Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A process of preparing macromolecular reconstituted collagen fiber comprising: (a) treating natural insoluble collagen with an aqueous solution comprised of 0.5 to 1 molar of an alkali sulfate salt and 1.0 to 2.5 molar of an alkali metal hydroxide for at least 48 hours and up to 96 hours to saponify fats suspended within the natural insoluble collagen and to uniformly swell the collagen fibers; (b) treating the fat free collagen with an aqueous solution comprised of an alkali metal sulfate for at least four hours to stabilize the interfibular bonds; (c) dissolving the collagen in an aqueous solution; and (d) freezing said solution to effect a temperature reduction rate of -18° C. to -24° C./hour to a temperature of -60° C. to -70° C.; (e) vacuum drying said solution at 10 -3 to 10 -5 torr for at least 12 hours to obtain collagen having an average molecular weight of 383,000 to 460,000.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A process of preparing macromolecular reconstituted collagen fiber comprising: (a) treating natural insoluble collagen with an aqueous solution comprised of 0.5 to 1 molar of an alkali sulfate salt and 1.0 to 2.5 molar of an alkali metal hydroxide for at least 48 hours and up to 96 hours to saponify fats suspended within the natural insoluble collagen and to uniformly swell the collagen fibers; (b) treating the fat free collagen with an aqueous solution comprised of an alkali metal sulfate for at least four hours to stabilize the interfibular bonds; (c) dissolving the collagen in an aqueous solution; and (d) freezing said solution to effect a temperature reduction rate of -18° C. to -24° C./hour to a temperature of -60° C. to -70° C.; (e) vacuum drying said solution at 10 -3 to 10 -5 torr for at least 12 hours to obtain collagen having an average molecular weight of 383,000 to 460,000.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process according to claim 1 including treating the fat free collagen with distilled water to remove salts therefrom prior to dissolving said collagen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The process of claim 2 including treating with distilled water for at least 4 hours, decanting the water, and retreating with distilled water at least 4 times for 4 hours for each treatment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein said alkali sulfate is sodium sulfate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said alkali metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said alkali sulfate is present at a level of 0.5 molar to 1.0 molar when stabilizing said interfibular bonds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said collagen is neutralized subsequent to stabilizing the interfibular bonds by washing with an aqueous acid solution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution for dissolving said collagen is an aqueous acid solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the acid in said aqueous acid solution is ascorbic acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said aqueous acid solution has a pH of 3 to 4.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said natural insoluble collagen is a bovine corium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
9 words
The collagen product prepared in accordance with claim 1.