1. A method comprising:
providing a contact lens having a pupil region and a generally annular-shaped iris region surrounding the pupil region, the iris region being adapted to at least partially cover a wearer’s iris when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;
providing a printer assembly having an inkjet print head;
using the printer assembly to deposit at least one colorant on the iris region of the contact lens in a manner to alter the appearance of the iris of the wearer when the wearer is wearing the contact lens;
the step of using the printer assembly to deposit at least one colorant on the iris region of the contact lens comprises using the printer assembly to tilt the contact lens both laterally and longitudinally while depositing at least one colorant on the iris region of the contact lens.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
using the inkjet print head to deposit at least one colorant on a transfer surface causes the at least one colorant to be deposited on the transfer surface in a first colorant pattern; and
transferring the colorant from the transfer surface to the iris region of the contact lens causes the at least one colorant to be deposited on the iris region of the contact lens in a second colorant pattern.
3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second colorant pattern is different than the first colorant pattern.
4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the second colorant pattern is a mirror image of the first colorant pattern.
5. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the at least one colorant is directly deposited on the transfer surface via the inkjet print head.
6. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the transfer surface comprises a pad printing pad.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A securement system for securing a medical article having an elongated body and at least one outwardly extending member that extends from the elongated body, the system comprising:
a retainer comprising a body having a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being movable with respect to one another to establish a closed condition and an open condition, the first and second portions cooperating to form a channel at least when the retainer is in the closed condition, a radius of at least a portion of the channel being generally constant along its longitudinal length, the first portion of the body having at least one surface which extends in a direction generally normal to the axis of the channel of the retainer; and
an anchoring device, one of the first and second portions of the body being connected to the anchoring device through the other one of the first and second portions, wherein the outwardly extending member of the medical article abuts the at least one surface of the retainer when the retainer is in the closed condition to inhibit longitudinal motion of the medical article through the retainer in at least a longitudinal direction.
2. A securement system as in claim 1, wherein the channel additionally comprises at least one slot disposed along the length of the channel.
3. A securement system as in claim 2, wherein the at least one surface of the body is a lateral face of the at least one slot.
4. A securement system as in claim 3, wherein the outwardly extending member of the medical article is positioned within the slot of the channel when the outwardly extending member abuts the at least one surface of the body of the retainer.
5. A securement system as in claim 1 further comprising a latch configured to secure the retainer in the closed condition.
6. A securement system as in claim 2, wherein the slot is generally disposed normal to the axis of the channel.
7. A securement system as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the channel includes a width, as measured in a lateral direction, which tapers in size.
8. A securement system as in claim 2, wherein the slot is sized to allow the at least one outwardly extending member to at least partially rotate about the axis of the channel when the retainer is in the open condition.
9. A retainer for releasably securing a at least a portion of a medical article having a maximum radial dimension from an axial centerline, the retainer comprising:
a body comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being movable with respect to one another to establish a closed configuration and an open configuration, the first portion having a first groove and the second portion having a second groove, the first and second grooves disposed so that when the first and second portions are in the closed configuration the grooves define a channel with a central axis, the channel having a minimum radial dimension from an axial centerline of the channel, the minimum radial dimension of the channel being smaller than the maximum radial dimension of the secured portion of the medical article; and
an anchor, one of the first and second portions of the body being connected to the anchor through the other one of the first and second portions.
10. A retainer as in claim 9, wherein a radius of the channel tapers along the longitudinal length of the channel.
11. A retainer as in claim 9 wherein the radius of the channel is constant along its longitudinal length.
12. A retainer as in claim 9, wherein the channel additionally comprises at least one slot disposed along the length of the channel.
13. A retainer as in claim 12, wherein the portion of the elongated medical article having the maximum radial dimension is positioned within the slot of the channel.
14. A retainer as in claim 9 further comprising a latch configured to secure the retainer in the closed configuration.
15. A retainer for releasably securing an elongated medical article having a maximum radial dimension from an axial centerline of the elongated medical article, the retainer comprising:
a body comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first and second portions being movable with respect to one another to establish a closed configuration and an open configuration, the first portion and the second portion defining a channel with a central axis at least when the first and second portions are in the closed configuration, at least a portion of the channel extending for 360 degrees around the central axis at least when the first and second portions are in the closed configuration, the channel having a proximal end, a distal end and a minimum radial dimension from the central axis of the channel, the minimum radial dimension of the channel being smaller than the maximum radial dimension of the medical article, the first and second portions of the retainer body being configured so that at least the portion of the medical article having the maximum radial dimension passes between the proximal and distal ends of the channel at least when the medical article is entering the channel and before the first and second portions are moved from the open configuration to the closed configuration; and
an anchor, one of the first and second portions of the body being connected to the anchor through the other one of the first and second portions.
16. A retainer as in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the channel includes a width, as measured generally in a lateral direction, which tapers in size.
17. A retainer as in claim 15, wherein a radius of the channel tapers along the longitudinal length of the channel.
18. A retainer as in claim 15, wherein the channel additionally comprises at least one slot disposed along the length of the channel.
19. A retainer as in claim 18, wherein the portion of the medical article having the maximum radial dimension passes into the slot of the channel.
20. A retainer as in claim 18, wherein the slot is sized to allow the portion of the medical article having the maximum radial dimension to at least partially rotate about the axis of the channel when the retainer is in the open configuration.