 18  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue and wax. 
   
   
       24 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 18  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T and wax. 
   
   
       25 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 18  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       26 . A contact lens as recited in  claim 18  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       27 . A disposable ophthalmic apparatus comprising:
 a holder;   a lens mounted in the holder for contacting the patient's eye and through which a clinician looks to view the patient's eye; and   a color changeable dye disposed on a portion of the lens, the dye being substantially translucent and changing to a visible color after the apparatus has been exposed to oxygen for a period of time indicating that the apparatus should no longer be used.   
   
   
       28 . A disposable ophthalmic apparatus as recited in  claim 27  wherein the dye is disposed on a central portion of the lens to prevent use of the ophthalmic apparatus after the dye changes color. 
   
   
       29 . A disposable ophthalmic apparatus as recited in  claim 28  wherein the dye is disposed in a peripheral portion of the lens to provide a warning. 
   
   
       30 . A disposable ophthalmic apparatus as recited in  claim 28  wherein the dye changes color after five to ten minutes. 
   
   
       31 . A disposable ophthalmic apparatus as recited in  claim 28  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue or Safranine T and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       32 . A disposable ophthalmic apparatus as recited in  claim 28  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, glucose, and sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       33 . A disposable ophthalmic apparatus as recited in  claim 28  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, glucose and sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       34 . A disposable ophthalmic or medical apparatus with color change indication of use comprising:
 a disposable ophthalmic or medical device having a portion that comes in contact with bodily fluids or tissue so as to be susceptible to the transmission of contaminates or disease to a patient;   a color changeable dye disposed on the device, the dye having a first color upon immediate exposure to oxygen and for a predetermined time thereafter and the dye changing color after the predetermined time to provide a warning indication that the device should no longer be used.   
   
   
       35 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the device is a syringe and the predetermined period of time is approximately five minutes. 
   
   
       36 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the device is a scalpel and the predetermined period of time is greater than or equal to one half hour. 
   
   
       37 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the device is a tonometer and the predetermined period of time is approximately 10 minutes. 
   
   
       38 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye is disposed on an area of the device that makes the device unusable after the dye changes color. 
   
   
       39 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the device includes a dispenser with a scale for measuring the amount to be dispensed and the dye is disposed over at least a portion of the scale to prevent use thereof after the dye changes color. 
   
   
       40 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, glucose, and sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       41 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, glucose and sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       42 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, glucose, sodium hydroxide, and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       43 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, glucose, sodium hydroxide and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       44 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue and wax. 
   
   
       45 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye further includes wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       46 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       47 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       48 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye comprises at least glucose, sodium hydroxide, Methylene Blue or Safranine T, and methyl cellulose or acacia gum. 
   
   
       49 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye further includes wax. 
   
   
       50 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye further includes Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       51 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 34  wherein the dye further includes wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       52 . An apparatus with time controlled color change indication comprising:
 a limited use apparatus that has a portion that comes in contact with bodily fluids or tissue and can cause harm to a person if used beyond a limited time or reused;   a color changeable dye disposed directly on a portion of the apparatus, the dye being translucent or having a first color upon immediate exposure to oxygen and for a predetermined time thereafter and the dye changing color after the predetermined time to provide a warning indication that the apparatus should no longer be used.   
   
   
       53 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, glucose, and sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       54 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, glucose and sodium hydroxide. 
   
   
       55 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, glucose, sodium hydroxide, and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       56 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, glucose, sodium hydroxide and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       57 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue and wax. 
   
   
       58 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye further includes wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       59 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye comprises at least Methylene Blue, wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       60 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye comprises at least Safranine T, wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       61 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye comprises at least glucose, sodium hydroxide, Methylene Blue or Safranine T, and methyl cellulose or acacia gum. 
   
   
       62 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye further includes wax. 
   
   
       63 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye further includes Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       64 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye further includes wax and Iron (II) carbonate. 
   
   
       65 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye is printed on the limited use apparatus. 
   
   
       66 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye is in a material of the apparatus. 
   
   
       67 . An apparatus as recited in  claim 52  wherein the dye presents use of the apparatus after the color change occurs.