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US4977901A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Article having non-crosslinked crystallized polymer coatings

Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1990-04-06
•
Granted: 1990-12-18
•
Expires: 2010-04-06
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Abstract

Abstract A non-crosslinked crystallized polymer or polymer blending coating is disclosed for articles that come into contact with bodily fluids. The polymer or polymer blend to be used is crystallizable and is stable in the presence of water at temperatures of up to about 60° C. when in the crystalline state. The polymer or polymer blend is dissolved in a solvent, such as water or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and is coated on the article. The polymer coating is then crystallized, generally by heat treatment, providing both toughness and increased adherence of the coating to the article without ready dissolution when the article comes into contact with fluids.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ronald F. Ofstead

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 00:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L33/00; A61L33/0005; A61L33/0011; A61L33/0029; A61L27/00; A61L27/28; A61L27/34; A61L29/00; A61L29/08; A61L29/085; A61L31/00; A61L31/08; A61L31/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/294; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31678; Y10T428/31692; Y10T428/31699

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 73 words
An article that comes into contact with bodily fluids wherein being slippery when wet is a desirable property of the article, which article is coated by a non-crosslinked, crystallized polymer or polymer blend comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) wherein said polymer or polymer blend is soluble before crystallization in water or DMSO at temperatures less than about 100° C., and is stable in the presence of water at temperatures of up to about 60° C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 73 words
An article that comes into contact with bodily fluids wherein being slippery when wet is a desirable property of the article, which article is coated by a non-crosslinked, crystallized polymer or polymer blend comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) wherein said polymer or polymer blend is soluble before crystallization in water or DMSO at temperatures less than about 100° C., and is stable in the presence of water at temperatures of up to about 60° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 9 words
An article of claim 1 which is a guidewire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 12 words
An article of claim 1 which is an implant for the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
An article of claim 1 wherein the implant is designed to be implanted in a blood vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 21 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the polymer has a degree of crystallinity of between about 30 and about 50 percent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
The article of claim 5 wherein the polymer has a degree of crystallinity of between about 40 and about 45 percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
An article of claim 1 wherein the poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer is more than 88% hydrolyzed before crystallization.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 21 words
An article of claim 1 wherein the poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer has a molecular weight of between about 14,000 and about 1,000,000.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
An article of claim 1 wherein the poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer has a molecular weight of about 40,000 to about 126,000.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
An article of claim 1 wherein the poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer has a molecular weight of about 80,000 to about 115,000.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 9 words
An article of claim 1 which additionally comprises heparin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 12 words
An article of claim 1 which additionally comprises a dye or tint.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 16 words
An article of claim 12 wherein the dye is covalently bonded to the poly(vinyl alcohol) polymer.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4693939A Cited
US4785059A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-12-17 1994-06-18 1994-12-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-12-17 1998-06-18 1998-12-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-12-17 2002-06-18 2002-12-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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