[go: up one dir, main page]

WO1997010855A1 - Appareil et procede de traitement de lentilles de contact - Google Patents

Appareil et procede de traitement de lentilles de contact Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1997010855A1
WO1997010855A1 PCT/GB1996/002315 GB9602315W WO9710855A1 WO 1997010855 A1 WO1997010855 A1 WO 1997010855A1 GB 9602315 W GB9602315 W GB 9602315W WO 9710855 A1 WO9710855 A1 WO 9710855A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
solution
lens
microwave
lenses
microwave irradiation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/GB1996/002315
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Pamela Thompson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
OCULI Ltd
Original Assignee
OCULI Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GBGB9519462.7A external-priority patent/GB9519462D0/en
Application filed by OCULI Ltd filed Critical OCULI Ltd
Priority to EP96931152A priority Critical patent/EP0871500A1/fr
Priority to AU69949/96A priority patent/AU6994996A/en
Priority to CA002231477A priority patent/CA2231477A1/fr
Publication of WO1997010855A1 publication Critical patent/WO1997010855A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L12/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising contact lenses; Accessories therefor
    • A61L12/02—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising contact lenses; Accessories therefor using physical phenomena, e.g. electricity, ultrasonics or ultrafiltration
    • A61L12/06—Radiation, e.g. ultraviolet or microwaves
    • A61L12/066—Microwaves

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of treating contact lenses and to apparatus for treating contact lenses.
  • a method of treating contact lenses comprises immersing at least one lens in an aqueous solution and heating with microwaves characterised in that both the solution and the lens are exposed to microwave irradiation.
  • the solution may be altered from a hypotonic solution to a generally isotonic solution during the exposure to microwave irradiation.
  • a method of treating contact lenses comprises immersing at least one lens in an aqueous solution and heating with microwaves characterised in that solution is altered from being a hypotonic solution to a generally isotonic solution during the exposure to microwave irradiation.
  • Both the solution and the lens may be exposed to microwave irradiation.
  • the aqueous solution may be less than 0.85% w/v or less than 0.8% or less than 0.7% w/v or in the region of
  • Water vapour may be lost during microwave exposure.
  • - 4 predetermined amount above ambient pressure fluid within the container can escape from the container.
  • the sealing means may be arranged to seal the container after the pressure within the container drops below a predetermined amount.
  • the sealing means may be arranged to seal the container after the pressure within the container drops below a predetermined amount.
  • the present invention comprises apparatus to be used in a domestic microwave oven that enables the wearers of hydrophillic (soft) contact lenses to establish a daily process that in one step simultaneously cleans, disinfects, or sterilises their lenses and storage cases, as well as prepares their own daily supply of disinfected or sterile saline solution.
  • Vapour from the solution in which the lens is immersed may be allowed to escape once the pressure of the vapour is in the region of, or exceeds two bars.
  • the method may comprise treating two or more lenses simultaneously.
  • a weight may be arranged to prevent escape of vapour below a predetermined pressure.
  • a thermal load may be provided in addition to the aqueous solution in which the lens is immersed.
  • the thermal load may comprise an aqueous thermal load.
  • the thermal load may comprise a radar absorbent material.
  • apparatus for treating contact lenses comprises a first container for aqueous solution and at least one contact lens, the apparatus further including a second container for aqueous solution which second container is in fluid communication with the first container whereby, in use, fluid from said first container may leave the first container on heating and fluid from said second container can subsequently enter the first container.
  • apparatus for treating contact lenses comprises a container for at least one contact lens, the container being associated with releasable sealing means whereby, when the pressure within the container rises above a - 6 -
  • a process comprising of one operation that simultaneously exposes a) hydrophillic contact lenses, b) a conventional type of contact lens storage case and c) an aqueous cleaning solution such as saline, to direct irradiation inside a microwave cooker.
  • a) hydrophillic contact lenses b) a conventional type of contact lens storage case and c) an aqueous cleaning solution such as saline, to direct irradiation inside a microwave cooker.
  • the said lenses and said storage case are cleaned, disinfected or sterilised and the said solution is disinfected or sterilised and where the said solution is saline the process reduces the said saline to an isotonic solution the wearer may use to place the said lenses onto the eye.
  • the said apparatus comprises of:
  • a contact lens storage case comprising of a lens holder assembly with an adjustable cap closure and a lens cup constructed of materials that are transparent to microwave radiation and not deformed by temperatures in the order of 120°C
  • the present invention disinfects or sterilises the lenses by exposing them simultaneously to the combined effects of direct irradiation and of heating in an aqueous cleaning solution. This exposure enables a number of important cleaning and care steps to be combined in just a single process that:
  • the apparatus described under the present invention permits the lens wearer to follow a daily cleaning regime that is more practicable and familiar than earlier microwave methods.
  • the said regime offers the wearer the opportunity to clean, disinfect or sterilise their lenses and storage cases and prepare their own saline on a daily basis that is much cheaper, quicker, is hypoallergenic and uses less pharmaceutical packaging.
  • a method of treating hydrophillic contact lenses comprising immersing the said lenses in an aqueous solution and heating with microwaves, characterised in that both the said solution and said lenses are exposed to microwave radiation.
  • a contact lens storage case comprising of a lens holder assembly with a turn cap closure and a lens cup constructed of materials that are transparent to microwave radiation and not deformed by temperatures in the order of 120°C.
  • the said storage case being dimensioned so that microwave radiation can penetrate through the saline solution it contains and into the contact lenses immersed in the said solution;
  • a cap closure for the said storage case that can be adjusted, by screwing or pushing, to make either a fluid tight seal on the said lens cup, or to restrict the free movement of fluid in and out of the said lens cup;
  • a lens holder assembly that extends sufficiently far into the said lens cup to hold contact lenses completely immersed in aqueous cleaning solution for the time it takes to clean, disinfect or sterilise the said lenses by microwave irradiation;
  • a second container constructed of materials that are transparent to microwave radiation and not deformed by temperatures in the order of 140°C, formed to contain material that absorbs surplus microwave energy.
  • a one way valve that may be fitted to the cap of the said second apparatus, the said valve comprising of a chamber with an inlet isolated from an outlet by a seal a cap closure for the said storage case that can be adjusted by screwing or pushing, to make either a fluid tight seal on the said lens cup, or to restrict the free movement of fluid in and out of the said lens cup:
  • a container constructed of materials that are transparent to microwave radiation and not deformed by temperatures in the order of 120°C.
  • the said container being formed so that it can hold the said contact lens storage case immersed in an aqueous cleaning solution for the time it takes to clean, disinfect or sterilise contact lenses by microwave irradiation:
  • the said container and storage case being dimensioned so that when the said storage case is placed inside the said container, microwave radiation can penetrate through the aqueous solution contained by both said vessels and directly into the contact lenses within the storage case;
  • a lid for the said container constructed of materials that are transparent to microwave radiation and not deformed by temperatures in the order of 120°C the said lid may be formed both to contain material that absorbs surplus microwave energy, and to have a projection(s) extending from the underside of the said lid, such that when the said apparatus is assembled ready for irradiation, the bottom of said projection is positioned just above the top of the said storage case.
  • a second apparatus for the method and processes recited in Claims l, 2 and 3 comprising of: - 10 - a second container constructed of materials that are transparent to microwave radiation and not deformed by temperatures in the order of 120°C, formed to contain material that absorbs surplus microwave energy.
  • An apparatus for the method the said apparatus comprising of:
  • top plate having a channel(s) of appropriate depth and width to hold the tops of contact lens storage bottles
  • a bottom plate having a channel(s) of appropriate depth and width to hold the bottoms of contact lens storage bottles
  • the said plates being constructed of materials that are transparent to microwave radiation and not deformed by temperatures in the order of 140°C;
  • the said nut and bolt being constructed of materials suitable to be used within a microwave cooker;
  • the said top plate being constructed of material that allows for an elastic movement at its rim when the said rim is subjected to a static force greater than 1 bar, whereby the rim of the said plate acts as a spring when subjected to upward forces. that is weight or spring loaded to open at the pressures arising from a required operating temperature of 120-140°C, whereby steam can escape from the said apparatus, via the said valve outlet.
  • An apparatus for the method and process the said apparatus comprising of:
  • the said chambers being dimensioned so that microwave radiation can penetrate through the saline solution it contains and into the contact lenses immersed in the said solution.
  • the said lid and closures being formed to keep them seated over the said chambers in a fit that permits heated fluid to escape from the said chambers when the said apparatus is exposed to microwave irradiation and closes off the chamber to airborne contaminants after the said irradiation has ceased;
  • the said apparatus being constructed of materials that are transparent to microwave radiation and not deformed by temperatures in the order of 120°C ; - 12 -
  • the contact lenses are removed from the eye and placed into the lens holder assembly 4 in the normal way.
  • the lens cup 3 is filled with 7.5 ml of purified 0.6% w/v saline solution that is hypotonic.
  • the saline is made up with less than the 0.9% w/v sodium chloride added to purified water that is required to make isotonic saline. This allows for a proportion of the saline solution to be lost as vapour during heating, after which the solution will be left in a generally isotonic concentration.
  • the loaded lens holder 4 is screwed into the cup 3 so that the seal 5 in the lens holder cup is secured on the rim of the lens cup neck - but not actually screwed down tight onto the rim.
  • Another 30 ml of 0.6% w/v saline solution is poured into a circular cleaning bath 2, having a diameter of less 40 mm at a lower cylindrical end - and the loaded storage case 1 is then put into the filled bath 2.
  • the load vessel 7 100 ml of tap water may be poured into the load vessel 7, in order to raise the thermal load of the apparatus to the minimum load recommended by the manufacturers of microwave cookers.
  • the additional thermal load may be provided by fixing a block of radar absorbent material into the vessel 7 during manufacture.
  • This load vessel 7 is then placed as a lid on top of the cleaning bath 2.
  • the load vessel 7 has a fin 9 projecting from its underside, that acts to hold the storage case 1 down below the liquid level inside the cleaning bath 2 during heating.
  • the whole apparatus is then placed into a microwave cooker and typically heated at full power for 3 minutes.
  • the power may be applied at a medium level REFERENCES CITED AND HEREBY INCLUDED
  • Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of an indicative apparatus.
  • the parts of the apparatus are constructed of appropriate materials like the temperature resistant thermoplastics that can be used in a microwave cooker.
  • the soft lenses 8 are placed in the lens holder assembly 4 of a conventional barrel type of contact lens storage case 1 that comprises of closable baskets for securing the lenses, the said baskets being fixed into a screw cap 6 that screws onto a vessel called the lens cup 3. - 14 -
  • Radiation from a microwave cooker can penetrate aqueous matter inside a microwave transparent container to a depth of 20-40 mm.
  • the diameter of the bath 2 in Figure 1 reduces to 30 mm in the area immediately surrounding the lenses, which permits the lenses and any organisms on them, to be directly penetrated by microwave radiation.
  • the same solution may be used to place the lenses on to the eye.
  • the remaining solution in the bath 2 can be kept as an additional daily supply of disinfected saline for rinsing the lenses, by replacing the load vessel 7 on top of the bath 2 and storing.
  • the placing of a lens having a hypotonic solution on the eye can cause liquid from the eye to be drawn off the eye into for 2 minutes.
  • the time and power setting is dependent upon the power rating of the particular microwave cooker.
  • heated vapour can escape from the bath 2 by raising the load vessel 7 off its seating on the rim of the cleaning bath 2. Heated vapour can also escape from the storage case, by passing around the seals and screw threads of the storage case cap 6, which action then cleans and disinfects these parts.
  • Cleaning, disinfecting and sterilising of the lenses and their storage case is effected by the combination of two actions: 1) heat transfer to the lenses from the aqueous medium in which they are immersed - as occurs in a conventional heat disinfection unit for contact lenses: 2) the effect of microwave radiation within living organisms in or on the lens.
  • Radiation within a microwave cooker reverses the polarity of the bipolar molecules in an aqueous medium at frequencies in the order of 2450 MHz. This oscillation causes internal friction within the irradiated medium, which leads to a rapid rise in its temperature.
  • a load vessel may also be provided for use with this apparatus.
  • this apparatus of Figure 2 may have a one way valve fitted into its cap or casing (see Figure 2) .
  • the valve piston 16 is held closed at room temperature by the spring 25.
  • the temperature inside the case has risen to the order of 120°C, with an internal pressure of around 2 bars, steam can escape the case into the valve chamber 23, via the outlet 29, raising the valve piston 26 and exiting via the valve outlet 24.
  • the required pressure is predetermined by the retaining force of the spring or weight.
  • the operating pressure of this system may then be controlled during irradiation by one or more of the following combination of factors: i) adjusting the power setting of the microwave cooker, ii) adding additional thermal load to the load vessel, iii) calculating the additional thermal load created when more than one unit is irradiated simultaneously.
  • FIG 3 shows yet another apparatus that facilitates the care regime described under the present invention.
  • This storage case does not use baskets to hold the lenses in a vertical position during treatment.
  • this embodiment is not a carrying case, but could be made into one, if the chambers were mounted by screw caps or other types of locking closure.
  • a load vessel may also be provided for use with this apparatus.
  • the apparatus comprises of two chambers 31 and 32, into which the left and right lenses can be individually placed along with saline solution.
  • a common lid 33 rests the lens. If the lens is in a hypertonic solution then the eye can sting and the lens is reluctant to stay on the curvature of the eye as the as the osmotic pressures are different and the eye will generate excess water.
  • the same apparatus also allows for another modified regime of cleaning and disinfection.
  • this alternative regime instead of placing the loaded lens holder 4 into the lens cup 3, the lens holder is placed directly into a larger amount (typically 30 - 40 mm) of 0.6% saline solution inside the cleaning bath 2 and the empty lens cup 3 is placed loosely on top of the lens holder 4. The whole assembly is then irradiated as described above, after which the lens holder 4 and cup 3 can be removed from the bath 2 - the lens 8 can be inserted - and treated solution from the bath 2 poured into the storage case 1 as an additional daily supply.
  • Figure 2 shows a second indicative apparatus for effecting the same care regime.
  • the lens cup 11 accommodates at least twice as much solution as the 12 ml lens cup of a conventional carrying case, in order to keep the lenses fully immersed during a three minute irradiation, which typically loses at 10 ml of saline solution from the cup.
  • the apparatus in Figure 2 comprises of a contact lens carrying case, with a lens holder assembly 12 similar to that in Figure 1, except that the stem 13 of the lens holder assembly is elongated to carry it down into its larger cup 11.
  • the cap of the case 14 is tightened in the same manner as for apparatus 1. This creates a loose fit between the lens holder assembly 12 and cup 11 that permits vapour to escape around the screw threads during microwaving, and then allows the cap - 18 -
  • Plates 44 and 45 are locked around the bottles 41 by screwing a wing nut 47 onto the bolt 46.
  • the whole assembly is then loaded into the microwave cooker and irradiated for a time typically around 4 minutes, the exact power and time being determined by the type of cooker used and the required outcome of disinfection or sterilisation.
  • the operating temperature and treatment time may be calculated by adjusting either or both the total thermal load and the power setting of the microwave cooker.
  • thermoplastic material of the plate 44 is naturally elastic over linear distances corresponding to the 120 - 150 mm radius of the plate 44.
  • the greater spring force required to act against the bottle caps can be achieved by a plate 44 having an on top of the chambers.
  • the lid is held in place over the containers by flanges 34 which are broken at intervals so that during heating, vapour can escape by partially raising the lid high enough off its seat to allow the vapour out, but not high enough to dislodge the lid flanges from the rim surrounding the chamber openings.
  • the lid can close off the chamber to airborne contaminants once the heating process is complete.
  • FIGS 4A and 4B schematically show an apparatus for microwave disinfection or sterilisation of soft lenses in batches, as required in commercial use.
  • the lenses 43 are kept in conventional 10 ml storage bottles 41, usually made of glass and having push fit caps 42 made of a heat stable material such as silicone rubber.
  • a circular plate 45 of typical radius 120 - 150 mm having a 30 mm channel set in it to locate the bottles during treatment.
  • This plate 45 may be constructed of a suitable high temperature thermoplastic such as polycarbonate.
  • the plate 45 has a bolt 46 rising through its centre.
  • the bolts 45 and its nuts 47, 410 and 411 may be made of a suitable high temperature thermoplastic.
  • a second similar plate 44 is then placed on top of the bottles 41, such that the bottle caps 42 are also located in a channel and the stem of the bolt 46 goes through a hole in the centre of the plate 44.
  • the centre of plate 44 is supported by a spacing nut 40 that can be screw adjusted to the required position along bolt 46 and then locked in that position by the locking nut 411.
  • the temperature and pressure inside the bottles 41 is then determined by the extent to which the spring force at the rim of the plate 44 permits the caps 42 to rise out of their bottles 41 and thus fix the temperature inside the said bottles, as a function of the rate at which vapour may escape the said bottles.
  • the principal compromise made in this kind of partially vented system is loss of solution from the bottles, which is typically 7 ml over 10 minutes for a batch of 30 bottles.
  • the temperature inside the bottles 1 cools and a vacuum develops, which draws the partially dislodged caps 2 back into their bottles and creates a firm seal that can be protected as normal, with a crimp type metal closure when the bottles have cooled.
  • All of the embodiments may be arranged to lose water vapour to turn a solution from a hypotonic solution to an isotonic solution as described in relation to Figure 1.
  • a method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a container having aqueous solution and at least one lens being in that solution with a further aqueous solution being provided whereby, after the solution in the container is heated and vapour has escaped therefrom during microwave irradiation, liquid from said further solution is drawn into the container on cooling.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
  • Eyeglasses (AREA)

Abstract

Des lentilles de contact (8) sont placées dans un récipient de stockage (1) qui contient une solution saline hypotonique. Ledit récipient (1) contenant les lentilles et la solution est placé dans un four à micro-ondes et la lentille de contact (8) hydrophile et la solution sont toutes deux soumises au rayonnement direct des micro-ondes. Pendant l'irradiation, la solution perd de la vapeur d'eau et passe ainsi d'un état hypotonique à un état isotonique.
PCT/GB1996/002315 1995-09-23 1996-09-19 Appareil et procede de traitement de lentilles de contact Ceased WO1997010855A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96931152A EP0871500A1 (fr) 1995-09-23 1996-09-19 Appareil et procede de traitement de lentilles de contact
AU69949/96A AU6994996A (en) 1995-09-23 1996-09-19 Apparatus and method of treating contact lenses
CA002231477A CA2231477A1 (fr) 1995-09-23 1996-09-19 Appareil et methode de traitement des lentilles corneennes

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9519462.7 1995-09-23
GBGB9519462.7A GB9519462D0 (en) 1995-09-23 1995-09-23 Apparatus for disinfecting hydrophilic contact lenses and their storage cases
GB9611766.8 1996-06-05
GBGB9611766.8A GB9611766D0 (en) 1995-09-23 1996-06-05 Apparatus for disinfecting hydrophilic contact lenses and their storage cases

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1997010855A1 true WO1997010855A1 (fr) 1997-03-27

Family

ID=26307811

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1996/002315 Ceased WO1997010855A1 (fr) 1995-09-23 1996-09-19 Appareil et procede de traitement de lentilles de contact

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0871500A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU6994996A (fr)
CA (1) CA2231477A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1997010855A1 (fr)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992009942A1 (fr) * 1990-11-30 1992-06-11 Ciba Vision Corporation Systeme de mise a l'air de flacon pour lentilles de contact
WO1993015772A1 (fr) * 1992-02-14 1993-08-19 Flexiclave, Inc. Procede et appareil de desinfection thermique de verres de contact souples

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1992009942A1 (fr) * 1990-11-30 1992-06-11 Ciba Vision Corporation Systeme de mise a l'air de flacon pour lentilles de contact
WO1993015772A1 (fr) * 1992-02-14 1993-08-19 Flexiclave, Inc. Procede et appareil de desinfection thermique de verres de contact souples

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6994996A (en) 1997-04-09
CA2231477A1 (fr) 1997-03-27
EP0871500A1 (fr) 1998-10-21

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP2722228B2 (ja) 気相過酸化水素による生活細胞またはその近傍の表面の汚染除去方法
US4731222A (en) Automated liquid sterilization system
AU756113B2 (en) Oral feeding bottle
US6203756B1 (en) Integrated cleaning sterilization process
US4169124A (en) Cold gas sterilization process
US6423266B1 (en) Special container for cleaning or sterilizing lumen devices
US5759486A (en) Apparatus and method for sterilization of instruments
US5091343A (en) Container for holding equipment during sterilization
US4230663A (en) Cold gas sterilization process using hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations
US6187266B1 (en) Integrated cleaning/sterilization process with lumen devices
KR970001492B1 (ko) 뼈이식조직의 소독처리방법 및 그 장치
US5871702A (en) Methods and apparatus for sterilizing objects
KR101357336B1 (ko) 배양 장치
IE70662B1 (en) Treatment of material
US7556767B2 (en) Integrated washing and sterilization process
US20050163655A1 (en) Integrated washing and sterilization process
US5164166A (en) Apparatus for disinfecting contact lenses using microwave energy
IE66164B1 (en) Process and device for the sterilization and the cleaning a system of aseptic filling
GB2411837A (en) Steriliser for baby feeding or care products
WO1997010855A1 (fr) Appareil et procede de traitement de lentilles de contact
US6685895B1 (en) Method and apparatus for processing device with reduced occlusion
CA2012862C (fr) Recipient pour sterilisation d'instruments
JP2000335691A (ja) 飲料水ディスペンサ
JP2000238728A (ja) 食品加工装置
US6645430B1 (en) Method and apparatus for processing device with fluid submersion

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE HU IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK TJ TM TR TT UA UG US UZ VN AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): KE LS MW SD SZ UG AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
ENP Entry into the national phase

Ref document number: 2231477

Country of ref document: CA

Ref country code: CA

Ref document number: 2231477

Kind code of ref document: A

Format of ref document f/p: F

WWE Wipo information: entry into national phase

Ref document number: 1996931152

Country of ref document: EP

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

WWP Wipo information: published in national office

Ref document number: 1996931152

Country of ref document: EP

WWW Wipo information: withdrawn in national office

Ref document number: 1996931152

Country of ref document: EP