Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of permanently modifying the surface of a substrate material to produce a microscopically smooth, biocompatible surface thereon, comprising covalently grafting a polymeric, first biocompatible material to the surface of the substrate material by radio frequency plasma induction, the biocompatible material having pendant terminal carboxylic acid or amine groups.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
50 words
A method of permanently modifying the surface of a substrate material to produce a microscopically smooth, biocompatible surface thereon, comprising covalently grafting a polymeric, first biocompatible material to the surface of the substrate material by radio frequency plasma induction, the biocompatible material having pendant terminal carboxylic acid or amine groups.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the grafting is induced in a radio frequency plasma reactor generating a frequency of about 1 MHz to about 40 MHz.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein the frequency is about 13.56 MHz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein gas is present in the reactor, said gas being selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, ammonia and argon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method according to claim 4, wherein the gas is argon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the first biocompatible material comprises ethylenediamine, polyacrylic acid, diethylenetriamine or allylamine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate material is selected from the group consisting of silicone, polypropylene, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, hydroxyethylmethacrylate and polymethyl-methacrylate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 1, lo wherein the surface of the substrate material is further modified by covalently cross-linking a second biocompatible material to the grafted first biocompatible material using a cross-linking agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the cross-linking agent is applied to the substrate material surface prior to the application of the second biocompatible material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the second biocompatible material comprises a polysaccharide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, hyaluronate, agarose and chondroitin sulfate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 10, wherein the polysaccharide is chrondroitin sulfate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the cross-linking agent is selected from the group consisting of glutaraldehyde, bis(3,5-dibromosalicyl)fumarate, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide and carbodiimide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the cross-linking agent is glutaraldehyde.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the substrate material is rinsed with distilled water prior to cross-linking the second biocompatible material to the grafted first biocompatible material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 8, wherein the cross-linking occurs in the presence of a neutral buffer solution.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said first biocompatible material is polyacrylic acid, said substrate is a polymethylmethacrylate substrate, said grafting is induced by argon gas plasma at a frequency of about 13.56 MHz, and after said grafting, said substrate is rinsed with distilled water, and glutaraldehyde and chondroitin sulfate are applied sequentially in a neutral buffer solution to said polyacrylic acid grafted to said polymethylmethacrylate substrate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein, prior to radio frequency plasma induction, the first biocompatible material is a monomer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 18, wherein the monomer of the first biocompatible material is selected from the group consisting of the monomers of ethylenediamine, polyacrylic acid, diethylenetriamine and allylamine.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of permanently modifying the surface of a substrate material to produce a microscopically smooth, biocompatible surface thereon, comprising covalently grafting a biocompatible, hydrophilic polymeric material to the surface of the substrate material by radio frequency plasma induction.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of permanently modifying the surface of a substrate material to produce a microscopically smooth, biocompatible surface thereon, comprising covalently grafting a biocompatible, hydrophilic polymeric material to the surface of the substrate material by radio frequency plasma induction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 20, wherein the biocompatible, hydrophilic polymeric material comprises ethylenediamine, polyacrylic acid, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, diethylenetriamine or allylamine.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of permanently modifying the surface of a substrate material to produce a microscopically smooth, biocompatible surface thereon, comprising covalently grafting a biocompatible, hydrophobic polymeric material to the surface of the substrate material by radio frequency plasma induction.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of permanently modifying the surface of a substrate material to produce a microscopically smooth, biocompatible surface thereon, comprising covalently grafting a biocompatible, hydrophobic polymeric material to the surface of the substrate material by radio frequency plasma induction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 22, wherein the biocompatible, hydrophobic material comprises N-vinylpyrrolidone, silazane and hexamethyldisiloxane.